Bible Commentaries

Nebuohadnezzar. What follows is evidently a proclamation. Given probably in 454 B.C., the last of the seven years of his "madness"(461-454 B.C.), the same year as the decree of Astyages, Daniel being then fifty-nine.

people = the peoples.

nations = races.

languages = tongues.

thought = have thought.

wonders = astonishing things.

HIGH = most HIGH.

God. Chaldee. "elaha" (emphatic). App-4.

How great, &c. Compare Daniel 4:34; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:17.

dream. One of twenty recorded dreams. See note on Genesis 20:3.

visions of my head, &c. Compare Daniel 4:10, and Daniel 2:28.

to bring in all the wise men, &c. Probably done from motives of state policy, or acting on Daniel's own advice. A writer clever enough to be a forger would be wise enough not to leave the loophole alleged.

magicians, &c. See note on Daniel 1:2.

Belteshazzar. See note on Daniel 1:7.

god. Chaldee. "elah. App-4.

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

gods. Chaldee. "elahin (plural) App-4.

master of the magicians. Daniel still held the position given him in Daniel 2:48.

secret. Chaldee. raz. Same word as in Dan 2: (except Daniel 2:22). See notes on Daniel 2:18, Daniel 2:22.

I saw = I was gazing.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

a watcher and an holy one. Figure of speech Hendiadys (App-6) = an holy angel.

watcher. A Chaldee name ("ir) for an angelic being, watching over the affairs of men. Compare: Daniel 4:17, Daniel 4:23. Not the same root as in Daniel 9:14.

the stump of his roots = his root-trunk.

tender grass = herbage.

wet = drenched.

Let his heart, &c. The figure here changes from a tree to that of a beast, mentioned in Daniel 4:15.

man"s. Chaldee. "anasha". App-14.

seven times. The inscriptions state that there were several years in which Nebuchadnezzar did nothing,

demand = mandate.

ruleth = hath dominion.

basest = lowest.

astonied = astonished.

one hour. Chaldee. sha "ah = a moment, as Daniel 4:33; Daniel 3:6, Daniel 3:15; Daniel 5:5.

The king spake. Note the change of speakers.

answered and said. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41.

drive thee, &c. The mental disease of Nebuchadnezzar is rare. It is called Lycanthropy (from Greek, lukos = a wolf, and anthropos = a man), because the man imagines himself to be a wolf, or some other animal.

men. Chaldee plural of "anash. App-14.

make = suffer.

the heavens. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for God Who dwells there. Compare Luke 15:18.

counsel = advice. Not the same word as in Daniel 3:24, Daniel 3:27; Daniel 4:36; Daniel 6:7.

break off. This is rendered in the Vulgate (the Authorized version of the Church of Rome) by "redeem"; but the Chaldee perak = break off. First occurs in Hebrew (parak) Genesis 27:40. Exodus 32:2, Exodus 32:3, Exodus 32:24, &c. See note on Psalms 136:24.

sins: chatai. Same as App-44.

righteousness. This is rendered as "almsgiving" in the Vulgate. But Chaldee. tzidkah (Hebrew. tzedakah) = righteousness never signifies alms or almsgiving.

iniquities. Chaldee. "ivya". Same as App-44.

poor = wretched, miserable. Chaldee. "anah. See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11. Here referring doubtless to the Jewish captives.

All this came. Here the change is to the historical narration.

spake = answered.

great Babylon. The German Orient Society's excavations during recent years have shown how "great" it was. See Records of the Past, vol. i, p, &c.

that I have built. Everywhere this is repeated by Nebuchadnezzar on bricks, pavements, walls, &c.

house of the kingdom = the royal palace.

I Nebuchadnezzar, &c. Here the king again speaks. This corresponds with the Proclamation (verses: Daniel 4:1-3), and is the ground of its being made.

the Most High. Compare verses: Daniel 4:17, Daniel 4:32.

I praised, &c. Modern critics are stumbled because Nebuchadnezzar should do this while he was an idolater. But surely it is the token that a great change had taken place. This occurred in 454, just after Astyages (the great king = Artaxerxes) had issued his decree for the rebuilding of Jerusalem; and it was imperative that Nebuchadnezzar should now issue this imperial decree. See App-58. This year, 454 B. C, is specially marked by the issue of these two momentous proclamations. When Nebuchadnezzar's madness began, Daniel was fifty-two, and when it ended, he was fifty-nine years old.

all, &c. Compare Job 34:14, Job 34:15, Job 34:19-24. Isaiah 40:15-17, Isaiah 40:22-24.

and He, &c. Compare 1 Samuel 3:18. Job 23:13. Psalms 33:9-11; Psalms 115:3; Psalms 135:6. Isaiah 14:24-27; Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 46:11.

the inhabitants, &c. Psalms 33:8, Psalms 33:14; Psalms 49:1. Isaiah 26:9.

none, &c. Compare Job 9:4, Job 9:13; Job 34:29; Job 40:9-12; Job 42:2. Acts 5:39; Acts 9:5; Acts 11:17, &c.

What, &c. Compare Job 9:12; Job 33:12, Job 33:13; Job 40:2. Isaiah 45:9-11.

counsellers. See note on Daniel 3:24.

lords. See note on Daniel 5:1, and "princes", Daniel 5:2.

I Nebuchadnezzar, &c. This corresponds with verses: Daniel 4:1-3. See the Structure, p. 1185.