Daniel Eliza’s dreams
Excerpt from “The Krynauw Family” by David Willem Krynauw, born 03/02/1908.
Daniël Eliza Krynauw was born in Stellenbosch and baptised there on 8 September 1799. He married Susanna Claudine le Roux on 2 May 1824 in Paarl; she was baptized on 28 September 1800. Her parents were also from Stellenbosch, though the reason for their marriage being celebrated in Paarl remains unknown. At some point, Daniël and his wife left Stellenbosch and settled on the farm Twaalffontein in the Caledon district.
It is known that during the anti-bandit agitation of 1849, Daniël was one of the deputies who objected to the authorities regarding the establishment of bandits at the Cape. He also left behind written descriptions of dreams he experienced during a serious illness. The first dream is titled: “Een droom dien ik, Daniël Eliza Krynauw, droomt heeft in het jaar 1827 in den nact van 30 Januarie.” He wrote: “I now dreamed that I was at the end of my life and I was laughing at dying.” The second dream, recorded on 30 November 1836, states: “Then the Lord visited me with a sickbed.”
Both dreams occurred during periods of severe illness, though the exact nature of the illness is unknown. It is believed that he suffered from a very high fever, but his descriptions also reflect signs of deep mental struggle. His son Stephanus later told his children that they had kept watch at Daniël’s sickbed for three days and nights, expecting him to die at any moment. At the time of the first dream, Stephanus was only two years old, but the second dream—ten years later—must have left a lasting impression on his young mind.
The dreams primarily revolve around his readiness for death. They do not center on the question of faith’s certainty, as even in moments of deep distress, he expresses overwhelming joy, knowing that if he were to die, he would be with the Lord. However, it also appears as if Satan and his forces sought to obstruct his path, placing various obstacles in his way.
In the first dream, he stands before a gate that leads to a beautiful garden. “But the gate was closed, and when I looked through its bars, I saw a stunning garden filled with all kinds of flowers that appeared exceptionally beautiful.
Below them were magnificent lilies, so breathtaking that I thought to myself—I had not seen anything this soft and lovely in a long time. Everything in the garden—trees and flowers alike—appeared blue to me. Then I recalled reading about sky blue in the Bible, but here, it was truly sky blue in color.”
He also describes the fruit, including a bunch of grapes that were blue, “just like the trees and flowers in the garden. After I saw all this, I woke up, and it was day.”
In the second dream, he finds himself standing before two towering mountains, “whose peaks I could not see.” He never mentions pain, only a deep longing for death. He prays for mercy and entrusts his wife and children to the Lord’s care. Suddenly, he becomes aware of his surroundings—the striking of a clock and someone announcing that it is 12 o’clock. “When I heard that, I felt a thump in my heart, as if someone had tapped it with a finger. Then I straightened up, sat upright in bed, and sighed.”
This is followed by an expression of gratitude as he praises the Lord, quoting verses from the scriptures.
One cannot say with certainty how psychologists would interpret these dreams or whether they relate to personality. Nevertheless, they are expressed in language that reflects a remarkable ability to articulate and an extraordinary talent for a farmer of that time. If there were any frustrations, they did not concern worldly matters but instead revealed a tender, sensitive spirit. He lived to be 84 years old. In his later years, he became almost completely deaf. However, these dreams occurred when he was still young and healthy, with no apparent physical condition affecting his spirit—except that in both instances, an unknown illness overtook him.
In his obituary, his minister, Dr. J. G. J. Krige, stated that Daniël knew and served the Lord from a young age. The report attests to the prestige he enjoyed in the community. His deep piety earned him universal respect. In the minister’s absence, Daniël led church services. He frequently participated in prayer meetings and religious speeches. His godliness, his devotion to prayer, and his role as an intercessor will be greatly missed by the congregation. Rev. Krige noted that, despite his deafness preventing others from communicating with him, Daniël was still able to testify to the love of the Lord—a love he had experienced throughout his life.