King Nebuchadnezzar was impressed by God's miracles and signs after Daniel's three friends were pulled out of the furnace. We will see at the end of chapter 4, how his conception of God shifts from being one who works signs and wonders to one who has the power to humble the arrogant and, in the greatest miracle of all, turn a haughty man's hard heart into that of a humble child.
🔹Structure of Daniel 4
•Verses 2-27 - the king is describing his own experience.
•Verses 28-33 - while Nebuchadnezzar is beside himself, someone else is telling the story.
•Verses 34-37 - the king is describing his own experience when he is in his right mind again.
🔹Chapter 4 parallels Revelation 14 and Revelation 18:1-4, where the fall of Babylon is announced with a loud voice and the earth lightened with God’s glory. “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues”, is the message to everyone. Rev 18:4. A similar message is given in Dan 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 fouls from his branches.”
Daniel 4 verse 1 to 7
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
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.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
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.
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.
🔹“At rest...flourishing in my palace”
Because of his success and his ability to control Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Egypt, and Arabia, Nebuchadnezzar was at ease, or in a condition of security. Owing to his wealth and stability, he was becoming more and more proud.
🔹“I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.”
In contrast to the dream in Chapter 2, the king recalls his dream this time. As a result, he tells the dream to the Chaldeans, soothsayers, astrologers, and magicians.
The wise men asked the king in chapter 2 to give them the dream so they could interpret it. Even when the monarch gave them the dream, they were unable to understand it. God is still showing Nebuchadnezzar the truth about the falsity of the counterfeit religious system of Babylon.
Daniel 4 verse 8 to 17
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,
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.
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.
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:
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.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
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:
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:
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.
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.
🔹“But at the last Daniel”
Daniel has finally entered before the king. Daniel is remembered by the king because of this abilities in chapter 2. He is given the name, "master of magicians" because he knows the answer to everything that is secret.
🔹“Spirit of the holy gods”
Nebuchadnezzar says this about Daniel because it is Daniel’s God that is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets. (Daniel 2:47)
🔹“A tree”
•It was in the centre of the earth.
•Its height was great, or large in size.
•The tree was strong.
•It reached to the end of all the earth.
•Much fruit was upon the tree. It was abounding in food.
•There was meat/food for all. So it feed all for all flesh were fed of it.
•The beasts of the field dwelt under it and the fowl of the air dwelt in it.
🔹“A watcher and an holy one”
Now he sees the descent of a holy one, or watcher, from above. In the original language, the word "watcher" used here alludes to an angel. The angel is one who observes and documents the happenings, evidently keeping track of them. He is the one who descends from heaven.
🔹“Leave the stump”
The stump was to be left in the field with a band of iron and brass surrounding it, even though the tree was to be chopped down. It was supposed to be covered with heaven's dew, and the stumps were supposed to be among the animals in the earth's grass.
🔹“Let his heart be changed”
The stumps heart was to be changed from a man’s to that that belongs to a beast.
🔹“The intent that the living may know that the Most High”
This was all for the intention that the living may know that it is God that sets up kingdoms and rules in them, and sets over these kingdoms the basest/humblest of men.
Daniel 4 verse 18 to 22
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.
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.
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;
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:
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.
🔹“Forasmuch as all the wise men”
Even after giving them the dream, he admits that none of his wise men in the realm can explain the meaning to him.
🔹“Astonished for one hour”
Daniel was taken back by the dream and was troubled. This was not because he could not give the interpretation but that the interpretation was not good news.
🔹“The tree that thou sawest...it is thou”
This tree that the king had seen in his dream was a description of himself.
🔹“Grown and become strong”
Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon had developed into a powerful nation. It was considered to be the center of the world and had current global authority. It was rich and beautiful, with a seemingly limitless supply of food. She was strong against all opponents at this period and provided security to everyone inside her walls. Under Nebuchadnezzar's leadership, every subject of the kingdom was provided with the utmost security, assistance, and prosperity.
Daniel 4 verse 23 to 37
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;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
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.
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.
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.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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.
🔹“Decree of the Most High”
The decree came from the God of heaven to hew down the tree. This decree came to Nebuchadnezzar through the watcher or the recording angel, and was upon the king himself.
🔹“Seven times”
Nebuchadnezzar would remain in this role as a beast of the field for seven years. This was to be his state until he could admit that the kingdom of mankind belonged to God and that He bestowed it upon whomever He chose.
🔹“Leave the stump of the tree”
We witness God's mercy mixed with His judgment. The king would continue to hold authority and his kingdom until he admitted that the God of heaven is in charge. The kingdom would be preserved for Nebuchadnezzar to reign once more, much like the ring of iron and brass was placed around the tree stump to protect it and prevent it from splitting.
🔹“Break off thy sins by righteousness”
Daniel instructs the king to change his wicked ways rather than pleading with him to do so. He urges the king to repentance and calls out him for his actions. Therefore, it is right that we enable God's word to pierce people's hearts deeply and invite those who are straying from God to turn to Him for forgiveness.
🔹“End of twelve months”
It took 12 months before his pride overran him whilst walking through the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
🔹“The king spake”
The king had nothing but exaltation of himself in the words that he spoke. He gave all the glory to himself instead of God, Who had shown him that it was He Who set up kings and kingdoms. This same attitude we find in Satan. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
🔹“The same hour”
The judgment was carried out immediately. The condition of Nebuchadnezzar was like that of a beast of the field just as it was prophesied. This condition was to be for seven years, which at that time, he would acknowledge the God of heaven as the supreme ruler over all.
🔹“Reputed as nothing...what doest thou”
We are but dust, or nothing compared to God. He does according to His will and who are we to bring all the glory upon ourselves and tell God what to do (Romans 9:20, Job 38-39).
🔹“Whose works are truth”
All of God’s works are truth and righteousness. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 Psalms 98:2) We also see the lengths that God will go to, to bring about the conversion of a soul. He knew what it would take to bring Nebuchadnezzar to the point of following Him, and humbling him so as to separate the pride from his life that was impeding his relationship with God.