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The Divine Commentary on The Book of Daniel - Ch 04 (19.3.11)

Dan 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

Divine commentary –

“So it came to be that King Nebuchadnezzar opened his declaration to all within his reach.”

Dan 4:2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

Divine commentary –

“For King Nebuchadnezzar would make known the signs and wonders he had received from the Most High God.”

Dan 4:3 How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.

Dan 4:4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

Dan 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Dan 4:6 Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

Dan 4:7 Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

Divine commentary –

“So the king recounts, 

            in his troubles, 

                     how he called all before him as before, 

                     how he invited their interpretation unsuccessfully.”

Dan 4:8 But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:

Divine commentary –

“The king recalls how Daniel again came before him, 

            as he knew in him was The Spirit of The Holy God.”

Dan 4:9 "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

Divine commentary –

“Thereby the king calls for an explanation and an interpretation of his dream.”

Dan 4:10 "These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great.

Divine commentary –

“So the king recites in detail the onset of the visions of his head.”

Dan 4:11 The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.

Divine commentary –

“So the king continued with his visions.”

Dan 4:12 Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.

Dan 4:13 "I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

Dan 4:14 He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.

Divine commentary –

“And the king spelt out the details, 

           that Daniel would comprehend the visions of the king in their fulness of extent.”

Dan 4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth.

Divine commentary –

“Then the king concluded with the ending of the visions of his head while he lay upon his bed.”

Dan 4:16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.

Dan 4:17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

Divine commentary –

“So the dream is made known to Daniel, 

           in its completeness, 

                    of all the king had seen.”

Dan 4:18 "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you."

Divine commentary –

“ So the king restated his confidence in Daniel’s ability, 

           with The Spirit of The Holy God, 

                    to interpret to the king this dream, 

                             which had defied all the wise men of his kingdom.”

Dan 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

Divine commentary –

“Then the king could see Daniel was troubled by his thoughts and hesitant to speak, 

           so the king encouraged Daniel to make known his interpretation. 

  So Daniel spoke guardedly, 

           whilst indicating the dream likely concerned those who would do harm to the king; 

                   hence, 

                           Daniel continued, 

                                    the interpretation concerned the actions of the enemies of the king.”

Dan 4:20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,

Dan 4:21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home

Divine commentary –

“So Daniel repeated the first section of the dream as it had been described.”

Dan 4:22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

Divine commentary –

“So Daniel interpreted before the king – 

           as this being the king himself.”

Dan 4:23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him';

Divine commentary –

“And so Daniel continued, 

           step by step, 

                    in detail of description.”

Dan 4:24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:

 

Dan 4:25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

Divine commentary –

“And so Daniel continued, 

           step by step, 

                    in detail of interpretation. 

So Daniel brought before the king the timed need for the king’s acknowledgment as to the authority of the Most High God – 

                                    He who rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He pleases.”

Dan 4:26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

Dan 4:27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity."

Dan 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan 4:29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.

Dan 4:30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?"

Dan 4:31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!

Divine commentary –

“So Daniel completed the interpretation with the acceptance of the king. 

  So a time passed. 

  So they faded from the memory of the king. 

  So the king was heard to utter that which would bring about his downfall for the times. 

                For as the king, 

                         in pride, 

                                   called for confirmation that Babylon, 

                                            in its greatness, 

                                                     was due to his own effort: 

                                                                 his building up of his surroundings by his own mighty power and for his own honouring of his majesty – 

                                   so a voice from heaven announced to the king the departure of his kingdom.”

Dan 4:32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."

Divine commentary –

“And the voice from heaven continued, 

             in confirmation, 

                         of the king’s description of his dream – 

                                     as he had made known to Daniel.”

Dan 4:33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

Divine commentary –

“So the word was fulfilled, 

             without delay, 

                       as Nebuchadnezzar was driven out –  

                                    to spend his time among the beasts of the field. 

             There, 

                       awaiting his redemption, 

                                    he was forced to eat grass, 

                                        was without shelter, 

                                                       as his appearance became extremely unkempt.”

Dan 4:34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honoured Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

Divine commentary –

“So Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses, 

                                   came to an understanding of The Most High God, 

                                   came to praise and honour The Eternal God – 

                                                             His everlasting dominion with His everlasting Kingdom.”

Dan 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

Divine commentary –

“So Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the supremacy of God: 

                                                          the supremacy of His will, 

                                                          the supremacy of His power, 

                                                          the supremacy of His authority.”

Dan 4:36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honour and splendour returned to me. My counsellors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.

Divine commentary –

“Then all was restored, 

              as before, 

                        to King Nebuchadnezzar, 

                                     yet with even greater majesty.”

Dan 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Divine commentary –

“So King Nebuchadnezzar sat on his throne in splendour whilst acknowledging, 

              in wisdom, 

                          by his praising, 

                          by his extolling, 

                          by his honouring, 

              of The King of heaven: 

                          in the evidence of His truth, 

                          in the justice of His ways, 

                          in His ability to bring the prideful to their knees.”

NKJV Footnotes:

    * (4:16) Possibly seven years, and so in verses 23, 25, and 32

    * (4:34) Literally days

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