_Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people_, &c. He addresses the
proclamation, not only to his own subjects, but to all to whom the
writing should come. _Peace be multiplied unto you_ May all things
prosperous happen unto you. The Chaldee is, _Your peace be
multiplied:_ a usual form of addressing th... [ Continue Reading ]
_I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest_, &c. Nebuchadnezzar, “for the extent
of his dominion, and the great revenues it supplied; for his
unrivalled success in war; for the magnificence and splendour of his
court; and for his stupendous works and improvements at Babylon, was
the greatest monarch, not only of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore made I a decree to bring in the wise men_ As he did before,
on a like occasion; _but they did not make known unto me the
interpretation_ Though they had promised with great confidence, when
consulted before, respecting his former dream, that if it were told
them they would, without fail,... [ Continue Reading ]
_But at the last Daniel came in before me_ Whether sent for by the
king, or brought by another, appears not, but he was last, that it
might appear that he only, or rather, his God, who revealed them to
him, had the true understanding of these secrets: for if he had come
first, or before the rest had... [ Continue Reading ]
_I saw_, &c. The substance of what the king relates is, that he saw in
a dream “a tree, strong and flourishing; [_ in the midst of the
earth_, or of his empire;] its summit pierced the clouds, and its
branches overshadowed the whole extent of his vast dominions: it was
laden with fruit, and luxurian... [ Continue Reading ]
_This matter is by the decree of the watchers, &c., to the intent that
the living may know_, &c. The intent of the matter was to give mankind
a proof, in the fall and restoration of this mighty monarch, that the
fortunes of kings and empires are in the hand of God; that his
providence perpetually in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Daniel was astonied for one hour_ “Stood in silent
astonishment for nearly an hour,” both at the surprising
circumstances of the judgment denounced against the king, and likewise
out of a tender regard and respect for his person, who had bestowed so
many favours upon him. The Vulgate renders i... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tree that thou sawest is thou, O king, that art grown and become
strong_ Princes and great men are frequently represented in Scripture
by fair and flourishing trees. So the king of Assyria is described,
Ezekiel 31:3: compare Isaiah 10:34; Zechariah 11:2. _Thy greatness is
grown and reacheth unt... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the interpretation, O king_, &c. We may observe that Daniel
informs the king with the greatest tenderness, and most respectful
terms, of the sad reverse of condition that was to happen to him.
_They shall drive thee from men_ In the Chaldee and Hebrew the plural
active, _they shall do_, sig... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee_ These
words Daniel adds out of love to the king, if perhaps his complying
with the advice given might turn away this dreadful stroke from him,
or at least might give the king some hopes of a mitigation of the
calamity. _And break off thy si... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar_ With what admirable
propriety is the person changed here! the six following verses being
delivered in the third person. But in the 34th, Nebuchadnezzar, having
recovered his reason, speaks in the first person again. _At the end of
twelve months_ God defer... [ Continue Reading ]
_At the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes_, &c.
The first indication of his recovery is noted by a reverse of the
cause of his fall. At the expiration of the term, or at the end of
seven years, he lifted up his eyes unto heaven, and his understanding
returned; that is, he recover... [ Continue Reading ]
_And for the glory_ Or _rather, And the glory of my kingdom, and mine
honour and brightness_ Or _countenance_, (as the word זיוי, here
used, is translated, Daniel 5:6; Daniel 7:28,) _returned to me_ I
recovered my former looks, was possessed of the same outward glory and
majesty, and was honoured wi... [ Continue Reading ]