17 This matter H6600 is by the decree H1510 of the watchers, H5894 and the demand H7595 by the word H3983 of the holy ones: H6922 to H5705 the intent H1701 that the living H2417 may know H3046 that the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men, H606 and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 he will, H6634 and setteth up H6966 over H5922 it the basest H8215 of men. H606
That they shall drive H2957 thee from H4481 men, H606 and thy dwelling H4070 shall be H1934 with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field, H1251 and they shall make thee to eat H2939 grass H6211 as oxen, H8450 and they shall wet H6647 thee with the dew H2920 of heaven, H8065 and seven H7655 times H5732 shall pass H2499 over H5922 thee, till H5705 thou know H3046 that the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men, H606 and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 he will. H6634
And in his estate H3653 shall stand up H5975 a vile person, H959 to whom they shall not give H5414 the honour H1935 of the kingdom: H4438 but he shall come H935 in peaceably, H7962 and obtain H2388 the kingdom H4438 by flatteries. H2519
O thou H607 king, H4430 the most high H5943 God H426 gave H3052 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 thy father H2 a kingdom, H4437 and majesty, H7238 and glory, H3367 and honour: H1923 And for H4481 the majesty H7238 that he gave H3052 him, all H3606 people, H5972 nations, H524 and languages, H3961 trembled H1934 H2112 and feared H1763 before H4481 him: H6925 whom he would H1934 H6634 he slew; H1934 H6992 and whom he would H1934 H6634 he kept alive; H1934 H2418 and whom he would H1934 H6634 he set up; H1934 H7313 and whom he would H1934 H6634 he put down. H1934 H8214 But when his heart H3825 was lifted up, H7313 and his mind H7308 hardened H8631 in pride, H2103 he was deposed H5182 from H4481 his kingly H4437 throne, H3764 and they took H5709 his glory H3367 from him: H4481 And he was driven H2957 from H4481 the sons H1123 of men; H606 and his heart H3825 was made H7739 like H5974 the beasts, H2423 and his dwelling H4070 was with the wild asses: H6167 they fed H2939 him with grass H6211 like oxen, H8450 and his body H1655 was wet H6647 with the dew H2920 of heaven; H8065 till H5705 he knew H3046 that the most high H5943 God H426 ruled H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men, H606 and that he appointeth H6966 over H5922 it whomsoever H4479 he will. H6634
And he changeth H8133 the times H5732 and the seasons: H2166 he removeth H5709 kings, H4430 and setteth up H6966 kings: H4430 he giveth H3052 wisdom H2452 unto the wise, H2445 and knowledge H4486 to them that know H3046 understanding: H999
I have made H6213 the earth, H776 the man H120 and the beast H929 that are upon H6440 the ground, H776 by my great H1419 power H3581 and by my outstretched H5186 arm, H2220 and have given H5414 it unto whom it seemed H5869 meet H3474 unto me. And now have I given H5414 all these lands H776 into the hand H3027 of Nebuchadnezzar H5019 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 my servant; H5650 and the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 have I given H5414 him also to serve H5647 him. And all nations H1471 shall serve H5647 him, and his son, H1121 and his son's H1121 son, H1121 until the very time H6256 of his land H776 come: H935 and then many H7227 nations H1471 and great H1419 kings H4428 shall serve H5647 themselves of him.
He raiseth up H6965 the poor H1800 out of the dust, H6083 and lifteth up H7311 the beggar H34 from the dunghill, H830 to set H3427 them among princes, H5081 and to make them inherit H5157 the throne H3678 of glory: H3519 for the pillars H4690 of the earth H776 are the LORD'S, H3068 and he hath set H7896 the world H8398 upon them.
The LORD H3068 is known H3045 by the judgment H4941 which he executeth: H6213 the wicked H7563 is snared H5367 in the work H6467 of his own hands. H3709 Higgaion. H1902 Selah. H5542
But at H5705 the last H318 Daniel H1841 came in H5922 before me, H6925 whose name H8036 was Belteshazzar, H1096 according to the name H8036 of my god, H426 and in whom is the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods: H426 and before H6925 him I told H560 the dream, H2493 saying, O Belteshazzar, H1096 master H7229 of the magicians, H2749 because I H576 know H3046 that the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods H426 is in thee, and no H3606 H3809 secret H7328 troubleth H598 thee, tell H560 me the visions H2376 of my dream H2493 that I have seen, H2370 and the interpretation H6591 thereof.
And G2532 the four G5064 beasts G2226 had G2192 each G303 G1520 of them G2596 G1438 six G1803 wings G4420 about G2943 him; and G2532 they were full G1073 of eyes G3788 within: G2081 and G2532 they rest G372 not G3756 G2192 day G2250 and G2532 night, G3571 saying, G3004 Holy, G40 holy, G40 holy, G40 Lord G2962 God G2316 Almighty, G3841 which G3588 was, G2258 and G2532 is, G5607 and G2532 is to come. G2064 G3801
I charge G1263 thee before G1799 God, G2316 and G2532 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 and G2532 the elect G1588 angels, G32 that G2443 thou observe G5442 these things G5023 without G5565 preferring one before another, G4299 doing G4160 nothing G3367 by G2596 partiality. G4346
And G2532 base things G36 of the world, G2889 and G2532 things which are despised, G1848 hath G1586 God G2316 chosen, G1586 yea, and G2532 things which G3588 are G5607 not, G3361 to G2443 bring to nought G2673 things that are: G5607
And they shall drive H2957 thee from H4481 men, H606 and thy dwelling H4070 shall be with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field: H1251 they shall make thee to eat H2939 grass H6211 as oxen, H8450 and seven H7655 times H5732 shall pass H2499 over H5922 thee, until H5705 thou know H3046 that the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men, H606 and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 he will. H6634 The same hour H8160 was the thing H4406 fulfilled H5487 upon H5922 Nebuchadnezzar: H5020 and he was driven H2957 from H4481 men, H606 and did eat H399 grass H6211 as oxen, H8450 and his body H1655 was wet H6647 with the dew H2920 of heaven, H8065 till H5705 his hairs H8177 were grown H7236 like eagles' H5403 feathers, and his nails H2953 like birds' H6853 claws. And at the end H7118 of the days H3118 I H576 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 lifted up H5191 mine eyes H5870 unto heaven, H8065 and mine understanding H4486 returned H8421 unto me, H5922 and I blessed H1289 the most High, H5943 and I praised H7624 and honoured H1922 him that liveth H2417 for ever, H5957 whose dominion H7985 is an everlasting H5957 dominion, H7985 and his kingdom H4437 is from H5974 generation H1859 to generation: H1859 And all H3606 the inhabitants H1753 of the earth H772 are reputed H2804 as nothing: H3809 and he doeth H5648 according to his will H6634 in the army H2429 of heaven, H8065 and among the inhabitants H1753 of the earth: H772 and none H3809 can H383 stay H4223 his hand, H3028 or say H560 unto him, What H4101 doest H5648 thou?
I saw H1934 H2370 in the visions H2376 of my head H7217 upon H5922 my bed, H4903 and, behold, H431 a watcher H5894 and an holy one H6922 came down H5182 from H4481 heaven; H8065 He cried H7123 aloud, H2429 and said H560 thus, H3652 Hew down H1414 the tree, H363 and cut off H7113 his branches, H6056 shake off H5426 his leaves, H6074 and scatter H921 his fruit: H4 let the beasts H2423 get away H5111 from H4481 under it, H8479 and the fowls H6853 from H4481 his branches: H6056
Wherefore I will bring H935 the worst H7451 of the heathen, H1471 and they shall possess H3423 their houses: H1004 I will also make the pomp H1347 of the strong H5794 to cease; H7673 and their holy places H6942 shall be defiled. H2490 H5157
He raiseth up H6965 the poor H1800 out of the dust, H6083 and lifteth H7311 the needy H34 out of the dunghill; H830 That he may set H3427 him with princes, H5081 even with the princes H5081 of his people. H5971
The wicked H7563 walk H1980 on every side, H5439 when the vilest H2149 men H1121 H120 are exalted. H7311
And in the time H6256 of his distress H6887 did he trespass H4603 yet more H3254 against the LORD: H3068 this is that king H4428 Ahaz. H271
And he made his son H1121 pass H5674 through the fire, H784 and observed times, H6049 and used enchantments, H5172 and dealt H6213 with familiar spirits H178 and wizards: H3049 he wrought H6213 much H7235 wickedness H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 to provoke him to anger. H3707 And he set H7760 a graven image H6459 of the grove H842 that he had made H6213 in the house, H1004 of which the LORD H3068 said H559 to David, H1732 and to Solomon H8010 his son, H1121 In this house, H1004 and in Jerusalem, H3389 which I have chosen H977 out of all tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 will I put H7760 my name H8034 for ever: H5769 Neither will I make the feet H7272 of Israel H3478 move H5110 any more H3254 out of the land H127 which I gave H5414 their fathers; H1 only if they will observe H8104 to do H6213 according to all that I have commanded H6680 them, and according to all the law H8451 that my servant H5650 Moses H4872 commanded H6680 them. But they hearkened H8085 not: and Manasseh H4519 seduced H8582 them to do H6213 more evil H7451 than did the nations H1471 whom the LORD H3068 destroyed H8045 before H6440 the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 by H3027 his servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 saying, H559 Because Manasseh H4519 king H4428 of Judah H3063 hath done H6213 these abominations, H8441 and hath done wickedly H7489 above all that the Amorites H567 did, H6213 which were before H6440 him, and hath made Judah H3063 also to sin H2398 with his idols: H1544 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 Behold, I am bringing H935 such evil H7451 upon Jerusalem H3389 and Judah, H3063 that whosoever heareth H8085 of it, both H8147 his ears H241 shall tingle. H6750 And I will stretch H5186 over Jerusalem H3389 the line H6957 of Samaria, H8111 and the plummet H4949 of the house H1004 of Ahab: H256 and I will wipe H4229 Jerusalem H3389 as a man wipeth H4229 a dish, H6747 wiping H4229 it, and turning H2015 it upside down. H6440 And I will forsake H5203 the remnant H7611 of mine inheritance, H5159 and deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of their enemies; H341 and they shall become a prey H957 and a spoil H4933 to all their enemies; H341 Because they have done H6213 that which was evil H7451 in my sight, H5869 and have provoked H4480 me to anger, H3707 since the day H3117 their fathers H1 came forth H3318 out of Egypt, H4714 even unto this day. H3117 Moreover Manasseh H4519 shed H8210 innocent H5355 blood H1818 very H3966 much, H7235 till he had filled H4390 Jerusalem H3389 from one end H6310 to another; H6310 beside his sin H2403 wherewith he made Judah H3063 to sin, H2398 in doing H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD. H3068 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Manasseh, H4519 and all that he did, H6213 and his sin H2403 that he sinned, H2398 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Judah? H3063 And Manasseh H4519 slept H7901 with his fathers, H1 and was buried H6912 in the garden H1588 of his own house, H1004 in the garden H1588 of Uzza: H5798 and Amon H526 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.
And he said, H559 Hear H8085 thou therefore the word H1697 of the LORD: H3068 I saw H7200 the LORD H3068 sitting H3427 on his throne, H3678 and all the host H6635 of heaven H8064 standing H5975 by him on his right hand H3225 and on his left. H8040 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 Who shall persuade H6601 Ahab, H256 that he may go up H5927 and fall H5307 at Ramothgilead? H7433 H1568 And one said H559 on this manner, H3541 and another said H559 on that manner. H3541
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Daniel 4
Commentary on Daniel 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
The penman of this chapter is Nebuchadnezzar himself: the story here recorded concerning him is given us in his own words, as he himself drew it up and published it; but Daniel, a prophet, by inspiration, inserts it in his history, and so it has become a part of sacred writ and a very memorable part. Nebuchadnezzar was as daring a rival with God Almighty for the sovereignty as perhaps any mortal man ever was; but here he fairly owns himself conquered, and gives it under his hand that the God of Israel is above him. Here is,
This was extorted from him by the overruling power of that God who has all men's hearts in his hand, and stands upon record a lasting proof of God's supremacy, a monument of his glory, a trophy of his victory, and a warning to all not to think of prospering while they lift up or harden their hearts against God.
Dan 4:1-3
Here is,
Dan 4:4-18
Nebuchadnezzar, before he relates the judgments of God that had been wrought upon him for his pride, gives an account of the fair warning he had of them before they came, a due regard to which might have prevented them. But he was told of them, and of the issue of them, before they came to pass, that, when they did come to pass, by comparing them with the prediction of them, he might see, and say, that they were the Lord's doing, and might be brought to believe that there is a divine revelation in the world, as well as a divine Providence, and that the works of God agree with his word.
Now, in the account he here gives of his dream, by which he had notice of what was coming, we may observe,
Thus has Nebuchadnezzar fully and faithfully related his dream, what he saw and what he heard, and then demands of Daniel the interpretation of it (v. 18), for he found that no one else was able to interpret it, but was confident that he was: For the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, or of the Holy God, the proper title of the God of Israel. Much may be expected from those that have in them the Spirit of the Holy God. Whether Nebuchadnezzar had any jealousy that it was his own doom that was read by this dream does not appear; perhaps he was so vain and secure as to imagine that it was some other prince that was a rival with him, whose fall he had the pleasing prospect of given him in this dream; but, be it for him or against him, he is very solicitous to know the true meaning of it and depends upon Daniel to give it to him. Now, When God gives us general warnings of his judgments we should be desirous to understand his mind in them, to hear the Lord's voice crying in the city.
Dan 4:19-27
We have here the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream; and when once it is applied to himself, and it is declared that he is the tree in the dream (Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur-Change but the name, the fable speaks of thee), when once it is said, Thou art the man, there needs little more to be said for the explication of the dream. Out of his own mouth he is judged; so shall his doom be, he himself has decided it. The thing was so plain that Daniel, upon hearing the dream, was astonished for one hour, v. 19. He was struck with amazement and terror at so great a judgment coming upon so great a prince. His flesh trembled for fear of God. He was likewise struck with confusion when he found himself under a necessity of being the man that must bring to the king these heavy tidings, which, having received so many favours from the king, he had rather he should have heard from any one else; so far is he from desiring the woeful day that he dreads it, and the thoughts of it trouble him. Those that come after the ruined sinner are said to be astonished at his day, as those that went before, and saw it coming (as Daniel here), were affrighted, Job 18:20.
Dan 4:28-33
We have here Nebuchadnezzar's dream accomplished, and Daniel's application of it to him justified and confirmed. How he took it we are not told, whether he was pleased with Daniel or displeased; but here we have,
Dan 4:34-37
We have here Nebuchadnezzar's recovery from his distraction, and his return to his right mind, at the end of the days prefixed, that is, of the seven years. So long he continued a monument of God's justice and a trophy of his victory over the children of pride, and he was made more so by being struck mad than if he had been in an instant struck dead with a thunderbolt; yet it was a mercy to him that he was kept alive, for while there is life there is hope that we may yet praise God, as he did here: At the end of the days (says he), I lifted up my eyes unto heaven (v. 34), looked no longer down towards the earth as a beast, but begun to look up as a man. Os homini sublime dedit-Heaven gave to man an erect countenance. But there was more in it than this; he looked up as a devout man, as a penitent, as a humble petitioner for mercy, being perhaps never till now made sensible of his own misery. And now,
It was not long after this that Nebuchadnezzar ended his life and reign. Abydenus, quoted by Eusebius (Prap. Evang. 1.9), reports, from the tradition of the Chaldeans, that upon his death-bed he foretold the taking of Babylon by Cyrus. Whether he continued in the same good mind that here he seems to have been in we are not told, nor does any thing appear to the contrary but that he did: and, if so great a blasphemer and persecutor did find mercy, he was not the last. And, if our charity may reach so far as to hope he did, we must admire free grace, by which he lost his wits for a while that he might save his soul for ever.