Daniel Chapter Four

Daniel 4:1

“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.”

Daniel 4:1

“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth;”

• The king Nebuchadnezzar is sending a message to his entire kingdom

“Peace be multiplied unto you.”

• A common introductory greeting
   

Daniel 4:2

“I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.”

Daniel 4:2

“to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.”

• The king wants to tell the world what God has done for him
• This is the essence of the gospel (what God has done for you)
• He wants to tell his conversion story
• This story is written by the king himself or by Daniel writing for him
  
  

Daniel 4:3

“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.”

Daniel 4:3

“How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders!”

• The king has learned that God is in control
• The king has seen God’s miracles

“his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.”

• God’s kingdom is eternal, men’s are not, including Nebuchadnezzar’s
   

Daniel 4:4

“I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:”

Daniel 4:4

“I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house,”

• This was a time of great prosperity and popularity
• This was a time of peace suggesting the last ½ of his reign and he would have been about 55 years old

“flourishing in my palace:”

• His kingdom was doing well
  
  

Daniel 4:5

“I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.”

Daniel 4:5

“I saw a dream which made me afraid,”

• The king begins his message by telling of another dream
• This dream made him afraid and troubled and probably made it hard for him to sleep

 

Daniel 4:6

“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.”

Daniel 4:6

“Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon”

• Note: he does not call for Daniel, as you might expect based on prior experience. Probably, God wanted the king to again learn the worthlessness of his advisors

“that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.”

• This dream he remembered,
  as opposed to his dream in chapter 2

 

Daniel 4:7

“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.”

Daniel 4:7

“Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers:”

• These four groups have previously been described (see Daniel 2:2,27)

“I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.”

• Even though they knew the dream this time they still could not explain it to the king’s satisfaction
  
  

Daniel 4:8

“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,”

Daniel 4:8

“But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God,”

• Daniel is finally called after the other wise men have failed
• Daniel is here referred to by his Hebrew name first and then by his assigned name
• Note: Daniel’s Hebrew name is significant to his book and to this story (his name means God is Judge)

 “Belteshazzar,”

• Daniel’s assigned Pagan name named after the pagan god Bel (Marduk)

“in whom is the spirit of the holy gods:”

• Probably better translated “the Holy Spirit of God”

“I told the dream,”

• The king now tells Daniel his dream

 

Daniel 4:9

“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.”

Daniel 4:9

“O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,”

• Also translates as “chief of the governors”
• The king recognizes that Daniel is his best interpreter

“I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee,”

• The king knew where Daniel got his interpretations from: God 

 “tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.”

• The king wants to know what his dream meant
• The king probably suspected some bad news (see PK p. 516)
  
  

Daniel 4:10

“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.”

Daniel 4:10

“Thus were the visions of mine head”

• Ancients believed that that extraordinary dreams and visions had special significance

“behold a tree in the midst of the earth,”

• The king saw a large tree covering the earth

“the height thereof was great.”

• This was a very tall tree
   

Daniel 4:11

“The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:”

Daniel 4:11

“The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven,”

• This mighty tree got even bigger
• This tree reached up to the heavens

“the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:”

• This tree was visible to the entire world
  
  

Daniel 4:12

“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.”

Daniel 4:12

“The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all”

• This tree was special and very fruitful
• This tree was full of food 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.”

• This tree also provided for the birds and animals
  
  

Daniel 4:13

“I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;”

Daniel 4:13

“behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;”

• Watcher: Aramaic “ir”
   from verb “ur” meaning to watch which in Hebrew means “being watchful” or “one who is awake”
• Holy one: suggests that this being was from God
• From heaven: confirms that this being was sent from God

 

Daniel 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 fowls from his branches:”

Daniel 4:14

“He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree,”

• The messenger is ordering the tree to be cut down

“cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit:”

• Strip the tree naked and divide its fruit 

 “let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:”

• The tree is going to lose its value to the animals and to the birds who lived there
  
  

Daniel 4:15

“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:”

Daniel 4:15

“Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth,”

• The tree would not be totally uprooted

“even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field;”

• These bands may refer to iron bands used to preserve trees
• Some suggest they refer to the chains that might have been used on a madman

 “let it be wet with the dew of heaven,”         

• This tree would be wet with heaven’s dew

“and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:”

• The “tree” has suddenly become a man (his)
• This man will spend time with the beasts in the grass
  
  

Daniel 4:16

“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.”

Daniel 4:16

“Let his heart be changed from man's”

• The tree is now clearly a man
• This man has a heart
• “heart” here refers to this man’s nature

“let a beast's heart be given unto him”

• This man is going to become like a beast

 “and let seven times pass over him.”

• A time in Biblical prophecy is a year
• Seven times would be seven years
• This man would be a beast for seven years!
  
  

Daniel 4:17

“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.”

Daniel 4:17

“This matter is by the decree of the watchers,”

• Watchers: plural suggests a heavenly council (see Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6)

“the demand by the word of the holy ones:”

• Refers to the watchers or heavenly council (see Dan. 4:13)
  or possibly to the Godhead

 “to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men,”

• This now is the intent of the dream
• The dream was to teach the world who is in charge
• The dream was to teach the king who is in charge
• The dream was to teach that God is in charge

 “and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

• God determines who will reign not men
• God gives kingdoms to whomever He chooses
• God sets up the “basest of men”
• Basest: here refers to “humility” or “lowliness”
• These lowly men are allowed to reign as opposed to the “Most High God”
  
  

Daniel 4:18

“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.”

Daniel 4:18

“Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof,”

• The king here refers to Daniel by his pagan name

“all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able;”

• The king knows that Daniel alone can do this

 “for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.”

• Daniel has God’s Holy Spirit in him
• Daniel was Spirit filled because Daniel was empty of himself
• Daniel’s God was his Lord, which meant Daniel would go where God sent and do what God asked, when God asked
  
  

 

Daniel 4:19

“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.”

Daniel 4:19

“was astonied”

• Daniel was appalled, perplexed

 “for one hour,”

• Aramaic: “sha’ah” not a definite time period, better translation might be “at that time”

“his thoughts troubled him.”

• Daniel was worried about this dream and how it would affect the king

 “The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.”

• The king realized that Daniel was upset

“My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.”

• Daniel is wanting this dream to apply to the king’s enemies and not the king
  
  

Daniel 4:20

“The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;”

Daniel 4:20

“The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong,”

• The tree represented the king and his control of the world

“whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;”

• Babylon ruled the entire known world
  
  
  

Daniel 4:21

“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:”

Daniel 4:21

“Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much,”

• Babylon was very successful and rich

“meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:”

• Babylon fed the world and was worldwide in its influence
  
  

Daniel 4:22

“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.”

Daniel 4:22

“It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong:”

• The tree represented the king
• The king and his country had grown and become strong

“reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.”

• Babylon had conquered the known world
  
  

Daniel 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, till seven times pass over him;”

Daniel 4:23

“saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven,”

• This represents heaven’s judgment on you

“Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth,”

• You will be this stump

“let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field,”

• You will live in the field with the beasts

 

Daniel 4:24

“This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:”

Daniel 4:24

“This is the interpretation,”

• Daniel will now tell the king God’s decree

“this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:”

• Daniel is now going to tell the king what is coming upon him
• This decree is from God
  
  

Daniel 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 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.”

Daniel 4:25

“That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field,”

• The king would be driven from among men and made to live with the beasts

“they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven,”

• The king would eat grass in the fields with the cattle

 “and seven times shall pass over thee,”

• The king would live as a beast for seven years

“till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

• The king would live as a beast until he knew who was really in charge
• When the king finally accepted the fact that God rules and gives kingdoms to men then he would be restored
   

Daniel 4:26

“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.”

Daniel 4:26

“And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee,”

• “leave the stump” means that your kingdom will not be taken away from you
• Ancients believed that mental illness was caused by evil spirits and that if you killed an insane person or stole their property the evil spirit would seek revenge

“after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.”

• Reiterates that the issue is who is in charge
• Reiterates that this is the lesson that the king must learn
  
  
  

Daniel 4:27

“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.”

Daniel 4:27

“let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness,”

• Daniel (remember Daniel’s name means God is Judge) is suggesting that the king might be able to avoid God’s judgment by changing his life

“and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”

• Often God’s judgments are conditional
• The king could have averted this judgment but he chose not to change his actions
  
  

 

Daniel 4:28

“All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.”

Daniel 4:28

“All this came upon the king”

• This sentence sums up the rest of the story
• The king reaped the results of his choices
• Even though the king could have changed the outcome his pride and selfishness would not let him

 

Daniel 4:29

“At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.”

Daniel 4:29

“At the end of twelve months”

• 12 months later: this suggests that the king may have followed Daniel’s advice for a while but then changed his mind

 

Daniel 4:30

“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?”

 

Daniel 4:30

“The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built”

• The king has now forgotten God’s warning

“that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”

• The king is now taking credit for setting up his kingdom and rejecting God’s claim
   

Daniel 4:31

“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.”

Daniel 4:31

“While the word was in the king's mouth,”

• Essentially: while he was speaking

“there fell a voice from heaven, saying,”

• God is now going to pronounce judgment on the king

“The kingdom is departed from thee.”

• The king was to lose his kingdom!
  
  

Daniel 4:32

“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.”

Daniel 4:32

“they shall drive thee from men”

• The treatment of insanity was isolation!

“thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen,”

• The king lived with the beasts and ate grass

“seven times shall pass over thee,”

• It would take the king seven years to learn who was God

“until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

• The issue was who was in charge!
  
  

Daniel 4:33

“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.”

Daniel 4:33

“The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar”

• God’s judgments come on time
• Same hour or time

“and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven,”

• The king lived like a wild animal

“till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.”

• The king looked like a wild animal
• Word “feathers” is added
  
  

 

Daniel 4:34

“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:”

Daniel 4:34

“And at the end of the days”

• This refers to the seven years of insanity
• This refers to the end of the time period allotted

“I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me,”

• This confirms that the king had lost his understanding (mind)
• The king is recognizing that heaven is where his understanding comes from

 “I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever,”

• Now his mind is working correctly and he realizes that God is to be praised
• His first rational response was to praise God
• Humility leads to praise!
• When he recognized that God was in charge his insanity was cured
• When we recognize that God is in charge we also change from beasts into men (God’s image)

 “whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:”

• The king now realizes that only God’s kingdom is forever
  
  

Daniel 4:35

“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?”

Daniel 4:35

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:”

• The king has learned that no one is anything when compared to God

“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?”

• God is in charge not the king
• “stay his hand”: This parallels Isaiah 43:13 and Daniel may have quoted this to the king
   

Daniel 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 my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.”

Daniel 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;”

• When his sanity returned so did his kingdom!
• He was restored as king

“and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.”

• His leaders realized that he was cured and sought him out 

 

Daniel 4:37

“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.”

Daniel 4:37

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven,”

• The king now praises and honors God the King of Heaven

“all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment:”

• God is truth and the king finally admits it
• God is just and the king finally realizes it 

 “those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

• The king finally admits that the issue is pride and that God will abase our pride if it can save us
• God is Judge!
  
  

Summary

• Daniel chapter four is unique in the book of Daniel: it is written by the king Nebuchadnezzar to his people
• This chapter tells the story of how the king learns about pride and who is really in charge of world events
• The chapter begins with a dream that the king remembers but does not understand
• When the king’s advisors fail again at interpreting the dream the king calls Daniel
• Daniel, thru the Holy Spirit, explains the dream:
• the tree is the king
• The king will be cut down (lose his power)
• The king will become as a wild animal and eat grass for seven years
• The king will be restored
• The king was given an opportunity to avoid this result and did so for one year
• Once the king’s pride took over the judgment fell
• At the end of the seven years the king was restored after he admitted that God was in charge
• This story is consistent with the entire theme of the book of Daniel
• Daniel’s name means “ God is Judge” and this story affirms that God is Judge
• There is a seven year time frame that represents the entire time allotted to the king during which he could change his mind
• The world will get a similar period at the end of time!
• This seven year period ended when the king finally looked up to heaven and saw the true God
• At the end of time this similar period will end with the revealing of God in the heavens
• This story ends “at the end of the days”
• This refers to the end of the time period allotted
• Daniel chapter four is a warning against pride
• In the last days there will be a spiritual pride that will not allow many to recognize God’s last day message because they already have the “truth”
• Daniel chapter four is also a reminder that God is our Judge and that  judgment is certain