Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Daniel 4:32
(32) They shall drive thee.—This verse is only slightly abridged from Daniel 4:25 by the omission of the clause “they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven.” read more
(32) They shall drive thee.—This verse is only slightly abridged from Daniel 4:25 by the omission of the clause “they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven.” read more
Daniel 4:4-5 'Remember,' Mr. F. W. H. Myers once wrote to a friend, 'that first of all a man must, from the torpor of a foul tranquillity, have his soul delivered unto war.' Reference. IV. 4, 5, 7. S. Baring-Gould, Village Preaching for a Year, vol. ii. p. 183. Daniel 4:22-30 Can we believe that He whose words were so terrible against the pride of Egypt and Babylon, against that haughty insolence in men on which not Hebrew prophets only, but the heathen poets of Greece, looked with such... read more
THE BABYLONIAN CEDAR, AND THE STRICKEN DESPOTTHRICE already, in these magnificent stories, had Nebuchadrezzar been taught to recognise the existence and to reverence the power of God. In this chapter he is represented as having been brought to a still more overwhelming conviction, and to an open acknowledgment of God’s supremacy, by the lightning-stroke of terrible calamity.The chapter is dramatically thrown into the form of a decree which, alter his recovery and shortly before his death, the... read more
CHAPTER 4 The Tree Vision of Nebuchadnezzar 1. The king’s proclamation (Daniel 4:1-3 ) 2. The king relates the tree vision (Daniel 4:4-18 ) 3. Daniel interprets the vision (Daniel 4:19-27 ) 4. The tree vision fulfilled, the king’s abasement and his restoration, (Daniel 4:28-37 ) Daniel 4:1-3 . This chapter is in form, at least in part, of a proclamation. This proclamation must have been written after the king had passed through the experience recorded in this chapter. Daniel 4:4-18 .... read more
FROM NEBUCHADNEZZAR TO CYRUS The effect of the interpretation of his dream on Nebuchadnezzar is the inflation of his pride. To be sure, he was grateful to Daniel (Daniel 2:46-49 ), to whom he offered worship, although the latter rejected it no doubt, as did Paul later (Acts 14:11-18 ). His apprehension of Daniel’s God, however, is yet only as one amongst the national or tribal gods, although greater than they. This is clear from what follows in Daniel 3:1-7 , which is an attempt “to unify... read more
Nebuchadnezzar's Testimony Dan 4:19-37 "Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him." There are moments of astonishment in all true ministries. The word "hour" should be replaced by the word "moment": Then Daniel was astonished for one moment. But into one moment how many hours may be condensed! Into one feeling a whole lifetime, with manifold and tragical experience, may enter. We have nothing to do with mere time in calculating... read more
Reader! how truly affecting is this history! What an awful testimony in confirmation, that the judgment of the enemies of God's Christ, lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. Some curious characters among men, more intent on enquiring into the mode and manner of God's punishments, than anxious for a knowledge of the causes of them, have demanded, whether this judgment was literally so as described, or whether it was a deprivation of the King's reason? But it is worthy my Reader's... read more
Heaven: God having looked on me with pity. St. Augustine (ep. 111. (Calmet) or 122. (Worthington)) seems to think that he was saved; and the author of the B. on Pred. & grace, (chap. 15) attributes to him, remarks that his repentance was different from that of Pharao. Hence none must despair. (St. Jerome, ep. vii. to L'e6ta.) --- See Theod.; A. Lap. [Cornelius a Lapide] &c. who maintain that same opinion: but St. Thomas Aquinas expresses his doubts. Isaias (xiv. 9.) seems to condign him... read more
With, or "by the powers ( angels. ver. 10.)....as by men." (Grotius) --- The stars are also frequently thus described. (Matthew xxiv. 29.) The king probably believed that the God of the Jews was above his gods, the sun, fire, &c. (Calmet) read more
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Daniel 4:31
(31) A voice.—By this he would be reminded of his dream (Daniel 4:14), when he heard the watcher “cry aloud.” read more