Daniel 4

1 Nevukhadnetztzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the eretz: Shalom be multiplied to you.

2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that Ha`Elyon God has worked toward me.

3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4 I, Nevukhadnetztzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Bavel before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

7 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Kasdim, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation of it.

8 But at the last Daniyel came in before me, whose name was Belteshatztzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, [saying],

9 Belteshatztzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation of it.

10 Thus were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the eretz; and the height of it was great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height of it reached to the sky, and the sight of it to the end of all the eretz.

12 The leaves of it were beautiful, and the fruit of it much, and in it was food for all: the animals of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the sky lived in the branches of it, and all flesh was fed from it.

13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the sky.

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the eretz, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the eretz:

16 let his heart be changed from man's, and let a animal's heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that Ha`Elyon rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.

18 This dream I, king Nevukhadnetztzar, have seen; and you, Belteshatztzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

19 Then Daniyel, whose name was Belteshatztzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, Belteshatztzar, don't let the dream, or the interpretation, trouble you. Belteshatztzar answered, My lord, the dream be to those who hate you, and the interpretation of it to your adversaries.

20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and the sight of it to all the eretz;

21 whose leaves were beautiful, and the fruit of it much, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation:

22 it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the eretz.

23 Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots of it in the eretz, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him;

24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of Ha`Elyon, which is come on my lord the king:

25 that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that Ha`Elyon rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.

26 Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquillity.

28 All this came on the king Nevukhadnetztzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Bavel.

30 The king spoke and said, Is not this great Bavel, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, [saying], O king Nevukhadnetztzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from you:

32 and you shall be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that Ha`Elyon rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nevukhadnetztzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws].

34 At the end of the days I, Nevukhadnetztzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed Ha`Elyon, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.

35 All the inhabitants of the eretz are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the eretz; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you?

36 At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.

37 Now I, Nevukhadnetztzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.

Daniel 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the power of Jehovah. (1-18) Daniel interprets his dream. (19-27) The fulfilment of it. (28-37)

Verses 1-18 The beginning and end of this chapter lead us to hope, that Nebuchadnezzar was a monument of the power of Divine grace, and of the riches of Divine mercy. After he was recovered from his madness, he told to distant places, and wrote down for future ages, how God had justly humbled and graciously restored him. When a sinner comes to himself, he will promote the welfare of others, by making known the wondrous mercy of God. Nebuchadnezzar, before he related the Divine judgments upon him for his pride, told the warnings he had in a dream or vision. The meaning was explained to him. The person signified, was to be put down from honour, and to be deprived of the use of his reason seven years. This is surely the sorest of all temporal judgments. Whatever outward affliction God is pleased to lay upon us, we have cause to bear it patiently, and to be thankful that he continues the use of our reason, and the peace of our consciences. Yet if the Lord should see fit by such means to keep a sinner from multiplying crimes, or a believer from dishonouring his name, even the dreadful prevention would be far preferable to the evil conduct. God has determined it, as a righteous Judge, and the angels in heaven applaud. Not that the great God needs the counsel or concurrence of the angels, but it denotes the solemnity of this sentence. The demand is by the word of the holy ones, God's suffering people: when the oppressed cry to God, he will hear. Let us diligently seek blessings which can never be taken from us, and especially beware of pride and forgetfulness of God.

Verses 19-27 Daniel was struck with amazement and terror at so heavy a judgment coming upon so great a prince, and gives advice with tenderness and respect. It is necessary, in repentance, that we not only cease to do evil, but learn to do good. Though it might not wholly prevent the judgment, yet the trouble may be longer before it comes, or shorter when it does come. And everlasting misery will be escaped by all who repent and turn to God.

Verses 28-37 Pride and self-conceit are sins that beset great men. They are apt to take that glory to themselves which is due to God only. While the proud word was in the king's mouth, the powerful word came from God. His understanding and his memory were gone, and all the powers of the rational soul were broken. How careful we ought to be, not to do any thing which may provoke God to put us out of our senses! God resists the proud. Nebuchadnezzar would be more than a man, but God justly makes him less than a man. We may learn to believe concerning God, that the most high God lives for ever, and that his kingdom is like himself, everlasting, and universal. His power cannot be resisted. When men are brought to honour God, by confession of sin and acknowledging his sovereignty, then, and not till then, they may expect that God will honour them; not only restore them to the dignity they lost by the sin of the first Adam, but add excellent majesty to them, from the righteousness and grace of the Second Adam. Afflictions shall last no longer than till they have done the work for which they were sent. There can be no reasonable doubt that Nebuchadnezzar was a true penitent, and an accepted believer. It is thought that he did not live more than a year after his restoration. Thus the Lord knows how to abase those that walk in pride, but gives grace and consolation to the humble, broken-hearted sinner who calls upon Him.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 4

This chapter was written by Nebuchadnezzar himself; and was either taken out of his archives, or given by him to Daniel, who under divine inspiration inserted it into this work of his; and a very useful instruction it contains, showing the sovereignty of God over the greatest kings and potentates of the earth, and this acknowledged by one of the proudest monarchs that ever lived upon it. It begins with a preface, saluting all nations, and declaring the greatness and power of God, Da 4:1-3 then follows the narrative of a dream the king dreamed, which troubled him; upon which he called for his wise men to interpret it, but in vain; at length he told it to Daniel, Da 4:4-9: the dream itself; which being told, astonished Daniel, the king being so much interested in it, Da 4:10-19, the interpretation of it, with Daniel's advice upon it, is in Da 4:20-27 the fulfilment of it, time and occasion thereof, Da 4:28-33. Nebuchadnezzar's restoration to his reason and kingdom, for which he praises God, Da 4:34-37.