Daniel 4:30-32

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:30

The king spake and said ,.... Either within himself, or to his nobles about him; or perhaps to foreigners he had took up with him hither to show the grandeur of the city: is not this great Babylon, that I have built ; he might well call it great, for, according to Aristotle F3 Politic. l. 3. c. 3. , it was more like a country than a city; it was, as Pliny F4 Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 26. says, sixty miles in compass within the walls; and Herodotus F5 Clio, sive l. 1. c. 178. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:31

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven ,.... Before the king had done speaking in the above boasting manner, an articulate voice from heaven was heard by him, and all about him, formed by the angels, and much like what the Jews call Bath Kol; see Acts 12:21 , so Abydenus F7 Apud Euseb. ut supra. (Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 41. p. 457.) , in the account he gives of Nebuchadnezzar's oration to the people, relates, that when the king had spoke it, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 4:32

And they shall drive thee from men ,.... According to the interpretation of the dream given by Daniel, which this voice from heaven confirms; See Gill on Daniel 4:25 , where the same things are said as here. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:30

Is not this great Babylon - Here his heart was inflated with pride; he attributed every thing to himself, and acknowledged God in nothing. The walls, hanging gardens, temple of Bel, and the royal palace, all built by Nebuchadnezzar, made it the greatest city in the world. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:31

While the word was in the king's mouth - How awful to a victorious and proud king: "Thy kingdom is departed from thee!" All thy goods and gods are gone in a moment! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:32

They shall make thee, etc. - Thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen. The madness that fell upon him induced him to forsake society, and to run to the woods and deserts, where he lived like a wild beast, his hairs growing long and thick, so as to be a substitute for clothing; and his nails strong and hooked, that he might the better climb trees and grub up the ground, in order to get roots and earth-nuts. It was the mercy of God that thus clothed and accoutred him. His case seems much like... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:30

Verse 30 I now approach the matter before us. Some think Nebuchadnezzar to have been touched with penitence when instructed by God’s anger, and thus the time of his punishment was put off. This does not seem to me probable, and I rather incline to a different opinion, as God withdrew his hand till the end of the year, and thus the king’s pride was the less excusable. The Prophet’s voice ought to have frightened him, just as if God had thundered and lightened from heaven. He now appears to have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:31

Verse 31 It now follows, — While the speech was in the mouth of the king, a voice descended from heaven —They say unto thee, O King Nebuchadnezzar, thy kingdom has departed from thee! God does not now admonish the king of Babylon by either the mouth of a Prophet or a dream by night; but he sends forth his own voice from heaven; and as if he had not tamed down the pride by which the king was puffed up, a voice is now heard from heaven which inspires greater terror than either the Prophet’s... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 4:32

Verse 32 It follows, — They shall expel thee from among men, and thy habitation shall be with the beasts of the field — or of the country, — they shall make thee eat grass like oxen! Some think Nebuchadnezzar to have been changed into a beast; but this is too harsh and absurd. We need not fancy any change of nature; but he was cut off from all intercourse with men, and with the exception of a human form, he did not differ from the brutes, — nay, such was his deformity in his exile that, as we... read more

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