King James Bible
"And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him."
This timestamp places the event early in Nebuchadnezzar's rule (circa 603 BC), though he had already conquered Jerusalem. The dating establishes Daniel as a young captive recently trained in Babylonian court, setting up the dramatic rise of an exile to prominence. The plural "dreams" suggests either multiple dreams or one complex, recurring vision. In ancient Near Eastern culture, royal dreams were considered divine communications about the kingdom's future, making this a matter of state importance. The king's extreme agitation reveals these weren't ordinary dreams but deeply disturbing visions that shattered his peace. His insomnia emphasizes the supernatural weight of the revelation, creating the urgent crisis that will showcase God's sovereignty through Daniel.