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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 4:4-18

Nebuchadnezzar, before he relates the judgments of God that had been wrought upon him for his pride, gives an account of the fair warning he had of them before they came, a due regard to which might have prevented them. But he was told of them, and of the issue of them, before they came to pass, that, when they did come to pass, by comparing them with the prediction of them, he might see, and say, that they were the Lord's doing, and might be brought to believe that there is a divine... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:10

Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed ,.... So things appeared to my fancy thus; they ran in my head or brain in a dream in my bed, as if I saw them with my eyes, as follows; for so I thought, I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth ; an emblem of a powerful prince well settled, and strongly supported in his power and government; so the Assyrian monarch, Ezekiel 31:3 and here Nebuchadnezzar himself, as it is afterwards explained; who was well established in his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:11

The tree grew, and was strong ,.... Grew higher and broader, taller and thicker, increased in boughs and branches, and became strong and stable, that no winds nor storms could move it: this shows the increasing power of Nebuchadnezzar, the enlargement of his dominions, and the stability of his empire: and the height thereof reached unto heaven ; higher than any on earth; expressive of his dominion over all nations and people of the earth; or of his ambition of deity itself; and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:12

The leaves thereof were fair ,.... Or "branches" F9 עפיה "ramus ejus", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus; "ramos ejus", Junius & Tremellius; "rami ejus", Piscator. , as some; and design either the provinces belonging to his empire, which were very large and flourishing; or the governors of them under him, as Saadiah, who made no small and contemptible figure; his princes were altogether kings: and the fruit thereof much ; great revenues from all parts of the empire were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:13

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed ,.... The king goes on to relate what other things presented themselves to his imagination in his dream, concerning this tree which signified himself: and, behold, a watcher : which Saadiah interprets of Bath Kol; but Aben Ezra, Jarchi, Jacchiades, and Ben Melech of an angel; so called because incorporeal, ever watches, and never sleeps, and is always attentive to, and observant of, the commands of God so the angels in the fragment of Enoch are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:14

He cried aloud ,.... Or, with strengths; F12 בחיל "in virtute", Montanus; "cum robore", Gejerus; "fortier", Cocceius, Michaelis; "strenue", Junius & Tremellius, Broughtonus. being a mighty angel, and that he might be heard far and near: and said thus, hew down the tree ; remove this mighty monarch from his throne; take away his government from him: this is said to fellow angels employed in the affairs of Providence, and the execution of them, to bring about an event so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:10

I saw - a tree - This vision Nebuchadnezzar says made him afraid. What a mercy it is that God has hidden futurity from us! Were he to show every man the lot that is before him, the misery of the human race would be complete. Great men and princes are often represented, in the language of the prophets, under the similitude of trees; see Ezekiel 17:5 , Ezekiel 17:6 ; Ezekiel 31:3 , etc.; Jeremiah 22:15 ; Psalm 1:3 ; Psalm 37:35 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:13

A watcher and a holy one - These are both angels; but, according to the Chaldean oracles, of different orders. They appear, according to their opinions, to be a kind of judges of human actions who had the power of determining the lot of men; see Daniel 4:17 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:14

Hew down the tree - As the tree was to be cut down, the beasts are commanded to flee away from under his branches. His courtiers, officers, etc., all abandoned him as soon as his insanity appeared; but he soon fled from the society of men. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:10

Verse 10 Here Nebuchadnezzar relates his dream, of which the interpretation will follow in its place. Yet because this narrative is cold and useless unless we should say something of the subject itself, it is necessary to make some remarks — the rest shall be deferred. First of all, under the figure of a tree Nebuchadnezzar himself is intended, not because it fully represents the king’s office, but because God appointed the existence of governments in the world for this purpose—to be like trees... read more

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