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THE BOOK OF DANIEL
CHAPTER 4
Daniel Chapter 4 is largely a historical record of what happened to Nebuchadnezzar. It contains fulfilled prophecy that pertains to Nebuchadnezzar. The Chapter contains a decree of the king that was circulated throughout the empire. Daniel must have had part in framing the document on behalf of Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Daniel 4:2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
Daniel 4:3 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.
Nebuchadnezzar is recognizing the greatness of God, its marvelous signs and wonders, and the fact that He was an eternal God.
Daniel 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
Daniel 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel 4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
Daniel 4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and he called the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers to give him the interpretation but when they could not, Daniel was always called in before the king.
Daniel 4:9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
Daniel 4:10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
Daniel 4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
Daniel 4:12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
Nebuchadnezzar in his dream saw a great tree of enormous height and size which was visible to the whole earth. It bore beautiful fruit and lovely leaves. The beasts found shelter under it, and the birds of the air lived in its branches.
Daniel 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
Daniel 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
As Nebuchadnezzar saw the tree, he heard a watcher, a holy one coming from heaven and calling with a loud voice to cut down the tree and trim off its branches and scatter those that were being sheltered by it.
Daniel 4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
Istructions was given that the stump should be bound with iron and brass.
Daniel 4:16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
The watcher also said the he should live among the animals and be given the mind of an beast and be drenched with the dew of heaven for seven years.
Daniel 4:17 This matter 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 the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
When the dream was fulfilled it would make clear that God was the Most High God ruleth over the kingdom of men.
Daniel 4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
Daniel 4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
Daniel 4:21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
Daniel 4:22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
Daniel 4:23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
Daniel summarized the image and the dream and then proceeded to the interpretation.
Daniel 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
Daniel 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Daniel 4:26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
Daniel 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Daniel informed the king that the vision meant that the king would lose his mind; he would be driven away from his palace, would live like a wild animal, eating grass, and would act like the cattle of the field. The length of the trial would be seven times, meaning seven years. The fact that the stump had a band around it, Daniel interpreted as revealing that he would be restored to his kingdom ultimately. On the basis of this prophecy, Daniel pleaded with the king, therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.
Daniel 4:28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
Daniel 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Daniel 4:31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
Daniel 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Twelve months later as Nebuchadnezzar was in his palace and he said to himself, is not this the great Babylon I have built as a royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? As he spake, he heard a voice from heaven indicating the time had come to fulfill the prophecy of the vision.
Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
Nebuchadnezzar was then driven away and ate grass like cattle. He lived outdoors with his body drenched with dew. His hair was allowed to grow, and his nails became like the claws of a bird.
Daniel 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
At the end of the seven years Nebuchadnezzar's sanity was restored and he expressed in the decree his praise of God, declaring that God's dominion was eternal, that all people were under His authority, that He could do what He pleased and no one could tell Him to hold back His hand.
Nebuchadnezzar was immediately returned to his former glory as the king of Babylon. It is probable that Daniel was the instrumental in maintaining the kingdom during the seven years of the king's insanity and also assuring the king's court that when he came to the end of the period he would be restored.
Daniel 4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.
This chapter makes it clear the gentile power is also subject to the will of God and will eventually be destroyed.
