_Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people_, &c. He addresses the proclamation, not only to his own subjects, but to all to whom the writing should come. _Peace be multiplied unto you_ May all things prosperous happen unto you. The Chaldee is, _Your peace be multiplied:_ a usual form of addressing th... [ Continue Reading ]
_I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest_, &c. Nebuchadnezzar, “for the extent of his dominion, and the great revenues it supplied; for his unrivalled success in war; for the magnificence and splendour of his court; and for his stupendous works and improvements at Babylon, was the greatest monarch, not only of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore made I a decree to bring in the wise men_ As he did before, on a like occasion; _but they did not make known unto me the interpretation_ Though they had promised with great confidence, when consulted before, respecting his former dream, that if it were told them they would, without fail,... [ Continue Reading ]
_But at the last Daniel came in before me_ Whether sent for by the king, or brought by another, appears not, but he was last, that it might appear that he only, or rather, his God, who revealed them to him, had the true understanding of these secrets: for if he had come first, or before the rest had... [ Continue Reading ]
_I saw_, &c. The substance of what the king relates is, that he saw in a dream “a tree, strong and flourishing; [_ in the midst of the earth_, or of his empire;] its summit pierced the clouds, and its branches overshadowed the whole extent of his vast dominions: it was laden with fruit, and luxurian... [ Continue Reading ]
_This matter is by the decree of the watchers, &c., to the intent that the living may know_, &c. The intent of the matter was to give mankind a proof, in the fall and restoration of this mighty monarch, that the fortunes of kings and empires are in the hand of God; that his providence perpetually in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Daniel was astonied for one hour_ “Stood in silent astonishment for nearly an hour,” both at the surprising circumstances of the judgment denounced against the king, and likewise out of a tender regard and respect for his person, who had bestowed so many favours upon him. The Vulgate renders i... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tree that thou sawest is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong_ Princes and great men are frequently represented in Scripture by fair and flourishing trees. So the king of Assyria is described, Ezekiel 31:3: compare Isaiah 10:34; Zechariah 11:2. _Thy greatness is grown and reacheth unt... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the interpretation, O king_, &c. We may observe that Daniel informs the king with the greatest tenderness, and most respectful terms, of the sad reverse of condition that was to happen to him. _They shall drive thee from men_ In the Chaldee and Hebrew the plural active, _they shall do_, sig... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee_ These words Daniel adds out of love to the king, if perhaps his complying with the advice given might turn away this dreadful stroke from him, or at least might give the king some hopes of a mitigation of the calamity. _And break off thy si... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar_ With what admirable propriety is the person changed here! the six following verses being delivered in the third person. But in the 34th, Nebuchadnezzar, having recovered his reason, speaks in the first person again. _At the end of twelve months_ God defer... [ Continue Reading ]
_At the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes_, &c. The first indication of his recovery is noted by a reverse of the cause of his fall. At the expiration of the term, or at the end of seven years, he lifted up his eyes unto heaven, and his understanding returned; that is, he recover... [ Continue Reading ]
_And for the glory_ Or _rather, And the glory of my kingdom, and mine honour and brightness_ Or _countenance_, (as the word זיוי, here used, is translated, Daniel 5:6; Daniel 7:28,) _returned to me_ I recovered my former looks, was possessed of the same outward glory and majesty, and was honoured wi... [ Continue Reading ]