Daniel 4:23-37

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 4:19-27

We have here the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream; and when once it is applied to himself, and it is declared that he is the tree in the dream (Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur?Change but the name, the fable speaks of thee), when once it is said, Thou art the man, there needs little more to be said for the explication of the dream. Out of his own mouth he is judged; so shall his doom be, he himself has decided it. The thing was so plain that Daniel, upon hearing the dream, was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 4:28-33

We have here Nebuchadnezzar's dream accomplished, and Daniel's application of it to him justified and confirmed. How he took it we are not told, whether he was pleased with Daniel or displeased; but here we have, I. God's patience with him: All this came upon him, but not till twelve months after (Dan. 4:29), so long there was a lengthening of his tranquility, though it does not appear that he broke off his sins, or showed any mercy to the poor captives, for this was still God's quarrel with... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 4:34-37

We have here Nebuchadnezzar's recovery from his distraction, and his return to his right mind, at the end of the days prefixed, that is, of the seven years. So long he continued a monument of God's justice and a trophy of his victory over the children of pride, and he was made more so by being struck mad than if he had been in an instant struck dead with a thunderbolt; yet it was a mercy to him that he was kept alive, for while there is life there is hope that we may yet praise God, as he did... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:23

And whereas the king saw a watcher, and an Holy One ,.... Here is related another part of the dream, which respects the cutting down of the tree, or the miserable condition the king should be brought into; see Daniel 4:13 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:24

This is the interpretation, O king ,.... Of this part of the dream, namely, what follows in the two next verses: and this is the decree of the most High ; called before the decree of the watchers, Daniel 4:17 , and is no other than the decree of that sovereign and absolute Being, whose purposes are unfrustrable: which is come upon my lord the king ; the decree had passed concerning him, and would be most certainly fulfilled: and, because of the certainty of it, it is represented as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:25

That they shall drive thee from men ,.... From conversation with men, as unfit for it; from his court and palace, from his nobles and princes. Saadiah interprets this of the angels: it may be rendered impersonally or passively, as in Daniel 4:33 , "thou shalt be driven from men" F18 לך טררין "truderis", Michaelis. ; not by his family, his wife and children; or by his nobles, who are afterwards said to seek him; but by the most high God, and to show his power over him; and it may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:26

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots ,.... That is the watchers and the Holy Ones; or it was commanded: this was the order given by the most High: thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee ; signifying that another king should not be set up in his place; and though the kingdom and administration of it would depart from, him for a while, yet it would be restored again, and be firm and stable: after that thou shall have known that the heavens do rule ; that is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:27

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee ,.... Since this is the true interpretation of the dream, and such evils are like to befall thee according to it, permit me, though thou art a king, and I am thy minister or servant, to give thee some advice; and let it be taken in good part, as done with a good design, and a hearty concern for thy welfare: and break off thy sins by righteousness ; this advice carries in it a tacit charge of sins, and a reproof for them; which shows... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:28

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. All that was signified in the dream, his madness, the removal of him from the administration of government, and the brutal life he lived for seven years; for this was not a mere parable or fiction, as some have thought, framed to describe the state and punishment of a proud man, but was a real fact; though it is not made mention of by any historians, excepting what has been observed before out of Abydenus F14 Apud Eubseb. Praepar. Evangel. l.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:29

At the end of twelve months ,.... After the dream, and the interpretation of it; which, according to Bishop Usher F19 Annales Vet. Test. A. M. 3435. , Dean Prideaux F20 Connexion, &c.; part. 1. p. 105. , and Mr. Whiston F21 Chronological Tables, cent. 10. , was in the year of the world 3435 A.M., and before Christ 569, and in the thirty sixth year of his reign: one whole year, a space of time, either which God gave him to repent in, or which he obtained by attending for... read more

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