Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. Ver. 1. _Nebuchadnezzar the king._] This bare title seemed sufficient to him who came now newly out of the furnace of sharp affliction, whereby he was tamed and taken a link... [ Continue Reading ]
I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. Ver. 2. _I thought it good._] Chald., It was meet (or seemly) before me; It was my duty, so Junius. _ To show the signs and wonders._] "Signs" they were, because evident testimonies of God's wisdom, justice,... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _How great are his sons!_] Mark how he is enlarged here; so should we. If David had had the thing in hand, he would have cried out also,... [ Continue Reading ]
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: Ver. 4. _I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house._] Having subdued all mine enemies round about. But in the year of my triumph, behold a vision of my downfall. _Suspecta nobis debet esse tranquillitas._ And flourishing in m... [ Continue Reading ]
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Ver. 5. _I saw a dream, which made me afraid._] It is seldom seen that God alloweth unto the greatest darlings of the world a perfect contentment; something they must complain of that shall give... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon._] Whom yet he had formerly found to be no better than braggarts and impostor... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _Then came in the magicians._] As if they would do the deed. Seducers make up with boldness what they want of tr... [ Continue Reading ]
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], Ver. 8. _But at last Daniel came in before me._] And why "at last?" Why was he not sooner sent for? If t... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _Because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee._] The spirit of... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _Thus were the visions of my head in my bed._] He readily remembereth this dream of his, and roundly relateth it; the more to befool the wise men, since t... [ Continue Reading ]
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: Ver. 11. _The tree grew, and was strong._] See Ezekiel 17:12; Ezekiel 17:24. Plato compareth a man to a tree inverted, with the root above and the branches below. He also ca... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit._] But because pride har... [ Continue Reading ]
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; Ver. 13. _And, behold, a watcher and an holy one,_] _i.e., _ A holy angel, active and watchful to know and do the will and commands of God for the good of the Church. Hence angels are said to... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 14. _Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches._] One angel seems to call to another to expedite th... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 15. _Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots._] Which... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 16. _Let his heart be changed,_] _i.e., _ _Obbrutescat, nihil humanum sapiat; _ a fearful judgment, and yet such as reprobates are usually delivered up to. Rom 1:24 And let a b... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 17. _This matter is by the decre... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 18. _This dream I ki... [ Continue Reading ]
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 interp... [ Continue Reading ]
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Ver. 20. _The tree that thou sawest._] See on Daniel 4:11 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 21. _Whose leaves were fair._] See on Daniel 4:12 . _ Under which the beasts of the field dwelt,... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 22. _It is thou, O king,_] _i.e., _ It is that great empire which thou boldest and rulest.... [ Continue Reading ]
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]... [ Continue Reading ]
This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: Ver. 24. _This is the interpretation._] See Daniel 4:19 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 26. _And whereas they commanded._] See Daniel 4:15; and further observe how God tempereth his judgments with mercy, and that out of h... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee._] Happy was Nebuchadnezzar in s... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar._ Ver. 28. _All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar._] Because he repented not, or not thoroughly, as he had been advised, being left of God to his own heart. There is an infallibility in the curses as well as in the promises; they will surely light. I... [ Continue Reading ]
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. Ver. 29. _At the end of twelve months he walked,_] _scil., _ A year after the dream, the interpretation thereof, and the good counsel given him thereupon. It is some wonder how he could so soon forget all; but the world,... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 30. _The king spake and said._] No man asking him any question, but himself trumpeting out his own praises. Ordinarily the greatest we... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 31. While the word was in the king's mouth.] So quick is God usually in his executions, when men are once come to the height of pr... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 32. _And they sha... [ Continue Reading ]
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]. Ver. 33. _The same hour was the thing fulfilled._] Whe... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ve... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 35. _And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing._] H... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 36. _At the same time._] When God had hid p... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 37. _Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise._] God, as he is the first author of all, so to him as to the utmost end, _quasi circulo q... [ Continue Reading ]