NEBUCHADNEZZAR's MADNESS Nebuchadnezzar makes a proclamation to all peoples of the earth, in which he extols the power and greatness of the God of Israel (Daniel 4:1_; Daniel 4:34_). The occasion of the proclamation is explained in Daniel 4:4. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, which the -Chaldeans" were... [ Continue Reading ]
_all_ THE _people_ S, _nations, and languages_ Daniel 3:4. _that dwell in all the earth_ The hyperbole seems to us extravagant; but it must be remembered that -all the earth" in the O.T. has not the meaning which we attach to the expression, but denotes (substantially) Western Asia, from Elam and Me... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prologue of Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I thought it good_ better (R.V.) IT HATH SEEMED GOOD UNTO ME. _to shew to_ DECLARE (Daniel 2:4). -Shew" suggests here, at least to modern readers, a wrong sense. _signs and wonders_ similarly in Darius's decree (Daniel 4:27). Cf. -signs and portents," Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 6:22; Deuteronom... [ Continue Reading ]
_an everlasting kingdom_(מלכות עלם)] cf. Psalms 145:13 (מלכות כל עולמים). is _from_, &c. more exactly, (endureth) WITH _generation_ AND _generation_(i.e. successive generations): so Daniel 4:34 (Aram. 31). For -with," cf. also Daniel 7:2, and Psalms 72:5 Heb. The thought of this and the preceding c... [ Continue Reading ]
_at rest_ or _at ease, prosperous_. The word suggests the idea of contentment and security, in a good or a bad sense, according to the context (Job 16:12; Psalms 122:6; Job 12:6; Psalms 73:12). _flourishing_ The word is applied properly to a tree, and means _spreading, luxuriant_(Deuteronomy 12:2; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Nebuchadnezzar describes his dream, which, as the wise men of Babylon were unable to interpret it, he laid before Daniel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the thoughts_ IMAGINATIONS (without the art.); cf. R.V. _marg._The word is a peculiar one, and is found only here in the O.T. The idea expressed by it is probably that of _fancyings, imaginings_(in Syr. it means a _mirage_); in the Targums it is used especially (like the cognate verb) of _sinful_im... [ Continue Reading ]
The -wise men" of Babylon (Daniel 2:12) were summoned before the king, as on the occasion of his previous dream (Daniel 2:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the magicians, the_ ENCHANTERS, _the Chaldeans, and the_ DETERMINERS (of fates)] see on Daniel 1:21; Daniel 2:2, and Daniel 2:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
_at the last_ It is difficult to understand how the Aram. can bear this meaning; though no doubt something substantially similar is what is intended. Behrmann renders, -And (so it was) till another came in before me, (even) Daniel"; and Bevan (changing a point), -And yet another came in before me, ... [ Continue Reading ]
_master of the magicians_ see Daniel 2:48. _troubleth thee_ FORCETH, CONSTRAINETH _thee_, i.e. reduces thee to straits.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nebuchadnezzar's dream was of a mighty tree, the head of which towered to heaven, while its branches sheltered, and afforded nutriment for, the beasts and fowl of the earth: as he watched it, he heard the command given that it should be hewn down to the earth, and only its stump left standing. For t... [ Continue Reading ]
_grew_ WAS GROWN.... [ Continue Reading ]
The thoughts expressed by the symbolism of the dream are the central and commanding position taken in the world by Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, its power, splendour, and prosperity, and the protection and support afforded by it, not only to those who strictly belonged to it, but also to all others who... [ Continue Reading ]
_meat_ in the old sense of the word (see on Amos 5:22; and cf. Genesis 1:29-30), FOOD in general, not what we now call -meat." So Daniel 4:21. The Aram. word occurs in Syr. and the Targums; and twice in the Heb. of the O.T., Genesis 45:23 (A.V. -meat," R.V. -victual"), 2 Chronicles 11:23 (A.V., R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a watcher_ i.e. not a _guardian_, but a WAKEFUL ONE (Aq., Symm., ἐγρήγορος, Vulg. _vigil_); so Daniel 4:17_; Daniel 4:23_. The term denotes an angel, or, possibly, a particular class of angels, so called, either as being ever ready to fulfil the Divine behests, or as being ever wakeful for some par... [ Continue Reading ]
The strength and magnificence of the great tree are all to be stripped from it. _aloud_ lit. _with might_, as Daniel 3:4. _Hew down_&c. who are addressed, is not stated: as in other similar cases (Isaiah 13:2; Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 57:14; Jeremiah 4:5, &c.), those whose duty it would naturally be to... [ Continue Reading ]
The destruction of the tree, however, is not to be total: a stump is to be left, which may ultimately grow again. _even_ IN _a band of iron and brass_ Unless it might be supposed that it was customary, for any purpose, to place a metal band round the stump of a tree which had been cut down, the fig... [ Continue Reading ]
_his heart_ i.e. his intelligence: let him receive the understanding of a beast (imagine himself an animal). The heart, in Hebrew psychology, is the seat not (as commonly with us) of tender feeling (a -heartless" man), but of the _intellect:_cf. Hosea 7:11, -a silly dove, without _heart_," i.e. with... [ Continue Reading ]
This _matter_ either THE WORD (i.e. _The sentence_, R.V., as Ecclesiastes 8:11 [cf. Esther 1:20, _the decree_, for the same word in Hebrew]), or (in a weakened sense), THE THING (cf. Daniel 3:16 -in this _matter_"), i.e. what has just been described. _by the decree_&c. implying that it is unalterab... [ Continue Reading ]
Nebuchadnezzar closes his description of his dream by appealing to Daniel to interpret it. _for the spirit_&c. See Daniel 4:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel's interpretation of the dream.... [ Continue Reading ]
_was astonied_ better, WAS STUPEFIED or APPALLED, viz. as the meaning of the dream flashed across him. The root-idea of the word (שמם) seems to have been _to be motionless_, sometimes (cf. on Daniel 8:13) in the stillness of desolation, sometimes, as here, through amazement (so Daniel 8:27). It is n... [ Continue Reading ]
The description repeated from Daniel 4:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_meat_ FOOD, as Daniel 4:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
The tree represented Nebuchadnezzar himself, in the pride and greatness of his empire. _to the end of the earth_ Comp. what was said on Daniel 4:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abbreviated from Daniel 4:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and_ IT is _the decree of the most High_, &c. cf. Daniel 4:17 _a_.... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense of _vv._15, 16, 17 _b_explained more distinctly: Nebuchadnezzar, imagining himself to be an animal, will act himself, and be treated by others, accordingly. _that they_shall _drive thee … and they shall make thee to eat … and they_shall _wet thee_ R.V. _that_ THOU SHALT BE DRIVEN … _and_ T... [ Continue Reading ]
_they commanded_ viz. the watchers (cf. Daniel 4:17). Or, in accordance with the principle just explained, _it was commanded_. _sure_ i.e. _confirmed, secure_: cf. Daniel 6:26 (-stedfast"). The object of the humiliation was (Daniel 4:25 _b_) to teach the king that his power was not his own, but del... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel closes with a piece of practical advice addressed to the king. _break off_ R.V. _marg._-Or, _redeem_"; LXX., Theod., λύτρωσαι. The word (_p-raḳ_,) meaning properly to _tear away_, is common in Aram. (both Targums and Syriac) in the derived sense of _tearing away_from servitude, death, or dang... [ Continue Reading ]
The fulfilment of the dream.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he_ WAS WALKING UPON _the_ ROYAL PALACE _of Babylon_ -upon" means _on the roof of:_cf. 2 Samuel 11:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_spake_ ANSWERED (Daniel 2:20). _great Babylon_ Revelation 16:19 (in a figurative sense); cf. Jeremiah 51:58. I] The pronoun is emphatic. _for the house of the kingdom for_ A ROYAL DWELLING-PLACE (or RESIDENCE). _honour_ GLORY (as Daniel 2:37). The -India House Inscription" of Nebuchadnezzar is... [ Continue Reading ]
The divine rebuke alights immediately upon the king. _there fell a voice from heaven_ such as was called by the later Jews a _Bath Ḳôl_, lit. -the daughter of a voice" (the accompanying verb being usually -came forth"), the term applied by them to a divine voice unaccompanied by any visible manifest... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ THOU SHALT BE DRIVEN … SHALT BE MADE _to eat grass as oxen_ The passives, as Daniel 4:25, with which, indeed, except that one clause is omitted, the present verse agrees almost verbally.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The same hour_ Daniel 3:6. _the thing_ or, _the_ WORD, i.e. the announcement of Daniel 4:31. _did eat … was wet_ The tenses express what was habitual (cf. Daniel 4:12). _till his hairs were grown_, &c. The delusion under which he was suffering leading him naturally to neglect his person.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the days_ i.e. the seven -times" of Daniel 4:16_; Daniel 4:23; Daniel 4:25; Daniel 4:32_. _lift up mine eyes unto heaven_ The mute, half-unconscious acknowledgement of the God who rules in heaven, was followed by the return of the king's human consciousness. _and I blessed_, &c. The king gave ope... [ Continue Reading ]
At the end of the appointed time, Nebuchadnezzar's reason returned to him: he owned the sovereignty of the Most High, and was restored to his kingdom; and now, in thankful acknowledgement of His power, he issues his present proclamation.... [ Continue Reading ]
are _reputed as nothing_ better, _are as_ PERSONS OF NO ACCOUNT (Bevan). The expression is in part, no doubt, suggested by Isaiah 40:17 (where the verb rendered -counted" is the same as that which in the partic. is here rendered -reputed"). _and he doeth_&c. He rules alike in heaven and earth. _the... [ Continue Reading ]
_reason_ The word is the same as that which in Daniel 4:34 is rendered _understanding_. _mine honour my_ MAJESTY (R.V.), as the word is rendered in A.V. in Daniel 4:30. In Heb. the word is regularly used of the majesty of a king (or of God), as Psalms 21:5; Psalms 29:4; Psalms 45:3-4. _and_ MY SPLE... [ Continue Reading ]
Nebuchadnezzar's final doxology. _extol_ or _exalt_: Psalms 30:1; Psalms 118:28; Psalms 145:1, &c. _truth … judgement_ cf. Psalms 111:7. _and those that walk in pride_, &c. Cf. Ezekiel 17:24; Psalms 18:27; Psalms 75:7; also Proverbs 16:18. Nebuchadnezzar recog [ Continue Reading ]