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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

Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:16

Let his heart be changed from man's ,.... Not as to the substance, but as to the quality: and let a beast's heart be given unto him ; from a human heart, let it be changed into a brutal one; let him be deprived of the use of reason, and have no more exercise of it than a brute has; let him be wholly governed by the animal senses, and behave and act as a beast does; be as senseless, stupid, and savage, as that: and such a heart Nebuchadnezzar had; not that his rational soul departed from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:17

This matter is by the decree of the watchers ,.... That is, the cutting down the tree, and what is signified by it, was with the advice, consent, and approbation of the watchers, by whom is generally understood angels; not that they were the authors of this decree, but approvers of it; and were ready, not only to subscribe it, but to execute it; it being against a wicked man, and an oppressor of the Lord's people: they are represented as assessors with God; called into a consultation with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:18

This dream I King Nebuchadnezzar have seen ,.... So things were represented to him by a vision in a dream: now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof ; at once, directly; as he was well assured he could, by what he had already done; having both told him his dream when forgotten by him, and the meaning of it; and therefore doubted not but he could interpret his dream, being told him: forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:19

Then Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar) was astonied for one hour ,.... Not at the difficulty of interpreting the dream, which was plain and easy to him; but at the sad and shocking things he saw plainly by the dream were coming upon the king: and though he was a wicked prince, and justly deserved such treatment; and thus he continued for the space of an hour like one thunder struck, filled with amazement, quite stupid, dumb, and silent: and his thoughts troubled him ; both about what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:20-21

The tree which thou sawest , In these two verses is related part of the dream, which respects the flourishing estate of Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom; See Gill on Daniel 4:10 , Daniel 4:11 , Daniel 4:12 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:22

It is thou, O king, that art grown, and become strong ,.... Here begins the interpretation of the dream: the tree was an emblem of King Nebuchadnezzar, of his greatness, and growing power and strength: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven ; he overtopped all the kings of the earth, exceeding them in honour and power, and aspired to deity itself; See Gill on Daniel 4:11 . and thy dominion to the end of the earth ; as far as Hercules's pillars, as Strabo F17 ... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:16

Let his heart be changed - Let him conceive himself to be a beast, and act as such, herding among the beasts of the field. Let seven times pass over him - Let him continue in this state for seven years. I knew a man who was thus changed in his heart - in his imagination. He believed himself to be a bear, and would imitate the ursal growl, etc.; and the case did not appear to be hypochondriacal. Whether he ever came to sound mind, I know not. read more

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