4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and
languages, that dwell in all the o earth; Peace be
multiplied unto you.
(o) Meaning, as far as his dominion extended.
4:3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders!
p his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his
dominion [is] from generation to generation.
(p) )Read Geneva "Da 2:44")
4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at a rest in mine house, and
flourishing in my palace:
(a) There was no trouble that might cause me to dream, and
therefore it came only from God.
4:5 I saw a b dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts
upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
(b) This was another dream besides that which he saw of the
four empires, for Daniel both declared what that dream
was, and what it meant, and here he expounds this dream.
4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans,
and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but
c they did not make known unto me the interpretation
thereof.
(c) In that he sent abroad to others, whose ignorance in
times past he had experienced, and left Daniel who was
ever ready at hand, it declares the nature of the
ungodly, who never seek for the servants of God unless
they absolutely have to, and then they flatter to a
great extent.
4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was]
d 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],
(d) This no doubt was a great grief to Daniel not only to
have his name changed, but to be called by the name of a
vile idol, which thing Nebuchadnezzar did to make him
forget the true religion of God.
4:9 O Belteshazzar, e 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.
(e) Which also was a great grief to the Prophet, to be
numbered among the sorcerers and men whose practices
were wicked and contrary to God's word.
4:10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and
behold a f tree in the midst of the earth, and the height
thereof [was] great.
(f) By the tree is signified the dignity of a king whom God
ordains to be a defence for every type of man, and
whose state is profitable for mankind.
4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a
g watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
(g) Meaning the angel of God, who neither eats nor sleeps,
but is always ready to do God's will, and is not
infected with man's corruption, but is always holy.
And in that he commands to cut down this tree, he knew
that it would not be cut down by man, but by God.
4:16h 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.
(h) By this he means that Nebuchadnezzar would not only for
a time lose his kingdom, but be like a beast.
4:17i 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.
(i) God has decreed this judgment and the whole army of
heaven has as it were joined in being a part of it,
just as they also desire the execution of his decree
against all those that lift up themselves against God.
4:19 Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was k
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.
(k) He was troubled because of the great judgment of God,
which he saw ordained against the king. And so the
Prophets on the one hand used to make known God's
judgments for the zeal they had for his glory, and on
the other hand had compassion upon man. And they also
considered that they would be subject to God's
judgments, if he did not regard them with pity.
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, l till seven times pass over him;
(l) By which he means a long space, as seven years. Some
interpret seven months, and others seven weeks, but it
seems he means seven years.
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 m oxen, and they shall wet thee with the
dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till
thou know that n the most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
(m) Not that his shape or form was changed into a beast,
but that he was either stricken mad, and so avoided
man's company, or was cast out because of his tyranny,
and so wandered among the beasts, and ate herbs and
grass.
(n) Daniel shows the reason why God punished him in this
way.
4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee,
and o break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine
iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a
p lengthening of thy tranquillity.
(o) Cease from provoking God to anger any longer by your
sins, that he may reduce the severity of his
punishment, if you show by your upright life that you
have true faith and repentance.
(p) Allow the errors of your former life to be made up
for.
4:29 At the end of twelve q months he walked in the palace of
the kingdom of Babylon.
(q) After Daniel had declared this vision: and this pride
of his declares that it is not in man to convert to
God, unless his Spirit moves him, seeing that these
terrible threatenings could not move him to repent.
4:34 And at the end of the r 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:
(r) When the term of these seven years was accomplished.
4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as
nothing: and he doeth according to his s 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?
(s) He confesses God's will to be the rule of all justice,
and a most perfect law, by which he governs both man
and angels and devils, so that none ought to murmur or
ask a reason for his doings, but only to stand content
with them and give him the glory.
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 t my lords sought unto
me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent
majesty was added unto me.
(t) By whom it seems that he had been put from his kingdom
before.
4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar u 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.
(u) He not only praises God for his deliverance, but also
confesses his fault, so that God alone may have the
glory, and man the shame, and so that God may be
exalted and man cast down.
