Book of DANIEL

Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024

Chapter 4

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream

This Chapter is unique in that it is Nebuchadnezzar telling this to us in the first person.

Daniel Chapter 4 verses 1-3

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar wants to share with everyone in the world what mighty works the God in Heaven has done for him.  This is coming from a man who was not a follower, not a Jew.  A man that worshipped the Babylonian gods! A man who had just had an image of worship created.

Daniel Chapter 4 verses 4-8

 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

As happened in chapter 2; the king had another dream and called the wise men of Babylon to interpret it. This time he told them the dream and yet once again they could not interpret it.  These wise men had spent a lot of breath in chapter 2 arguing with the king that it was impossible to interpret without at least knowing the dream itself.

Now, they are given that opportunity to prove what they had said.  This time the results are still the same.  They are deceivers and cannot do anything when it is out of their control.

Unlike chapter 2 it appears that this time, Daniel is present or at least nearby.  Daniel waits to the right time, allowing the other wise men to prove that they are charlatans before he steps in at the last minute. The king recognizes and states that “in whom is the spirit of the holy gods”.  The king may not yet totally recognize God for who he is; he did however recognize the spirit in Daniel. If the world could recognize that about us.

Daniel Chapter 4 verse 9-12

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

Tells Daniel the dream of the tree which reached to heaven and covered the earth providing for both animals and birds with shade and food.

Daniel Chapter 4 verse 13

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

Watcher = only used here in Daniel chapter 4.

Chaldean word = “eer” meaning a watcher, like an angel as a guardian

Holy = “kad-deesh” meaning Holy one or saint

Daniel Chapter 4 verses 14-17

He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

“This matter is by decree of the watchers”.  Implies whatever the watcher was, there were more than one.

“demand by the word of the holy ones” This will happen so that the living will know that the “most High ruleth in the kingdom of men”

Daniel Chapter 4 verses 18-19

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Daniel was stunned or mystified on what to say for an hour.  The king finally tells Daniel not to worry or let it bother him. Daniel states that the dream is to the advantage of the king’s enemies and it troubled Daniel. By this point Daniel has been working as a “representative for the king” and probably has a deep respect for him.

Daniel Chapter 4 verse 20-27

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Daniel gives the interpretation. The tree represents the king Nebuchadnezzar. Like the tree being cut down, the king will be driven from man and the king will live with the beasts and eat as they do for seven seasons.

Leaving the stump was to indicate that while he was living as a beast, his kingdom would still be held in place for his return after he the king knows that heaven does rule.

Daniel Chapter 4 verses 28-37

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

All this came upon the king as the dream stated.  After twelve months the king became prideful, arrogant and boastful in what he had done. He actually heard a voice from heaven reminding him of the words of the dream. Within the hour he was acting like an animal and was chased from the people. After the end of his times his understanding returned and he acknowledged and praised the God of Heaven.