Daniel 4, A Great Tree and Insanity

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream in which the great kingdoms are displayed, and then seen three Jews saved from a firy furnace. Now he has a frightening dream.

Daniel 4:1-3, Let me tell you

King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: 

May you prosper greatly!  It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.  

 

Nebuchadnezzar writes a letter from his throne to the people of his kingdom with an emperor's hyperbole ("every language", "who live in all the world".) Like chapters 2 and 3, this is in Aramaic, not Hebrew. (The language are very closely related.) The message begins by praising "the Most High God", Daniel's God. 

Daniel 4:4-9, Nebuchadnezzar's dream

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.  I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.  

 

Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)  I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.

Nebuchadnezzar's message then goes on to tell of a dream and the need for an interpretation of the dream. The emperor believes that Daniel (whom he calls Belteshazzar) has the "spirit of the gods" in him and can therefore interpret the dream. (The Hebrew word translated "gods" here is elahin, definitely plural, says Archer.)

The word translated "astrologers" here is "Chaldeans". The Chaldeans had a reputation as astrologers but the name did not always mean "astrologer".

Daniel 4:10-16, An enormous tree

These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.  The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.  Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.  

 

"In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven.  He called in a loud voice: `Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.  But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

 

"`Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth.  Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.  

 

Nebechudnezzar's dream involves an enormous tree that shelters the earth. While the king watches, a spiritual being instructs that the tree be cut down, except for its stump and roots. Then one ("him") is to live among the animals, as if an animal, for seven "times."

Daniel 4:17-18, Daniel's assignment

"`The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'  

 

"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

The sentence, spending life as an animal, is announced. This is part of a declaration that it is God, not kings, who rules the earth. The king passes on this dream to Daniel/Belteshazzar and asks that he interpret it, because the "spirit of the gods" is in Daniel.

Daniel 4:19-23, Daniel's concern

Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you." 

Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!  The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air  you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.  

The interpretation will not be a good one for the king. Daniel is concerned about giving this interpretation, possibly out of genuine concern for the king, possibly out of fear of the king's wrath. The tree represents the king himself, whose dominion is large, extending "to distant parts of the earth".

Daniel 4:23-26, Dream interpretation

"You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, `Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'

"This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.  The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.  

Daniel now goes on to complete the interpretation. The king's power will be reduced to a stump and he will be driven away and live with the animals, eating grass like a cow, wandering in the woods, sleeping in the rain. This sentence will be seven times (years?) in length until the king acknowledges Who is really in charge of the nations.

Daniel 4:27, Advice

Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."

Daniel ends his interpretation with advice -- suggesting that if the king "does right" and recognizes God as lord of all, then maybe the punishment can be avoided.

Daniel 4:28-30, The king's arrogance

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" 

Nebuchadnezzar ignores  Daniel's advice. Looking out over the kingdom, he boasts in his achievements. This is not a good idea -- he has been warned!

Daniel 4:31-33, Dream's fulfillment

The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."  

Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

The reaction to Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance is immediate. Nebuchadnezzar enters a seven year period of insanity.  

Gleason Archer (p. 60) gives a seven year period, 582-575, during which little happened in Babylon and offers this time period as a possible date for Nebuchadnezzar's insanity. One wonders how, in the political turmoil of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar could retain his throne throughout this time. Were regents happy to control the kingdom in his name?

Daniel 4:34-36, Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

 

His dominion is an eternal dominion;

his kingdom endures from generation to generation.   

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. 

He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. 

No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"  

 

At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.  

At the end of the insanity, Nebuchadnezzar retains his sanity and his throne. And had learned a lesson, one difficult for any ruler.

Daniel 4:37, Exaltation

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The last verse echoes the introduction --  Nebuchadnezzar praises "the King of heaven" because He is just and righteous. And, notes the king of Babylon, that King is able to humble the proud!