Bible Commentaries
Daniel 4

Verse 1

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

Nebuchadnezzar the king — Daniel here sets down another strange relation in the words of the king’s own proclamation, sent to all his vast kingdoms, and questionless put into the king’s archives, and court-rolls.

Peace be multiplied — All health and happiness; this was always the form of salutation among the eastern nations.

Verse 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.

How great are his signs — Nothing less than a real change of heart could cause such a confession as this! Nebuchadnezzar was now old, had reigned above forty years, and seen as much of the world as most men ever did. And yet never ’till now, did he admire surprizing events, as the signs and wonders of the high God!

Verse 4

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

Was at rest — When my wars were over, I sat down quiet, enjoying the spoils of my enemies.

Verse 13

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

A watcher — A holy angel, the instrument of God, to execute God’s judgments which the angels watch constantly to perform.

Verse 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.

Of the holy ones — The decree was God’s, and the demand was of the holy angels; if God enact it, the angels had the dispensation of it put into their hands, and they all consent to it as a just judgment of God to be executed by them according to the will of God.

The most high ruleth — Nebuchadnezzar and his flatterers conceded he was a god in earth unaccountable to any. But the great God will make all men know he rules all in earth too, and sets up at his pleasure whom he will, and plucks them down again.

Verse 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.

Troubled him — Because he fore-saw such troubles coming upon the king for whom he had a high reverence.

Let not the dream trouble thee — Speak out, let the event be what it will.

Belteshazzar said — What address and how excellent a spirit is shewn in this short preface.

Verse 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.

Reacheth unto heaven — Thou art high and mighty in the in majesty which God hath given thee.

To the end of the earth — To the Caspian sea north, to the Euxine and Aegean sea west, to the Mediterranean south.

Verse 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.

They shall drive thee — This was such a thundering peal, that it was wonderful the king could endure to hear it without fury boiling in his heart, yet the Lord with-held him.

Seven times — Seven years.

’Till thou know — How hard is it for lofty princes to learn this lesson.

Verse 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.

The heavens do rule — That God, who sits in heaven rules over all.

Verse 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.

If it may be — Daniel was not certain of pardon for him, nor did he altogether despair of it. With what wisdom and tenderness does he speak: and yet with what plainness?

Verse 28

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

King Nebuchadnezzar — With how admirable propriety is the person changed here! These six verses speaking in the third person. But in the thirty fourth, Nebuchadnezzar having recovered his reason, speaks in the first person again.

Verse 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.

Was driven from men — Being bereft of his understanding, as a man distracted he fled, and betook himself to the woods.

Verse 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:

Mine understanding returned — God shined upon his soul, and gave him understanding to consider his sad state, and the causes of it.

And honoured him — By prayer and praise, adoring the justice and mercy of God, giving God the glory of his sovereignty and unchangeableness.

Verse 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?

As nothing — A due consideration of God’s infinite greatness, makes the creature appear as nothing; creatures are nothing to help, nothing to hurt, nothing in duration, nothing solid and substantial, nothing without dependence, and influence, and support from God.

His will — Being the Lord of hosts, and the only absolute and universal monarch of the world.

Verse 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.

Brightness — I had again the majesty of a king in my countenance.

I was established — In wonted power and place, owned and obeyed, by all.

Majesty was added — He was the most august and magnificient prince on earth, much more so than before.

Verse 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.

Now I praise — Thus can the Lord make the stoutest hearts to stoop, and do him homage. This doxology proceeds from his heart.

Are truth — God is truth essentially: he is the rule and standard of truth, his words are truth, his ways are truth, and they are judgment: he is wise, and hath dealt justly with me for my pride, and in very faithfulness hath afflicted me, and in very tenderness hath restored me; I do, and ever shall adore him for it.

Able to abase — As he hath declared upon me, in stupendous changes, which I proclaim to all the world. He had a just controversy with me, and I have no ground to quarrel with him, but to give him glory by this confession. What authority had any one to say, That this man "was no convert?" We can no more doubt of his salvation than of Solomon’s.