Daniel 4: Review of Daniel 4:1-32. Nebuchadnezzar s Greeting

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1 Daniel 4:33-34 Daniel 4:33-Nebuchadnezzar Suffers From Boanthropy The Very Moment The Voice From Heaven Told The King The Sentence Against Him Was Executed Review of Daniel 4:1-32 Nebuchadnezzar s Greeting Daniel 4:1 King Nebuchadnezzar, to each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups, who are living throughout the entire earth: May your prosperity increase! (Author s translation) Daniel 4:1 presents to the reader the greeting to the proclamation which Nebuchadnezzar issued which was addressed to each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups in his kingdom who lived throughout the earth. He expresses his desire that these people s prosperity increase in the sense that they prosper in physical health as well as prosper financially and materially. The recipients of this royal proclamation were located throughout the earth which reveals that Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom was world-wide. This was given to him by God according to Daniel 2:37-38 and Jeremiah 27. The Holy Spirit through the prophet Jeremiah warned the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon that the Father had given Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty over the entire earth (Jeremiah 27:6-7, 14). Nebuchadnezzar is issuing this proclamation as a regenerate person. As we noted in our study of Daniel 3:28, the fact that the king praises the God of Israel was an expression of his faith in the Lord. The king s praise is an expression of his faith in the God of Israel. The Aramaic verb b e rǎḵ which we translated worthy to be praised appears only once in the book of Daniel. However, its Hebrew equivalent bā rǎḵ (בּ ר ך) (baw-rak ) appears 75 times in the Old Testament. When the word is used of praising God, the individual praising God is always a believer and never an unbeliever. Thus, Daniel 3:28 is recording for us the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar. Even though, the king becomes a believer in Yahweh here in Daniel 3:28, Daniel chapter 4 records him being humbled by God since he continued to think like a pagan. The discipline accomplished its purpose resulting in Nebuchadnezzar changing his attitude and lifestyle. After his conversion, the king did not disavow the other gods he worshipped, he was still a believer. Some believe erroneously that one can not practice idolatry or sin after conversion like Nebuchadnezzar and 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 be a true believer. However, the Scripture emphatically refutes this by giving many examples in which believers practiced idolatry and committed gross sins after their conversion. David committed adultery and murder as a believer. Peter denied the Lord three times as a believer. Solomon practiced idolatry as a believer. The Exodus generation practiced idolatry after their conversion. All were disciplined by God and all were believers. All committed sin and acted like an unbeliever, yet they still were saved. The New Testament prohibits believers from engaging in behavior that they use to engage in prior to conversion since it is possible because of the presence of the indwelling sin nature and the devil to become involved in idolatrous and sinful behavior after conversion. Otherwise, there would be no need to prohibit believers from such behavior if there was no possible way that they could become involved in such things. In Daniel 3:28, the king praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Nowhere in Scripture does it record a fallen angel, or an unregenerate human being praising the God of Israel, Jesus Christ or God the Father. Only believers praise the God of Israel. The fact that Nebuchadnezzar published this proclamation throughout his kingdom about his experience with the God of Israel indicates how important he thought it was to make it known to those in his kingdom. Doubtless, he was attempting to lead the subjects of his kingdom to exercise faith in the God of Israel and worship Him and forsake the worship of their gods. Daniel 4:2 It is pleasing to me to make known the miraculous signs, yes, and wondrous signs at that, which the Most High God performed on my behalf. (Author s translation) In this verse, we have Nebuchadnezzar making known to the recipients of this decree his reason for issuing it, namely to tell them about the miraculous, wondrous signs that the Most High God performed on his behalf. He is overjoyed at personally encountering the Most High God and seeks to share his experiences with the Most High God and his joy with those in his kingdom. The king has been humbled by the Most High God through discipline, which was administered to the king because the Most High God loves him (Hebrews: Revelation 3:19). The miraculous, wondrous signs that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego performed on behalf of Nebuchadnezzar refer to the events recorded in Daniel chapter four and not chapter three. This is indicated by the fact that the king is saying here in verse 2 that he wants to make the people of his kingdom aware of these miraculous wondrous signs by issuing this decree to them and the decree does not recount the events recorded in chapter 3. Nebuchadnezzar had witnessed a manifestation of the power of the God when He delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power. He had witnessed 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 a miracle. The laws of nature demanded that all three be burned to death. However, God had overruled these laws, which He established in order to reveal Himself to Nebuchadnezzar and his counselors. Now, in chapter 4, we see Nebuchadnezzar having a personal encounter with the God of Israel in the sense that the God of Israel disciplines him for his arrogance. He encounters miraculous, wondrous signs in the form of a vision of tree, which was given to him by God. Then, Daniel interprets the vision for him, which told the king he would be punished for his arrogance. Nebuchadnezzar experiences the miraculous when Daniel s interpretation is fulfilled. Then, lastly, the king encounters the miraculous power of the God of Israel when he is restored to power after seven years of living as a wild animal. Notice in Nebuchadnezzar s statement in Daniel 4:2 that he says that the Most High God performed these miraculous, wondrous signs on his behalf, which expresses the fact that the king has a personal experiential knowledge of the God of Israel like Daniel and his three friends. Like Daniel, and his three friends, Nebuchadnezzar has personally encountered the Most High God through the miraculous events recorded in chapters two, three and four. He was affected by this encounter with the Most High God resulting in the gaining of humility and practical spiritual wisdom. Daniel 4:3 How great are His miraculous signs! Indeed, how great are His wondrous signs! His kingdom is eternal. In other words, His governmental dominion is from generation to generation. (Author s translation) In Daniel 4:3, we have four statements that Nebuchadnezzar issues to his subjects in his world-wide kingdom. They constitute a doxology. It is fitting for Nebuchadnezzar to burst into a doxology of praise of the God of Israel since he witnessed a great miracle, in which the God of Israel was revealing Himself personally to the king as omnipotent and sovereign. Remember chapter four is retrospective exposition. In this chapter, we see Nebuchadnezzar having a personal encounter with the God of Israel in the sense that the God of Israel disciplines him for his arrogance. He encounters miraculous, wondrous signs in the form of a vision of tree, which was given to him by God. Then, Daniel interprets the vision for him, which told the king he would be punished for his arrogance. Nebuchadnezzar experiences the miraculous when Daniel s interpretation is fulfilled. Then, lastly, the king encounters the miraculous power of the God of Israel when he is restored to power after seven years of living as a wild animal. Nebuchadnezzar is worshipping the God of Israel here in Daniel 4:3. As a result of Nebuchadnezzar witnessing the power of God in his life as recorded in Daniel chapter four, the king s attitude toward the God of Israel is one of deep respect and awe for Him. As a result of personally encountering the power of the God of Israel, the king is esteeming the excellence of the person of the God of Israel as 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 manifested through His attribute of omnipotence. Nebuchadnezzar possesses an overwhelming feeling of reverence and admiration for the God of Israel as a result of the events recorded in Daniel chapter four. As a result of personally encountering the power of the God of Israel as recorded in Daniel chapter four, Nebuchadnezzar is filled with admiration, amazement and awe for the God of Israel. The miracles reached right into his heart and shook him up. They enriched his life and overwhelmed him with an emotion which was a mixture of gratitude, adoration, reverence and fear and love for the God of Israel. How great are His miraculous signs describes the signs and wonders God performed on behalf of Nebuchadnezzar as recorded in chapter four as being tremendous displays of God s omnipotence. It denotes that these signs and wonders were great in the sense that they dwarf what man can do. They were superior to anything any man could do. It says that they were remarkable in magnitude, degree and effectiveness in that they accomplished God s will. The miraculous events recorded in Daniel chapter four were intended to get the attention of Nebuchadnezzar and to confirm and demonstrate to him the God of Israel s authority over the king and that the king was under the God of Israel s authority. These miracles were confirmation of this authority and served as proof that the God of Israel was sovereign over the earth and Nebuchadnezzar himself. Indeed, how great are His wondrous signs is an emphatic clause meaning that is advancing upon and intensifying Nebuchadnezzar s previous statement. Therefore, here in Daniel 4:3, the second statement that the Most High God s wonders were mighty advances upon and intensifies upon the previous statement that His signs were great. This emphatic statement describes the signs and wonders God performed on behalf of Nebuchadnezzar as being tremendous displays of God s omnipotence. The miracles recorded in chapter four were designed by God to fill Nebuchadnezzar with wonder in the sense of being filled with admiration for God and amazement and awe of Him. They overwhelmed him with an emotion that was a mixture of gratitude, adoration, reverence, fear and love for Him. His kingdom is eternal refers to God s kingdom in the sense of God s authority over the kings of the earth and every creature and all creation. It denotes that God s kingdom is infinite in duration in contrast to Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom and those which would follow his during the course of human history. In other words, His governmental dominion is from generation to generation is an epexegetical clause meaning it describes from a different perspective the previous statement that the Most High God s kingdom is eternal. This epexegetical statement refers to the Most High God s supreme, sovereign authority or power to rule over every nation under heaven as well as every creation and all of creation. It denotes that the Most High God s governmental dominion is 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 from generation to generation meaning it extends from generation to generation over the inhabitants of the earth. The implication is that His dominion over human beings is eternal. Nebuchadnezzar Describes His Circumstances Upon Receiving Vision Daniel 4:4 I myself, Nebuchadnezzar was content in my house, specifically prosperous in my palace. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:4 presents to the reader the circumstances in which Nebuchadnezzar found himself when he received revelation from God in a vision in a dream. This verse says he was content in his home. This contentment was the result of being at peace since he had conquered his enemies and possessed a world-wide empire, which is indicated by the events in chapter three, which record Nebuchadnezzar ordering the representatives of the various nations, ethnicities and languages in his kingdom to the dedication of the statue he erected of himself. The king specifies in verse 4 that he was prosperous in his palace. This prosperous condition indicates that his life was marked by success and economic well-being and enjoying vigorous and healthy growth. Thus, Nebuchadnezzar was living prosperously possessing luxury, riches, good health, a world-wide kingdom as a result of achieving victory over his enemies in war. In Daniel 4:4, Nebuchadnezzar is describing for his readers that he was living in pride and was content with himself and full of himself after achieving such great prosperity and success on the battle field as well as politically and economically. He was not only the most powerful man in the world as the events in chapter three tell us but he was also the richest as a result of plundering many nations such as Israel. Nebuchadnezzar s Vision of a Tree Daniel 4:5 I saw a dream, which caused me to be frightened, specifically revelations on my bed. Indeed, visions in my mind caused me to be terrified. (Author s translation) In Daniel 4:5, Nebuchadnezzar abruptly begins his story. He goes from telling his reader that he was content in his house, prospering in his palace to telling abruptly telling the reader that while relaxing on his bed, all of a sudden he received revelation from God in a vision in a dream, which terrified him. The verse begins with the declarative statement I saw a dream, which refers to Nebuchadnezzar receiving a prophetic revelation in a dream which was concerning the future. Specifically it concerned itself with God deposing 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 Nebuchadnezzar for seven years until he acknowledged that the Most High God was the ruler over all mankind and bestows it to whomever He so chooses. This declarative statement is modified by the relative pronoun clause which caused me to be frightened, which tells the reader the effect this dream had on the king. It induced fear in him. Then, this is followed by the epexegetical clause specifically revelations on my bed, which describes what Nebuchadnezzar means when he saw a dream. This clause tells the reader that the king received prophetic revelations while he was relaxing on his bed. Lastly, the verse is completed by the emphatic clause indeed, visions in my mind caused me to be terrified, which advances upon and intensifies the previous statement. Nebuchadnezzar goes from telling the reader that he saw a dream, which frightened him, which was actually revelations to saying that they were visions, which caused him to be terrified. The advancement and intensification is going from where he received these revelations to describing his state of mind. He goes from saying he received revelations to saying that they were supernatural revelations that entered his mind while in an altered state of consciousness. He goes from saying that these revelations frightened him to saying that they were visions which terrified him. Dream refers to the content of Nebuchadnezzar s dream. It refers to the revelations Nebuchadnezzar received from God in a dream. This is indicated by the fact that Daniel s interpretation of this dream as recorded in Daniel 2:19-27 reveals that this dream was just that, a revelation from God concerning Nebuchadnezzar s future. Revelations describes the king s dream as a revelation from God concerning the king s future. Visions describes these revelations as appearances of something in Nebuchadnezzar s mind that was a supernatural revelation to communicate a truth to him, not seen as a sensory perception. It speaks of revelation from God the Holy Spirit with regards to the Father s will for Nebuchadnezzar. It denotes that God gave Nebuchadnezzar revelation with regards to His future plans for the king. This is demonstrated in chapter four. In this vision, Nebuchadnezzar received revelation from God with regards to the king s future. These visions that Nebuchadnezzar received from God were prophetic in that they tell the king about his future. These visions were also symbolic dream visions as indicated by the fact that the tree and its stump is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar. These visions were also oracles of assurance since the king is assured that he would be restored to the throne when acknowledges that God is sovereign over him. Their purpose was to direct Nebuchadnezzar to submit to God s will over his life and to teach him and the reader that God s authority is over every ruler including the most powerful ones such as Nebuchadnezzar William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 Visions describes Nebuchadnezzar as receiving these revelations while he was in a trance or altered state of consciousness in which extrasensory audiovisual experiences, which were revelatory in character, were perceived by the king in the privacy of his own bedroom. In Daniel 4:5, the king is learning that once again that the transcendent, omniscient and omnipotent God who he came into contact as recorded in chapters two and three is immanent meaning that God intervenes in the lives of men. The immanency of God means that He involves Himself in and concerns Himself with and intervenes in the lives of members of the human race, both saved and unsaved. This evident in that God gave Nebuchadnezzar, a heathen king a vision in a dream which was a revelation concerning his future. When Daniel told the king the interpretation of his dream, God was intervening in the life of the king and communicating to him that he Nebuchadnezzar was accountable to Him and was sovereign over the king. God intervened in the king s life by giving him a dream, which Daniel interpreted for him. He again intervened in the king s life by manifesting his omnipotence in delivering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power. Now the God of Israel is intervening in the life of Nebuchadnezzar by once again giving him a dream, which is much more personal in nature than the one he received in chapter two. This dream in chapter four concerns itself exclusively with Nebuchadnezzar. Thus, he is learning about the miraculous nature of God s kingdom in that He intervenes in the lives and affairs of men. As was the case in chapters two and three, the king is learning once again that God is sovereign over him. The term sovereignty connotes a situation in which a person, from his innate dignity, exercises supreme power, with no areas of his province outside his jurisdiction. As applied to God, the term sovereignty indicates His complete power over all of creation, so that He exercises His will absolutely, without any necessary conditioning by a finite will or wills. Therefore, God, from His innate dignity, exercises supreme power over the nations of the earth, with no area of planet earth outside His jurisdiction. God s exercises His will absolutely over the nations of the earth. The reason why Nebuchadnezzar was terrified upon receiving these prophetic revelations-visions was that he felt threatened by he saw. He felt threatened because his conscience was convicting him that he was still living in rebellion with God. On two separate occasions, Nebuchadnezzar was told by God that He was sovereign over him. In chapter two, Daniel interpret his dream and told the king that God gave him his authority, power and success and was thus sovereign over him. Then, in chapter three, by miraculously delivering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power, God was telling the king that He was sovereign over him. Now, he receives another supernatural revelation, which bothers his 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 conscience since in this revelation-vision, the king saw a messenger coming down from out of heaven. This tells the king that the message conveyed by the messenger in this vision was from God. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar knows that God is speaking to him again and his conscience has convicted him that he has not been obedient to the previous revelations given to him in that he has yet to acknowledge God s sovereignty over his life. So the king knows with this revelation or vision that God is dealing with him and is not happy with him which is reflected in Daniel s interpretation, which said that the king would be deposed for seven years until he acknowledged that God was sovereign over him. Daniel 4:6 Therefore, from me a command was issued for the purpose of causing each and every one of the city of Babylon s wise men to be brought into my presence in order that they could make known to me the dream s interpretation. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:6 is composed of a result clause followed by two purpose clauses. The result clause tells the reader that Nebuchadnezzar issued a command as a result of being terrified by the revelations-visions he received in a dream. The first purpose clause tells us that the king issued this command for the purpose of causing each and every one of the city of Babylon s wise men to be brought into his presence. The second purpose has Nebuchadnezzar telling the reader that the purpose for bringing the wise men into his presence was so that they could make known to him the interpretation of this dream which terrified him. These wise men are identified in Daniel 4:7 as being composed of occult priests (ḥǎr ṭōm), necromancers (ʾǎš šāp ), astrologers (kǎś dāy), and diviners (g e zǎr). Daniel 4:7 Consequently, when the occult priests, necromancers, astrologers as well as diviners entered, I communicated the content of the dream before them but they could not make its interpretation known to me. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:7 is a result clause which is composed of a temporal clause followed by an adversative clause. The result clause tells the reader that in obedience to Nebuchadnezzar s order to assemble before him, the city of Babylon s occult priests, necromancers, astrologers and diviners entered his presence at which time the king communicated the content of his dream to them. The adversative clause tells us that they were unable to tell the king the interpretation of the dream. These occult priests, necromancers, astrologers and diviners undoubtedly were terrified since it was not long ago that the king ordered their execution for the failure to tell him both the content and interpretation of the dream of the statue of a man which is recorded in chapter two. Daniel saved their lives by requesting that the king not kill them since they had no capacity whatsoever to fulfill the king s request nor any man. By sparing their lives when he could have had them executed 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 was an act of forgiveness. Through Daniel, God was forgiving the wise men and giving them an opportunity to repent and obey and worship Him rather than the gods of Babylon. This act of God s love on the part of Daniel demonstrates that he was in fellowship with God. Daniel 2:48 records the king making Daniel ruler over the entire province of the city of Babylon or in other words chief over the senior officials over each and every one of the city of Babylon s wise men. Undoubtedly Daniel evangelized the wise men and taught them the ways of his God, Yahweh. The king might have thought that Daniel had taught the wise men how to interpret dreams. However, Daniel made clear to the king that He had no capacity to tell the king the content of his dream or its interpretation but only his God could. Daniel 2:26 records the king asking Daniel if he could make known to him the content of his dream as well as its interpretation. In Daniel 2:27, Daniel responds to this question by telling the king that absolutely no wise men, necromancers, occult priests or divination astrologers are able to make known to him the mystery which he is asking him about. Daniel 2:28 records Daniel making clear to Nebuchadnezzar that there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries and has made known to him in his dream what will take place in the latter days. Daniel 4:8 Then Daniel entered my presence whose name was Belteshazzar according to my god s name and in addition one who possesses God s Holy Spirit in him. Next, I communicated the content of the dream before him. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:8 presents to the reader the next event that took place after the city of Babylon s occult priests, necromancers, astrologers and diviners could not interpret Nebuchadnezzar s dream which had terrified him. This verse tells us that even though Daniel was ruler over the wise men, he did not enter in Nebuchadnezzar s presence with them. But rather he entered the king s presence after the wise men could not interpret the king s dream. Why the king did not have Daniel with the wise men since he was the authority over them is not told to us the reader. However, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the king told Daniel he need not bother come along with the wise men. Here in Daniel 4:8, Daniel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says that he entered the king s presence after the wise men could not interpret the king s dream. So the king did not send for him until after the wise men failed again. There are three possible reasons why Nebuchadnezzar sent for the wise men and then as a last resort Daniel. The first is that the wise men were placed under Daniel s authority according to Daniel 2:48, thus the king might have thought that the wise men had learned how to interpret dreams from Daniel. The second reason was that Nebuchadnezzar might have felt embarrassed because of his great pride to call on the latter since chapter three records that he executed his three friends. The first 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 reason could have been used by the king to rationalize not having to face Daniel again, which undoubtedly would have been embarrassing to him. The third reason is that the king knew the dream concerned him and was about a king who would be deposed until he acknowledged the God of Israel was sovereign over him. He felt threatened because his conscience was convicting him that he was still living in rebellion with God. On two separate occasions, Nebuchadnezzar was told by God that He was sovereign over him. In chapter two, Daniel interpret his dream and told the king that God gave him his authority, power and success and was thus sovereign over him. Then, in chapter three, by miraculously delivering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power, God was telling the king that He was sovereign over him. Now, he receives another supernatural revelation, which bothers his conscience since in this revelation-vision, the king saw a messenger coming down from out of heaven. This tells the king that the message conveyed by the messenger in this vision was from God. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar knows that God is speaking to him again and his conscience has convicted him that he has not been obedient to the previous revelations given to him in that he has yet to acknowledge God s sovereignty over his life. So the king knows with this revelation or vision that God is dealing with him and is not happy with him which is reflected in Daniel s interpretation, which said that the king would be deposed for seven years until he acknowledged that God was sovereign over him. Notice in Daniel 4:8 that Nebuchadnezzar uses the name Daniel, which is significant. It indicates that the king is demonstrating great respect for the God of Israel since the name Daniel honors the God of Israel whereas Belteshazzar honors the pagan Babylonian gods. The expression rû a ḥ qǎd dî šînʾělā hîn appears in Daniel 4:8-9 and 18 and in each instance it means God s Holy Spirit rather than a spirit of the holy gods. Therefore, the noun rû a ḥ means Spirit referring to the third member of the Trinity and the proper noun ʾělāh means God referring to the deity of the Spirit and the adjective qǎd dîš means holy describing the Spirit s character and nature as set apart and morally pure in the sense that He is to be distinguished from the heathen gods in that He is the true God and they are not. So this expression denotes that Nebuchadnezzar is acknowledging that Daniel possesses God s Holy Spirit in him. He is not saying that Daniel possesses the spirit of the holy gods but rather that he possesses God s Holy Spirit. This is indicated by the fact that in Daniel 4:9, the king uses this expression to describe the basis for the fact that absolutely no mystery is too difficult for Daniel. Now, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that Daniel s God is a revealer of mysteries in Daniel 2:47. Thus, the fact that the king associated the revealing of mysteries to Daniel s God indicates that when Nebuchadnezzar uses the expression rû a ḥ qǎd dî šînʾělā hîn in Daniel 4:8-9 and 18 he is describing Daniel as possessing 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 God s Holy Spirit rather than being indwelt with a spirit of the holy gods. Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar is writing retrospectively as one who has trusted in Yahweh and would thus not be attributing Daniel s ability to interpret his dream to pagan gods, which he worshipped as a heathen. Daniel 4:9 O Belteshazzar, chief over the wise men, because I myself know personally that God s Holy Spirit is in you so that any mystery is by no means too difficult for you, please consider the content of my dream, which I saw. Also, please communicate its interpretation. (Author s translation) In Daniel 4:9, we have recorded for us Nebuchadnezzar making two requests of Daniel and also presenting the basis for these requests. The king addresses Daniel according to his Babylonian name. It seems strange that Nebuchadnezzar would address Daniel by his Babylonian name when the king knew that Daniel was loyal to his God, Yahweh. It also most appears to be an insult to address Daniel according to his Babylonian name. However, we must understand that Nebuchadnezzar is writing retrospectively here about an event that took place in the royal court. Nebuchadnezzar is writing about what he requested of Daniel while standing before all of his court of officials and dignitaries and wise men. Thus, for the king to address Daniel according to his Babylonian name would be appropriate since the Babylonian dignitaries, wise men and other officials present at this audience knew Daniel only by his Babylonian name. Nebuchadnezzar also addresses Daniel as chief over the wise men who through a comparison with Daniel 4:6 and Daniel 4:7 are identified for us in Daniel 4:7 as the occult priests (ḥǎr ṭōm), the necromancers (ʾǎš šāp ), the astrologers (kǎś dāy), and the diviners (g e zǎr). Daniel receive this position of power because Nebuchadnezzar promoted him to this position according to Daniel 2:48. This verse records the king making Daniel ruler over the entire province of the city of Babylon or in other words chief over the senior officials over each and every one of the city of Babylon s wise men. The causal clause because I myself know personally that God s Holy Spirit is in you presents to the reader the basis for Nebuchadnezzar requesting that Daniel consider the content of his dream as well as the communicate to him the dream s interpretation. It serves to emphasize Nebuchadnezzar s personal experience with Daniel which has convinced the king that Daniel possessed God s Holy Spirit within him so that absolutely no mystery baffled him. Nebuchadnezzar knew personally that Daniel possessed God s Holy Spirit within him so that absolutely no mystery baffled him since Daniel told the king the content of his dream in chapter two and interpreted this dream for him. The result clause so that any mystery is by no means too difficult for you presents the result of Nebuchadnezzar knowing personally that God s Holy Spirit was in Daniel. The mystery was not the content of the dream since 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 Nebuchadnezzar communicates it to Daniel as recorded in Daniel 4:10-17 but rather, the interpretation was a mystery to the king. Nebuchadnezzar s request please consider the content of my dream means that the king was requesting that Daniel give a sustained purposeful consideration to the content of his dream and its details in order to provide for him an interpretation. The relative pronoun clause which I saw is modifying the first request. It refers to Nebuchadnezzar receiving a prophetic revelation in a dream which was concerning the future. Specifically it concerned itself with God deposing Nebuchadnezzar for seven years until he acknowledged that the Most High God was the ruler over all mankind and bestows it to whomever He so chooses. The word is used here for the king seeing the vision of a large tree, which reached to the sky and was visible to all throughout the earth but was chopped down on God s orders, leaving only the stump. The second request please communicate its interpretation does not denote that the king is requesting that Daniel communicate to him the content of the dream since Daniel 4:10-17 records Nebuchadnezzar telling Daniel the content of his dream but rather he wants Daniel to explain what this dream meant which had so terrified him. Nebuchadnezzar s two requests make clear that the king is desperate to know what the dream meant since he is sure it concerns him and Daniel is the only one in his kingdom who has the ability to interpret this dream for him. Also, the king knows the dream is from Daniel s God and since Daniel is God s servant, the king must get the interpretation from Daniel. On two separate occasions, Nebuchadnezzar was told by God that He was sovereign over him. In chapter two, Daniel interpret his dream and told the king that God gave him his authority, power and success and was thus sovereign over him. Then, in chapter three, by miraculously delivering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power, God was telling the king that He was sovereign over him. Now, he receives another supernatural revelation, which bothers his conscience since in this revelationvision, the king saw a messenger coming down from out of heaven. This tells the king that the message conveyed by the messenger in this vision was from God. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar knows that God is speaking to him again and his conscience has convicted him that he has not been obedient to the previous revelations given to him in that he has yet to acknowledge God s sovereignty over his life. So the king knows with this revelation or vision that God is dealing with him and is not happy with him which is reflected in Daniel s interpretation, which said that the king would be deposed for seven years until he acknowledged that God was sovereign over him William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 The Content of the First Part of the Vision Daniel 4:10 Now, concerning the visions in my mind on my bed, I was in a trance like state staring as behold a tree was in the midst of the earth. In fact, its height was enormous. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:10 begins Nebuchadnezzar s presentation to Daniel of the content of his dream which terrified. This description of the content of his dream ends in Daniel 4:17. This presentation of the content of his dream is poetic which most English translations attempt to reflect by indenting the entire section (See NASB95, NRSV, LEB and NET). As was the case with Nebuchadnezzar s dream in chapter two, the dream here in chapter three is a revelatory dream. Revelatory dreams in the Bible can be classified under two categories: (1) Auditory (Genesis 20:3, 6; 31:24; 1 Kings 3:5, 15; Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19, 22; 2:12) (2) Visual, usually symbolic of real events, people and nations (Genesis 28:12; 31:10; 37; 40:9ff.; 41:1ff., 7ff.; Judges 7:13; Daniel 2:31ff.; 4:10ff.; 7:1ff.; 8:2ff.). Revelatory dreams are often distinguished from ordinary dreams by the fact that they usually upset the individual who has had the dream (Genesis 40:7f.; 41:8; Judges 7:13; Daniel 2:1ff.; 4:2ff.; 7:15f.). Nebuchadnezzar s dream is directly from God as Daniel s interpretation makes clear to the king. Thus, it could only be interpreted with God s help. Under no circumstances could the king of Babylon s dream be interpreted without God giving the person understanding. Thus, Daniel is the only one who could interpret this dream for the king. In Daniel 4:10, Nebuchadnezzar makes clear to Daniel that in this dream, he received visions. The noun ḥ ě zû, visions indicates that Nebuchadnezzar received this revelation from God while he was in a trance. This is distinguished from the possession trance and dreams since it is an altered state of consciousness in which extrasensory audiovisual experiences, which are revelatory in character, are perceived in private by individuals. Here this word denotes that Nebuchadnezzar was in an altered state of consciousness in which God revealed what will take place in his life in the future. These visions that Nebuchadnezzar received from God were prophetic in that they tell the king about his future. These visions were also symbolic dream visions as indicated by the fact that the tree and its stump is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar. These visions were also oracles of assurance since the king is assured that he would be restored to the throne when acknowledges that God is sovereign over him. These revelations Nebuchadnezzar received from God regarding his future was to direct him to submitting to God s will over his life and to teach him and the reader that God s authority is over every ruler including the most powerful ones such as Nebuchadnezzar William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 Therefore, in Daniel 4:10, the noun ḥ ě zû denotes that Nebuchadnezzar received these revelations while he was in a trance or altered state of consciousness in which extrasensory audiovisual experiences, which were revelatory in character, were perceived by the king in the privacy of his own bedroom. Here Nebuchadnezzar was in an altered state of consciousness while God revealed the content of the dream to him as well while in the privacy of his own bedroom. Daniel 4:11 The tree became enormous so that it was strong. Indeed, its height reached to the heavens so that it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:11 records Nebuchadnezzar continuing to describe to Daniel the content of his dream which contained a vision of an enormous tree, which terrified the king. This description as we noted in verse 10 is poetic. The vision was from the God of Israel and symbolized Nebuchadnezzar as a world-ruler. This vision is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar s world-rulership according to Daniel s interpretation of this dream which appears in Daniel 4: It echoes the vision Nebuchadnezzar received from God as recorded in Daniel 2: In Daniel 4:11, the first statement the tree became enormous describes the tree in Nebuchadnezzar s dream as being enormous in height and width. It symbolizes the growth of Nebuchadnezzar s power and authority according to Daniel s interpretation. So that it was strong is a result clause which tells the reader that this tree was strong in the sense of being sturdy as a result of becoming enormous in height and width. Daniel s interpretation indicates that this symbolizes the state of Nebuchadnezzar possessing enormous resources and great political and military power as a result of becoming a world-ruler. Indeed, its height reached to the heavens is an emphatic clause, which is advancing upon and intensifying the previous statement that the tree became enormous in height and width so that it was strong in the sense of being sturdy. So the statement denotes that Nebuchadnezzar goes from telling Daniel that the tree became enormous in height and width so that it was strong to telling him that this tree s height reached to the sky so that it was visible to everyone on the earth. This emphatic statement denotes that the tree reached to the sky in the sense that it grew from a root in the ground as a source to extending to the earth s atmosphere. It denotes that this three reached to the heaven s meaning the edge of the earth s atmosphere before reaching space. Daniel s interpretation would indicate that this was symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar s power and authority as extending over the entire earth. So that it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth is a result clause which presents to the reader the result of this tree reaching to the heavens. It signifies that as a result of this tree reaching to the heavens, it was visible to 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 everyone throughout the entire earth. This result clause is describing the tree as capable of being seen by everyone throughout the entire earth as a result of reaching to the heavens. This is symbolic of the fact that Nebuchadnezzar s rulership was recognized by everyone throughout the entire earth. Daniel 4:12 Its foliage was beautiful. Also, its fruit was abundant so that food was in it for the benefit of all. The beasts of the field found shade under it. Also, the birds of the sky lived in its branches. Indeed, each and every living creature was fed from it. (Author s translation) In Daniel 4:12, we read of Nebuchadnezzar continuing to communicate the vision of an enormous tree, which he received from God in a dream. This verse contains five more descriptions of this tree. Daniel s interpretation of this vision in verses makes clear that this tree symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom. Here in verse 12, the king describes the foliage of this tree as beautiful. He then describes its fruit as abundant so that food was in it for the benefit of all who according to the next two descriptions are the animal and bird kingdoms. Nebuchadnezzar then describes the beasts of the field finding shade under this tree. He also says that the birds of the sky lived in its branches. Then, emphatically, he states the each and every living creature was fed from it. Nebuchadnezzar s five-fold description of this enormous tree symbolized that every nation, ethnicity and language group on the earth was under his authority and was provided for by his kingdom and found protection from his kingdom. This is according to Daniel s interpretation, which says that Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom had dominion over the entire earth. However, this does not imply that he actually ruled every inch of the globe but rather that God had granted him dominion in whatever direction his ambition led him, which history tells us included Egypt, Nineveh, Arabia, Syria, Tyre, and its Phoenician colonies (Jeremiah 27:5 8). Its foliage was beautiful symbolizes that Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom was outwardly attractive in appearance, implying that it was healthy and flourishing. Also, its fruit was abundant so that food was in it for the benefit of all symbolically refers to Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom as providing sustenance for the benefit of each and every human being under his dominion. The beasts of the field found shade under it symbolizes unregenerate humanity who were under Nebuchadnezzar s dominion who found rest and protection from his kingdom. Also, the birds of the sky lived in its branches is also symbolizing unregenerate humanity who were under Nebuchadnezzar s dominion who found rest and protection from his kingdom. The human race is described from God s perspective as animals since the entire human race is totally deprived and possessing absolutely no merit with Him 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 because they are sinners by nature and practice. Therefore, this description of the human race as beasts and birds indicates that God views sinful humanity as no better than the animal and bird kingdom. This means that like the birds and the wild animals who are driven by impulse to act so sinful mankind is driven by impulse rather than reason or His Word because they are sinners by nature and practice from God s perspective. Indeed, each and every living creature was fed from it symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom as providing sustenance for the entire human race. This five-fold description symbolizes that Nebuchadnezzar was the central authority on planet earth in the sixth century B.C. when the king received this vision of an enormous tree in a dream. It also brings to an end the first part of Nebuchadnezzar s vision, which describes his kingdom as possessing world-wide dominion over the entire human race. The Second Part of the Vision The second part of the vision is contained in verses 13-17, which describes symbolically, the downfall of Nebuchadnezzar and his restoration after he acknowledges that the God of Israel is sovereign over him. Daniel 4:13 I was in a trance like state staring because of the visions in my mind on my bed as behold a watchman, yes a holy one descended out from the heavens. (Author s translation) The big mystery in Daniel 4:13 is the identity of the watchman, the holy one who descended from heaven. Nearly every commentator and lexicon that this author has read concerning this passage identifies this individual as an elect angel sent by God to declare judgment against the king. By identifying this expression ʿîr w qǎd dîš, holy watchman in Daniel 4:13 as referring to an elect angel carrying out God s orders in declaring judgment against Nebuchadnezzar indicates that the Trinity is employing an elect angel to make this decree known to the king. Most commentators as we noted support this interpretation from sources outside the Scriptures. They also support this interpretation with Scripture of course in that the Scriptures do teach in many places that God uses elect angels to announce and judgments against mankind. However, there is another option we must consider, namely that the expression ʿîr w qǎd dîš in Daniel 4:13 is referring to the preincarnate Christ. Daniel 4:17 and 4:23 can help us to determine if this expression in Daniel 4:13 is referring to an elect angel or the preincarnate Christ. In Daniel 4:17, we have the statements piṯ ḡā mā(ʾ) bi ḡ e zē rǎṯ ʿî rîn û š eʾē l e ṯā(ʾ) mē(ʾ) mǎr qǎd dî šîn ע יר ין פּ ת ג מ א וּמ אמ ר ק דּ ישׁ ין),(בּ ג ז ר ת which is literally reads the sentence, by the decree of the watchers, yes, the command of the holy 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 ones. If supply the two uses of the figure of ellipsis in this verse we can render it the sentence [is] by the decree of the watchers, yes, [by] the command of the holy ones. Notice the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar is by the decree of the watchers, yes, by the command of the holy ones. It would conflict with the rest of Scripture and would not reflect what the text is saying if we interpret this verse as saying that the sentence against the king was by the decree of the elect angels, yes by the command of the holy ones. The Scriptures teach that elect angels do not issue decrees of judgment against human beings or nations but only God does this. Elect angels carry out God s judgments at times and announce them at times as well. This sentence against Nebuchadnezzar is not by the decree of the council of elect angels but rather by the decree of the councils of the Trinity, by the command of the Trinity. This is supported by Daniel s statement in Daniel 4:24 that the decree is from the Most High. Daniel 4:17 does not say that the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was by means of the announcement of the watchers, the holy ones which both the NET Bible and NIV interpret the verse as saying. However, the Aramaic does not say that the announcement was by the decree of the watchers. Rather the text says that the sentence was by the decree of the watchers, yes, by the command of the holy ones. The NIV and NET are interpreting these holy watchmen as angels thus in order to agree with the rest of Scripture they interpret the text as saying that the announcement was by the decree of the watchers. However, there is no word in the text which means announcement or a verb saying they were announcing it the decree. Also, if this were an elect angel speaking in Daniel 4:13-17, it would be rather strange and conflict with the teaching of the Scriptures for the angel to announce the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar and then say it was by the decree or command of the elect angels. This would mean that he is speaking on behalf of his fellow elect angels. It would be more in line with Scripture if he was speaking on behalf of the Trinity rather than the elect angels. Also, nowhere in Scripture to elect angels describe themselves as holy. Another factor to take into account is that Nebuchadnezzar does not employ the usual word for an angel, which is the noun mǎl ʾǎḵ, which means messenger. If the king was referring in Daniel 4:13 to angelic messenger it would seem more appropriate for him to use this noun rather than the noun ʿîr since this individual descending from heaven had a message for the king. Interestingly, the noun mǎl ʾǎḵ appears only twice in the book of Daniel, namely Daniel 3:28 and 6:22. In each instance it refers to the preincarnate Christ. Isaiah 43:1-4 indicates this is the case in Daniel 3: William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 Therefore, Daniel 4:17 is teaching this sentence with respect to Nebuchadnezzar was by the order or decree of the Trinity who are described as the watchers and the holy ones in Daniel 4:17. The Scriptures identify each member of the Trinity as holy. The Scriptures also teach that God watches or observes mankind (Job 13:27; 33:11; Psalm 66:7; Proverbs 15:3). They also teach the each member of the Trinity is omniscient (Father: Matthew 6:8; Son: John 2:25 and 18:4; Spirit: Isaiah 11:2). In Job 7:20, Job describes God as a watcher of men. (cf. Job 29:2; 33:11; Psalm 66:7; Proverbs 5:21). These factors would also indicate that the expression ʿîr w qǎd dîš, holy watchman in Daniel 4:13 is referring to the preincarnate Christ since the text of Daniel 4:17 is teaching that the sentence against the king was by order of the Trinity, rather than by the council of elect angels. Some would argue that Nebuchadnezzar would have no understanding of the Trinity or the Holy Spirit. However, this is beside the point since the king is not using the words watchers and holy ones in Daniel 4:17 but rather the watchman, the holy one who descended from heaven. Daniel 4:14 He publicly proclaimed with authority and said Cut down the tree! Also, lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage! Furthermore, scatter its fruit! Let the beasts flee out from under it as well as the birds from its branches! (Author s translation) Daniel 4:14 continues the second act of the drama. In Daniel 4:10-12, we have the first act which presents to the reader the subject of the vision of an enormous tree, which symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 4:13-17 presents the second act of this dream, which records the destruction of the tree which is not total and complete. This describes symbolically the downfall of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 4:14 records that after the holy watchman, which we noted is the preincarnate Christ, descended from the heavens, He publicly proclaimed with authority five commands, which are directed towards the enormous tree in Nebuchadnezzar s vision. The first command issued by the holy watchman is to cut down the tree, which symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar being deposed from power by God. The second command issued by the holy watchman is lop off the tree s branches, which symbolized that Nebuchadnezzar would no longer be able to provide shelter and protection for those under rule since he would be deposed from power by God. The third command is strip of the tree s foliage, which symbolized that Nebuchadnezzar, would no longer be able to provide food for those under rule since he would be deposed from power by God. The fourth command to scatter the tree s fruit symbolized that Nebuchadnezzar would no longer be able to provide food for those under rule since he would be deposed from power by God. The holy watchman does not command that the fruit be destroyed but simply scattered 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18