12/12/21 – Daniel 4:19-27
Much of the wording of today’s passage is repeated from our last passage (Daniel 4:8-18) and therefore may be referred back to that passage for more information.
Daniel 4:19 – 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.
Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar – See
notes on Daniel
4:8
astonied – shᵉmam (Aramaic) (to
be appalled; be stunned) Its only use in the OT. Its Hebrew equivalent shamem (to be desolate; be appalled; stun;
stupefy)
is translated “desolate” 49 times and “astonished” 20 times (out of 92 times)
It could have the idea of feeling deserted or desolate (devoid of hope; feeling
forsaken; to feel abandoned)
In Vs 19 above it has the idea of Daniel feeling out of his depth,
overwhelmed, with regard to an understanding of this dream. The dream left him
speechless!
hour – sha‘ah
(Aramaic) (brief time; moment) It can mean an hour but not as an exact
period of time. It implies an approximation of a period of time that is brief
as opposed to a greater amount; an hour is but a small part of the whole day.
Here it could mean anything from maybe a minute up to an hour or so.
for one hour – chad (one;
the indefinite article “an”) is used rather than “one”. It could mean “for one
hour” or, more likely, it means “for an hour”. It probably should be read as
“for a while; for a moment” or “a brief time” even.
troubled – frightened; alarmed; dismayed. This is that
word translated “in haste” in Daniel 2:25 & 3:24 where it has the idea of having to act
quickly if there’s trouble about to happen, especially when alarmed or
frightened. It indicates here that Daniel may have considered himself
threatened by this dream.
his thoughts troubled him – Daniel is alarmed by this dream
and what he might have to say to Nebuchadnezzar about it. This could explain
why he was stupefied (“astonied”) by this
dream for a moment (“for one hour”). It does
suggest that Daniel was “astonied” because
he knew exactly what this dream meant. His thoughts alarmed him because he
thought that Nebuchadnezzar might not like being told what this dream meant.
After all, if you are about to tell the most powerful person in the known world
at that time that he is about to be cut down to size and treated like a common
animal for maybe seven years, then you might also wish that you had set your
affairs in order ready for your execution! If Daniel tells the truth here, he
will be foretelling disaster for the king.
Nebuchadnezzar then speaks, telling Daniel to not let this dream nor its
interpretation trouble (alarm) him so. It seems that Nebuchadnezzar could
understand some of Daniel’s difficulty here. He senses that the truth (that
Daniel is now considering) is going to be disastrous for him (the king). He
reassures Daniel that he should not be troubled by what he knows he has to say.
In a way, Nebuchadnezzar is perhaps trying to tell Daniel that he won’t
be executed for telling the truth. Although. when Nebuchadnezzar actually hears
the truth, will he still hold back from punishing Daniel. After all,
Nebuchadnezzar is the king and no-one may speak anything against this king – as
evidenced by his actions in the past.
My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the
interpretation thereof to thine enemies. – Daniel, always the diplomatic person,
replies, “Let this dream and interpretation be applied to those who hate you,
that is, your enemies, instead.” In a way, Daniel is then able to tell the
dream and its interpretation while not actually directly pointing the finger at
Nebuchadnezzar, even though they both know that this dream is for
Nebuchadnezzar himself.
Benson says: “For though Nebuchadnezzar was an idolater, a persecutor, and oppressor of the people of God, yet he was Daniel’s prince, and therefore, though he foresees, and is now going to foretel, ill concerning him, he dares not wish ill to him. Thus Jeremiah had before exhorted the Jewish captives at Babylon to wish and pray for the prosperity of the government under which they lived.”
In Vs 22 below, Daniel directly names Nebuchadnezzar as the person the dream is directed at.
Daniel 4:22 – 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.
There is no hiding from the fact that it is the king to whom God has directed this dream, yet Daniel has been diplomatic enough to say that perhaps this should be applied to his enemies rather than the king, while all along making it clear that it is the king, not his enemies, who has to take responsibility here.
Daniel 4:20 – The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
The tree (that you saw in your dream) which grew and was strong, which reached up to the heavens and could be seen all over the earth (the known world at that time)……
Refer to Daniel 4:10-11 for further information – 10Thus [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. 11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
Daniel 4:21 – 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:
…… Whose leaves were luxuriant and the fruit was big and plentiful, in which was food for all; under which the animals lived and upon whose branches the birds of the air lived ……
Refer to Daniel 4:12 for further information – 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.
Daniel 4:22 – 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.
greatness – majesty; glory
dominion – sovereignty; dominion
This is a part-interpretation so far – the meaning of the previous two verses.
“It is you, O king, who have grown great, and become strong enough to overcome all, for your greatness (or majesty and glory) (or its reputation) has grown even to the heavens and your dominion (or sovereignty) has reached to the end of the earth (covering the full extent of the known earth at that time).”
Nebuchadnezzar is this tree that is greater and stronger than any else in his kingdom (or even the known world at that time). His glorious majesty is so immense it reaches to the heavens (an expression denoting having attained the absolute heights), and his sovereignty (decision-making authority) was absolute over everyone (and everything) in his empire.
The dream has commenced with a huge “plus” for Nebuchadnezzar. (It is always diplomatic when dealing with megalomaniacs such as Nebuchadnezzar to reassure them of their sovereignty before hitting them with the “bad” news.) This is what God has given him as the king of his people. He has been placed in this position of authority by God’s will but must not dare to assume that it will always be his, as God places men of His choosing in charge and they may remain as long as God permits them to remain. (“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.” – Daniel 4:17).
Daniel is informing the king that he is there by God’s will; with the implication that God can also decide that he be removed (at least for a season, which is what this dream is now leading into – see following verses).
Daniel 4:23 – 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] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
This is an abbreviated version of what the king said in Daniel 4:13-16.
Daniel 4:13-16 – 13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14He 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: 15Nevertheless 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: 16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
Daniel 4:24 – This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
After the “good” news, now the “bad” news! This favourable part-interpretation of Vs 24 above now is about to take a turn for the worse. And, what’s more, it is “the decree of the most High”, which means that if God is the God of gods and is “the high God” of Daniel 4:2, then it just cannot be ignored at all. The interpretation therefore must be accepted as absolute truth and cannot be avoided, averted, done away with, or anything else.
This interpretation has come upon (effectively been pronounced upon) Nebuchadnezzar. In spite of Daniel declaring Nebuchadnezzar to be his “lord the king”, God is sovereign over even Nebuchadnezzar (see Daniel 4:17) and there is nothing that the king can do; there is no escaping his destiny here.
Daniel 4:25 – 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.
Now the “bad” news for Nebuchadnezzar! He might be that great tree that has grown great and become strong. His majesty might reach to the heavens and his dominion might stretch from one end of the known world to the other end. However, that same most high God can take Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom away from him and give it to another, even a lowly commoner if He wants to!
“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.” (Daniel 4:17)
Do not let Nebuchadnezzar presume to think that his kingdom is his because of his own greatness, for in a moment God can remove him from all his greatness and majesty.
It is worth looking at how Daniel refers to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream when pronouncing God’s judgment upon Belshazzar in Ch.5. Not only do we see some explanation for what actually happened to Nebuchadnezzar, but we also see what can happen when those who think they are above God’s sovereignty find that they just as accountable as all other men, maybe even more in the case of Belshazzar.
Daniel 5:17-28 – 17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to
another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the
interpretation. 18O thou king, the most high
God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and
honour: 19And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations,
and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom
he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put
down. 20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in
pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made
like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed
him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he
knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 22And
thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23But hast lifted up thyself
against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house
before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk
wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass,
iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose
hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not
glorified: 24Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this
writing was written. 25And this [is] the writing that was
written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God
hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27TEKEL; Thou art
weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28PERES; Thy kingdom
is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Nebuchadnezzar would be driven out of the society of men. When his heart (or mind; thinking) was lifted up (in pride or arrogance), and his mind (or spirit) hardened with pride, he would be removed from his kingly throne and his glory taken from him. His arrogant heart (or mind; thinking) would become like an animal and he would live with the wild asses. He was fed grass like oxen and his body was wet with the dew from living outdoors. And this would be his lot until he learned that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (for seven years or seven periods of time).
Nebuchadnezzar would suffer this indignity until he humbled himself under the mighty hand of God. (1 Peter 5:5b-6 – Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:)
The question raised by many is whether or not this was literal or allegorical. It does seem unlikely that this could actually happen for seven years without history recording it somewhere. However, it was quite common for such rulers to be absent for long periods, leaving another person on the throne to make the important decisions on his behalf. Added to this, we do not know if it was years or months or weeks etc. The wording does suggest that the dream was carried out literally, though, because it is difficult to see how it could be merely allegorical, given the detail in the passages describing it. I think it was probably literal, but possibly for months, if not years?
Daniel 4:26 – 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.
And just as the watchers commanded (Daniel 4:13-17) that the tree stump remain, likewise your kingdom will be waiting for you when you have learned your lesson in humility, when you have found out that the heavens (that is, God) are/is sovereign over all. The iron and bronze ring around the stump depicts it remaining in order to shoot forth new growth when the period of the dream is completed. The king’s future is therefore locked into place, as long as he realises that God rules, not him. This verse seems to go further in actually predicting that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom will return to him because he will know that God does indeed rule. Nebuchadnezzar will learn his lesson and he will then return to his former majesty.
Daniel 4:27 – 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.
counsel – or advice
be acceptable – shᵉphar (Aramaic) (be
fair; be seemly; seem good; seem pleasing; be acceptable) Also used in Daniel 4:2 (“good”) and Daniel 6:1 (“pleased”).
break off – or make an end of; cast
away. In Genesis 27:40 (And by thy sword
shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when
thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off
thy neck.) it has the idea of breaking off a binding yoke
from one’s neck. Here in Vs 27 above it could mean to break off the yoke of
sin, to free one’s self from the bondage of sin through righteousness.
by righteousness – by doing right; doing
the right thing
iniquities – or perverseness;
perversity
showing mercy – or showing favour
to the poor – This is a verb which has
to do with being humble. Thus, his showing favour to the poor would have to be
a lesson in humility.
lengthening – or prolonging
tranquillity – ease; prosperity
“Therefore, O king, let my counsel (advice) be acceptable (seem pleasing) to you. Make an end of your sins by doing right, and your iniquities (perversities) by humbly bestowing your favour to the poor (by demonstrating your humility through showing favour to the poor). Do this if you wish to prolong your future prosperity.”
It appears that Nebuchadnezzar did do as God willed here (in the end, anyway!); however it might have been a different story for Belshazzar (with the writing on the wall) if he had also taken note of what Nebuchadnezzar had written in his proclamation commencing in Daniel 4:1. Some suggest that Nebuchadnezzar was saved through this dream, but that is not necessarily so. However, it is possible that
this caused him to be an improved person as a result, possibly more humble and probably more caring of the lesser subjects of his kingdom.
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