The 10/16 post at http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2006/tedp1016-1.htm states the following:"Note that the legs are NOT the two branches of the Roman Empire when IT split into the western and eastern half. But more so it is THE LAND that was split into the northern kingdom of 10, keeping the name Israel, and the southern kingdom of 2 tribes, going by Judah, (the Jews). Just consider for a moment that the end time, just before Jesus comes back, THE LAND will be split into 5 toes (countries) for the southern kingdom, Judah. I wonder whether the 5 toes of the northern kingdom represent 5 countries where the northern kingdom (Israel) now resides. One way or another the 10 toes would be 10 non-Israeli kings having dominion over Israel's land and/or Israel's people."(However, I don't see how the two legs of iron on the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream could represent the Northern Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam & the South Kingdom of Judah under Rehoboam since they didn't begin to reign until 931 B.C. after King Solomon's death according to the New Bible Dictionary -- 2nd edition by Tyndale which was before King Nebuchadnezzar reigned from 605 B.C. to 562 B.C. The golden head represented King Nebuchadnezzar, and the other parts of the statue represent the kingdoms that controlled Israel after King Nebuchadnezzar including the two iron legs which represent the Western Roman Empire & the Eastern Roman Empire. Below is additional information with links regarding what I just said.)SolomonHe was born in Jerusalem about 1000 BCE and reigned over Israel from about 970 to 928 BCE.JeroboamWilliam F. Albright has dated his reign to 922 BCE-901 BCE, while Edwin R. Thiele offers the dates 931 BCE-910 BCE.RehoboamWilliam F. Albright has dated his reign to 922 BC-915 BC, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 931 BC-913 BC.Nebuchadrezzar II (also Nebuchadnezzar; reigned 605 BC–562 BC) is perhaps the best known ruler of Babylon in the Chaldean Dynasty. He is famous for his conquests of Judah and Jerusalem, his monumental building within his capital of Babylon, his role in the Book of Daniel, and his construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which as legend has it, he made for his wife because she was homesick for the mountain springs where she grew up.
He is traditionally called "Nebuchadnezzar the Great", but his destruction of temples in Jerusalem and the conquest of Judah caused his vilification in Judaic tradition and in the Bible, causing him to be interpreted very differently by western Christians and Jews than in contemporary Iraq, where he is glorified as a historic leader.