_NEBUCHADNEZZAR CONFESSETH GOD'S KINGDOM, AND MAKETH RELATION OF HIS DREAM, WHICH THE MAGICIANS COULD NOT INTERPRET. DANIEL HEARETH THE DREAM: HE INTREPRETETH IT. THE HISTORY OF THE EVENT._ _Before Christ 570._ THIS chapter contains a decree of king Nebuchadnezzar's, and the reasons of it; the ki... [ Continue Reading ]
NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING— This is an edict in favour of the Jews: Daniel has preserved it to us in the original language, as an authentic piece. It is probable that it was given upon the occasion, and in consequence of the deliverance of the three Hebrews from the furnace.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW GREAT ARE HIS SIGNS, &C.— The king's repeated experience had extorted from him the sublime confession contained in this verse; the latter part of which is a fine display of the infinite power and dominion of the true God.... [ Continue Reading ]
I NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS AT REST, &C.— Nebuchadnezzar, after having subjected to his empire Syria, Phoenicia, Judaea, Egypt, and Arabia, returned to Babylon, full of glory; and, inflated with this prosperity, he enjoyed in peace the fruit of his conquests; seeing nothing in all Asia which did not submit... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE NAME WAS— _Whose name is._... [ Continue Reading ]
MASTER OF THE MAGICIANS— Or, _chief of the diviners._ Nebuchadnezzar gave this place and rank to Daniel, after he had interpreted his first dream to him concerning the statue. Instead of _troubleth thee,_ we may read, _too hard for thee._ Houbigant, for _tell me the visions of my dream,_ &c. reads,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, A TREE, &C.— Princes and great men are frequently represented in Scripture under the metaphor of fair and flourishing trees. See Ezekiel 31:3.Jeremiah 22:15.Psalms 37:35. The whole of this allegorical dream is explained in the subsequent part of the chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
A WATCHER— Instead of _watcher,_ Houbigant reads, _an adversary,_ or _opponent;_ which he thinks answers much better to the character of the _angel_ here spoken of, as the avenger and punisher of Nebuchadnezzar's pride. According to our translation, we must understand the word as referring to the at... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIS HEART BE CHANGED FROM MAN'S— It can only be hence collected, that the king's mind was so changed, that he now appeared to himself no longer as a man, but as an animal; and therefore, of his own accord, lived among wild beasts, neglectful of human food and culture. Nothing is read concerning... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MATTER IS BY THE DECREE, &C.— It is called, in the 24th verse, _the decree of the Most High._ The expression in the text is an allusion to the proceedings of earthly princes, who publish their decrees by the advice of their chief ministers. _Watchers_ and _holy ones_ are here spoken of in the p... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DANIEL—WAS ASTONISHED FOR ONE HOUR— _Stood in silent astonishment for nearly an hour._ This, doubtless, arose from his consideration of the extraordinary and affecting circumstances of the dream, as appears from the latter part of the verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL DRIVE THEE FROM MEN— In the Chaldee and Hebrew the plural active _they shall do,_ signifies no more than _thus it shall be,_ be the cause what it will: so that the meaning is, that Nebuchadnezzar should be punished with madness, which should so deprave his imagination while he yet retaine... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE END OF TWELVE MONTHS— God deferred the execution of his threats against this impious prince; he gave him a whole year to repent and return to him; but, seeing that he persevered in his crimes, the measure of his iniquities being full, he put his menaces in execution. See Calmet. _HE WALKED IN... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS GREAT BABYLON THAT I HAVE BUILT— The circuit of this city is said to have been 360 stadia at least, or more than 45 miles, and Pliny extends it to 60 miles. Herodotus describes it as a square, each side of which was 120 stadia, or 480 in circumference: the height of its walls was 50 cubi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT THE END OF THE DAYS, &C.— "God regarded me with the eyes of his mercy: my mind was restored: I humbled myself before the Lord; I acknowledged the greatness of his power, and the justice of his wrath: I applied to him, and obtained pity." It should appear from what Nebuchadnezzar says, that hi... [ Continue Reading ]
BRIGHTNESS— _Grandeur._... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I NEBUCHADNEZZAR PRAISE, &C.— The reader, desirous of entering more fully into the circumstances of Nebuchadnezzar's extraordinary madness, will find ample satisfaction in Calmet's remarks on the metamorphosis of that monarch. We shall conclude with the following observations of the learned Dr.... [ Continue Reading ]