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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:19-28

Prophetic counsel. The true prophet is God's messenger to men. He has a definite mission to perform, and his service here is unspeakably precious. We have here several marks of a genuine prophet. I. REAL SYMPATHY WITH HIS FELLOW - MEN . As a servant of the most high God, he can have no sympathy with self-indulgence, pride, ambition, or any form of sin. But he has real affection for men. Beneath the thick crust of worldliness, he perceives a precious soul, bearing still some... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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. The Septuagint Version here is different, and not so good as the received text, "And (as for) the root of the tree which was left and not rooted out, the place of thy throne shall be preserved to thee to a season and an hour; behold, for thee they are prepared, and they shall bring judgment upon thee. The Lord liveth in heaven, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:27

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. The Septuagint Version differs in this ease somewhat considerably. It connects itself with the preceding verse, "Entreat him on account of thy sins, and to purify' all thine unrighteousness in almsgiving, in order that he may give thee humility, and many days on the throne of thy kingdom, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:28-29

All this came upon the King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon . The Septuagint here has the look of a paraphrase. In continuation of the preceding verse, "Attend ( ἀγάπησον ) to these words, for my word is certain, and thy time is full. And at the end of this word, Nebuchadnezzar, when he heard the interpretation of the vision, kept these words in his heart" (compare with this the phrase in Luke 2:19 ). "And after twelve... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:28-33

The king's madness. I. INSANITY IS SOMETIMES THE DIRECT RESULT AND NATURAL PENALTY OF WRONG CONDUCT . Although the physician may rightly detect here the symptoms of brain-disease, the religious teacher may go further, and see in this brain-disease the fruits of moral faults. Insanity often shows itself as much in moral as in intellectual aberration—especially in its earlier stages. In many cases it can be traced back to the indulgence of animal instincts, passions,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:28-37

Revelation in the world of soul. "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" (verse 30). in approaching the kernel of this remarkable history, many matters would have, by way of introduction, to be set in a true light. They would all fall under these three heads: 1 . Confirmations of Bible history from the science of medicine. 2 . From the probabilities of the case. 3 . From secular history. (See Exposition above; and 'Daniel, Statesman and Prophet,' R.T.S where they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:29-33

The sudden collapse of pride. Careful and costly measures had been furnished by God to restrain Nebuchadnezzar from the brink of ruin, to which he was fast hastening. The dream, with its appalling omens; the human messenger; the king's conscience;—all these were voices from the supreme court of heaven. But conscience was silenced, the prophet was forgotten, the sense of danger diminished; Nebuchadnezzar persisted in his sin, until the patience of God was exhausted. I. WE SEE PRIDE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:30

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? The meaning of the Septuagint rendering is the same as the above, "This is Babylon the great, which I built, and the house of my kingdom is it called, in the might of my power, to the honour of my glory." Theodotion and the Peshitta in the main agree with the received text. It is one of the characteristics of the earlier Chaldean... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 4:31-32

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The Septuagint rendering has many points of interest, "While... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:26

And whereas they commanded - The watchers, Daniel 4:15. Compare Daniel 4:17.To leave the stump of the tree roots - Or, to leave roots to the stump of the tree; that is, it was not to be dug up, or wholly destroyed, but vitality was to be left in the ground. The Chaldee here is the same as in Daniel 4:15, “leave the stump of his roots.”Thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee - That is, thou shalt not die under this calamity, but after it has passed away shalt be restored to authority. It might have... read more

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