CHAPTER IV _Nebuchadnezzar, after having subdued all the neighbouring_ _countries, and greatly enriched and adorned his own, became so_ _intoxicated with his prosperity, as to draw down upon himself_ _a very remarkable judgment, of which this chapter gives a_ _particular account, in the very wo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:2. _I THOUGHT IT GOOD TO SHOW_] A part of the decree was a recital of the wonders wrought by the hand of the true God in his kingdom and on his person.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:3. _HOW GREAT_ ARE _HIS SIGNS!_] There are no preternatural signs like his! His _wonders_ - miraculous interferences, are mighty - they surpass all human power. He is the _Sovereign of all_ _kings_, and his _dominion is everlasting_; and _every generation_ is a proof of his all-govern... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:4. _I - WAS AT REST_] I had returned to my palace in Babylon after having subdued Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Egypt, and Arabia. It was probably these great conquests that puffed him up with pride, and brought that chastisement upon him which he afterwards describes. See the dream of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:5. _I SAW A DREAM_] See this dream circumstantially explained in the following verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:10. _I SAW - A TREE_] This vision Nebuchadnezzar says _made him_ _afraid_. What a mercy it is that God has hidden futurity from us! Were he to show every man the lot that is before him, the misery of the human race would be complete. Great men and princes are often represented, in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _A WATCHER AND A HOLY ONE_] These are both _angels_; but, according to the Chaldean oracles, of _different orders_. They appear, according to their opinions, to be a kind of _judges_ of _human actions_ who had the power of _determining the lot_ of men; see Daniel 4:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _HEW DOWN THE TREE_] As the tree was to be cut down, the beasts are commanded to _flee away from under his branches_. His courtiers, officers, c., all abandoned him as soon as his insanity appeared but he soon fled from the society of men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _LEAVE THE STUMP_] Let him not be destroyed, nor his kingdom alienated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _LET HIS HEART BE CHANGED_] Let him conceive himself to be a _beast_, and act as such, herding among the beasts of the field. _LET SEVEN TIMES PASS OVER HIM._] Let him continue in this state for _seven years_. I knew a man who was thus changed in his heart - in his imagination. He believe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THIS MATTER IS BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS_] See on Daniel 4:13. _THE MOST HIGH RULETH_] He never leaves the government of the world to man, to second causes, or to fortuitous occurrences. What are thus called are his _agents_; they are no _moving causes_. _AND SETTETH UP - THE BASEST... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _DANIEL - WAS ASTONIED FOR ONE HOUR_] He saw the design of the dream, and he felt the great delicacy of interpreting it. He was not puzzled by the difficulties of it. He felt for the king, and for the nation; and with what force and delicacy does he express the general portent; "The dream... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _THE TREE THAT THOU SAWEST_] The dream is so fully interpreted in the following verses that it needs no comment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _THY KINGDOM SHALL HE SURE UNTO THEE_] No new king was set up; Evil-merodach his son was regent during his father's insanity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _BREAK OFF THY SINS BY RIGHTEOUSNESS_] Do _justice_. Thou hast been an _oppressive_ man; _show mercy to the poor_, many of whom have been made such by thyself: witness the whole nation of the Jews. He was to cease from his _sins-repent and bring forth fruits_ _meet for repentance_, in orde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:30. _IS NOT THIS GREAT BABYLON_] Here his heart was inflated with pride; he attributed every thing to himself, and acknowledged God in nothing. The _walls, hanging gardens, temple of Bel_, and the _royal palace_, all built by Nebuchadnezzar, made it the greatest city in the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:31. _WHILE THE WORD WAS IN THE KING'S MOUTH_] How awful to a victorious and proud king: "Thy kingdom is departed from thee!" All thy goods and gods are gone in a moment!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:32. _THEY SHALL MAKE THEE, C._] Thou shalt be made _to eat_ _grass as oxen_. The madness that fell upon him induced him to forsake society, and to run to the woods and deserts, where he lived like a wild beast, his _hairs_ growing long and thick, so as to be a substitute for clothing... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:36. _MY REASON RETURNED_] Every thing was fulfilled that was exhibited by the _dream_ and its _interpretation_. It is very likely that this unfortunate king had so concealed himself that the place of his retreat was not found out; and the providence of God had so watched over every th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 4:37. _NOW I - PRAISE AND EXTOL_] It is very probable that Nebuchadnezzar was a true convert; that he relapsed no more into idolatry, and died in the faith of the God of Israel. It is supposed that he lived _seventeen_ years after his restoration. But the authorized Version, which is fo... [ Continue Reading ]