Daniel 4: Review of Daniel 4:1-29. Nebuchadnezzar s Greeting

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1 Daniel 4:30-32 Daniel 4:30-Nebuchadnezzar Expresses His Great Pride By Boasting Of Babylon As His Personal Possession And A Reflection Of His Power And Glory Review of Daniel 4:1-29 Nebuchadnezzar s Greeting Daniel 4:1 contains the greeting to Nebuchadnezzar s proclamation and identifies its recipients. 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. 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 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 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 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 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 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 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, 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 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 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 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 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 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 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. 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 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. 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 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 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 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 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 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 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 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 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 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 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 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. 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). 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 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. 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 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 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 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 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 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 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 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 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 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 4:24 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 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 ones. The NIV and NET are interpreting these holy watchers 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 3:28. 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 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 watcher, 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 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 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 watcher, 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 watcher is to cut down the tree, which symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar being deposed from power by God. The second command issued by the holy watcher 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 watcher does not command that the fruit be destroyed but simply scattered which symbolizes that those under Nebuchadnezzar s dominion would no longer be able to go to a centralized location to receive sustenance to live since he would be deposed for seven years. The fifth command is actually an indirect command and called for the beasts to flee out from under the tree and the birds from its branches, which symbolized unregenerate humanity under Nebuchadnezzar s dominion fleeing from him. This was the direct result of God punishing him and giving him the mind of animal for seven years until he humbles himself before God. Therefore, Daniel 4:14 is describing symbolically God deposing Nebuchadnezzar from power. This vision is thus to teach Nebuchadnezzar that the God of Israel is sovereign over him and has raised him up and will now depose him from power. Daniel 4:15 Nevertheless, leave intact in the ground, the taproot which produces its roots but with a band composed of iron as well as bronze in the midst of the wild grass produced by the open field. Also, let it be drenched with the dew from heaven as well as its dwelling place among the beasts in the grass produced by the field. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:15 presents to the reader three more commands which the Holy Watcher, the preincarnate Christ issued in addition to the five mentioned in Daniel 4:14. Here in verse 15, the Lord orders the elect angels to leave intact in the ground, the stump or taproot of the enormous tree with the qualification that a band 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18

19 composed of iron and bronze around it. He then orders that this taproot be drenched with the dew from heaven and its dwelling place among the beasts in the grass of the field. These commands in Daniel 4:15 stand in contrast to the five commands given by the Holy Watcher in Daniel 4:14. Therefore, the contrast is between cutting down the tree so that the animals and birds lose its benefits and leaving the taproot of the tree in the ground so that it was not destroyed completely. Since the tree is a symbolic reference to Nebuchadnezzar according to Daniel s interpretation in Daniel 4:22, the taproot is a reference to Nebuchadnezzar under discipline from God. Daniel s interpretation in Daniel 4:20-26 indicates quite clearly that the eight commands in Daniel 4:14-15 issued by the Holy Watcher refer to the fact that Nebuchadnezzar will not be put to death by God but rather will be severely disciplined. So Daniel 4:15 records the Holy Watcher who descended from the heavens ordering that the tree in Nebuchadnezzar s dream be preserved and not destroyed completely. Daniel 4:20-26 indicates that God will severely discipline the king of Babylon but will not put him to death for his rebellion and sinful lifestyle and cruel treatment of the poor in his kingdom. Daniel 4:16 Let his mind be transformed from a human being. Instead let a beast s mind be given to him. Then, let seven years pass by for him. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:16 presents three more commands issued by the Holy Watchman who is the preincarnate Christ, which is in addition to the five mentioned in Daniel 4:14 and the three listed in Daniel 4:15. Daniel 4:16 completes the description of the judgment against the tree which appeared to Nebuchadnezzar in a vision. It also reveals that this tree symbolizes a man, which Daniel interprets in Daniel 4:22 as being Nebuchadnezzar. The three commands presented in verse 16 make clear that the mind of Nebuchadnezzar would be transformed from that of a human being to that of an animal. Specifically, he would have the mind of cattle, which is indicated in Daniel 4:33, which describes Nebuchadnezzar eating grass like cattle for seven years. Thus, a comparison of Daniel 4:16 with Daniel 4:33 reveals that the Lord Jesus Christ gave Nebuchadnezzar a disease, which psychologists call boanthropy which describes a person acting like a cattle or a cow. Daniel 4:17 This sentence is by the Watchmen s decree yes this decision is a command from the Holy Ones in order that the human race would admit that the Most High is the sovereign authority over mankind s realm. Therefore, He can give it to whomever He desires. He can even establish ordinary men over it. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:17 completes the Holy Watchman s announcement of the judgment of the man symbolized by the enormous tree, which appeared in a vision to 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 19

20 Nebuchadnezzar and which tree Daniel interprets as being the king. This verse contains a declarative statement, which is this sentence is by the Watchmen s decree. This is followed by another declarative statement yes this decision is a command from the Holy Ones which expresses the first from a different perspective. These two declarative statements both refer to the announcement proclaimed by the Holy Watchman in Daniel 4: The Watchmen is a reference to the Trinity rather than the elect angels since the text says that 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 watchers 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 announcing. Also, related to this, 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. Sentence denotes that the Holy Watcher pronounced judgment handed down from the Holy Watchers against the man symbolized by the tree (Nebuchadnezzar) and specified the punishment to be inflicted upon him. Decree describes the sentence handed down against the man symbolized by the tree who Daniel tells us is Nebuchadnezzar as a judicial decision. It describes 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 20

21 this sentence against Nebuchadnezzar as an authoritative judicial decision of the Holy Watchers. Decision is also used to describe the Holy Watcher s proclamation in Daniel 4:10-17 describing the punishment to be meted out to the man symbolized by the tree which appeared to Nebuchadnezzar in a vision in the sense that it was based upon the determination of the Holy Ones. It describes this decision as determined after careful deliberation and consideration by the Holy Ones. Command refers to the exercise of the Holy One s authority over Nebuchadnezzar. Holy Ones is a reference to the Trinity and describes them as holy in the sense that they are uniquely pure and sinless. The clause in order that the human race would admit that the Most High is the sovereign authority over mankind s realm presents the purpose of the decision and sentence issued by the Holy Watcher regarding the man symbolized by the tree, who is Nebuchadnezzar. This indicates that one of the purposes for punishing Nebuchadnezzar for seven years was so that the human race would admit that the Most High is the sovereign authority over the realm of mankind. This was manifested when Nebuchadnezzar was deposed from and restored to power after seven years in fulfillment of Daniel s prophecy. Nebuchadnezzar issued a proclamation which is recorded here in Daniel chapter four which tells the subjects in his kingdom that God is sovereign over him and all the kingdoms of the earth. This purpose clause reveals God s concern for the entire human race in that He wants them to put themselves and their lives in perspective, namely, they are under His authority and are accountable to him. So God deposed Nebuchadnezzar from power in order to demonstrate to the entire human race that He is sovereign and not Nebuchadnezzar. Therefore, He can give it to whomever He desires is a result clause which presents the result of the Most High being sovereign over the realm of mankind. It denotes that as a result of the Most High being sovereign over the realm of mankind, He bestows the realm of mankind upon whomever He desires. Because the Most High is sovereign over the realm of mankind, He can give the realm of mankind to whomever He desires. This result clause speaks of the function of the sovereign will of the Most High. He can even establish the ordinary over it is an ascensive clause which advances upon the previous result clause. It expresses the shock that God would bestow the realm of mankind upon the lowliest of men. It denotes that this is out of the ordinary or not what we would expect God to do. We would expect Him to put in power someone who is not lowly or poor or uneducated or one not from nobility or royalty William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 21

22 Therefore, the Holy Watchman s statements here in Daniel 4:17 would make clear to Nebuchadnezzar that his punishment was from the throne of God and was a judgment which originated with the Trinity. Daniel 4:18 This is the dream I myself, King Nebuchadnezzar saw. Now, as for you, O Belteshazzar, please communicate the interpretation because each and every one of the wise men belonging to my kingdom is absolutely unable to make known to me the interpretation. However, in contrast to them, you are able because God s Holy Spirit is in you. (Author s translation) Nebuchadnezzar s statements to Daniel here in Daniel 4:18 echo his statements he made to Daniel in Daniel 4:9 before he communicated the content of his dream to Daniel. The former contains three statements which Nebuchadnezzar addressed to Daniel. The first this is the dream I myself, King Nebuchadnezzar saw indicates that the king has completed telling Daniel the content of his dream which appears in Daniel 4: The second now, as for you, O Belteshazzar, please communicate the interpretation is a transitional statement, which expresses the king s total helplessness and desperation to know what the dream meant. The causal clause because each and every one of the wise men belonging to my kingdom is absolutely unable to make known to me the interpretation presents the first reason why Nebuchadnezzar is asking Daniel to interpret his dream for him. This causal clause emphasizes the total inability for the king s wise men to help him in the matter. However, in contrast to them, you are able because God s Holy Spirit is in you is an adversative clause which contrasts the wise men s inability to help the king and Daniel s ability to do so. It presents the second reason why the king wants Daniel to interpret his dream. This adversative clause serves to emphasize Nebuchadnezzar s personal experience with Daniel which has convinced the king that Daniel possessed God s Holy Spirit within him. Nebuchadnezzar knew personally that Daniel possessed God s Holy Spirit within him since Daniel told the king the content of his dream in chapter two and interpreted this dream for him. Daniel Interprets the Vision Daniel 4:19 Then, Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was shocked for a brief period of time so that his thoughts caused him to be terrified. The king responded and said, Belteshazzar, don t let the content of the dream as well as the interpretation cause you to be terrified. Belteshazzar replied and said May the content of the dream be against those who hate you, indeed, its interpretation against your enemies. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:19 contains three statements. The first describes Daniel s reaction of shock as a result of the Holy Spirit telling him the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar s 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 22

23 dream. The second is a statement made by the king to Daniel in response to Daniel s terrified expression on his face. The third presents Daniel s response to Nebuchadnezzar s statement. This last response from Daniel seems to indicate that Daniel was personally attached to the king and respected him somewhat. Daniel would have respected the king for at least three reasons. First and foremost, Nebuchadnezzar was a civil authority who was a servant of God. Daniel understood and he was placed under the king s authority by God (cf. Exodus 22:28; Romans 13:1-7). Daniel knew from Jeremiah that God had given Nebuchadnezzar his power and authority and had delivered Israel and Judah into the king s power as a result of Israel and Judah s disobedience (Jeremiah 27). Also, the king s dream recorded in Daniel chapter two made clear to Daniel that God was using Nebuchadnezzar. Secondly, Nebuchadnezzar had promoted Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to positions of great authority in the Babylonian government (cf. Daniel 2:48-49) and had prospered his three friends (Daniel 3:30). Now, it may be objected that Daniel and his three friends were unjustly put under the sentence of death as we read in Daniel chapter two. However, Daniel 1:19-20 makes crystal clear that the king respected Daniel and his three friends. Thus, the king unknowingly had put them under the sentence of death. Also, Daniel chapter three records that Nebuchadnezzar executed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego because they refused to worship the gold statue he erected of himself as a result of their desire to obey their God. God delivered these three from the king s power which as a result caused Nebuchadnezzar to place his faith in their God since Daniel 3:28 records that the king praised their God and no unbeliever is recorded in Scripture as praising God, only believers. This leads to the third reason why Daniel thought well of Nebuchadnezzar. The king was a fellow believer now. Though the king mistreated the poor as Daniel tells the king in Daniel 4:30 and was extremely arrogant before God as revealed in Daniel 4:29-30, Daniel s attitude toward the king was that the king was a fellow believer. This again is indicated by the fact that in Daniel 3:28, the king praises the God of Israel. 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. So Daniel s desire in Daniel 4:19 that the content of the dream and its interpretation would be applied to Nebuchadnezzar s enemy expresses Daniel s brotherly love for the king. Daniel did not want to see the king disciplined by God. Thus, this teaches church age believers today to not desire to see their fellow believer disciplined by God but that they repent by confessing their sins and obeying God so that they are back in fellowship with God William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 23

24 Daniel s desire that the king would not be disciplined by God but rather that the king would repent as he tells the king in Daniel 4:27 corresponds to the prophets of Israel and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. In Exodus 32, God sought to destroy Israel and yet Moses interceded for the nation that the Lord would spare her. David did not desire to see God kill Saul even though Saul had persecuted. The prophets like Jeremiah wept over God disciplining the nation of Israel. Abraham interceded for Lot who had disrespected him so that Lot would not be destroyed with the rest of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. All of these operated in the love of God. Daniel s statement that the content of the dream and its interpretation would be against his enemies rather than the king was a demonstration of the love of God in Daniel s life with regards to the king. God s love always has the best interests of another in mind. Daniel was expressing the fact that he had the king s best interests in mind. Daniel 4:20 The tree, that you saw which became enormous so that it was strong, indeed, whose height reached to the heavens so that it was visible throughout the entire earth 21 and in addition whose foliage was beautiful as well as its fruit was abundant so that food was in it for the benefit of all, under it, the beasts of the field lived as well as in its branches, the birds of the sky nested- 22 it is you O king! For you have become enormous so that you are strong. Indeed, your greatness has become enormous so that it has reached to the heavens in the sense that, your governmental authority extends to the extremity of the earth. (Author s translation) In Daniel 4:20-21, we have Daniel repeating back to Nebuchadnezzar the content of the dream as the king had previously narrated it for him as recorded in Daniel 4: This would assure Nebuchadnezzar that Daniel understood completely the content of the dream so that his interpretation for the king would be accurate. The repetition is for emphasis and to impress upon Nebuchadnezzar the seriousness of his situation. Then, with the first statement in Daniel 4:22, Daniel comes right out and pulls no punches and with no hesitation and tells the king that the tree symbolizes or represents him and his kingdom. The symbol of the tree denotes the king s greatness and power as a world ruler. In the Bible, great men and princes are often represented as trees (Psalm 1:3; 47:35; Jeremiah 22:15; Ezekiel 17:5, 6; 31:3). Daniel s description of the tree tells us quite a bit about Nebuchadnezzar s empire in a symbolic way. The growth of the tree to an enormous height and its strength represented the rapid rise of the Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar and his father Nabopolassar. It symbolizes the state of Nebuchadnezzar possessing enormous resources and great political and military power as a result of becoming a world-ruler. The fact that the tree could be seen by all throughout the earth represented the fact that Nebuchadnezzar s rulership 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 24

25 was recognized by everyone throughout the entire earth. The beautiful foliage of the tree symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom as being outwardly attractive in appearance, implying that it was healthy and flourishing. This description means that Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom was glamorous. The fact that the tree produced abundant fruit meant that Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom provided food for everyone in his world-wide empire. There was plenty of food for all. The wild animals living under the shade of this tree and the birds of the sky nesting in its branches symbolizes that Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom provided protection for all in his empire. The beasts of the field and birds of the sky represent every human being under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom according to Daniel s interpretation in Daniel 4: In Daniel 4:22, Daniel displays great courage in telling the king the truth that the tree represented him. This is reminiscent of Nathan confronting David with regards to his murder of Uriah the Hittite to cover up his adulterous affair with his wife Bathsheba that got her pregnant. Daniel s courage like Nathan s was the result of their great faith and trust in the Lord and their understanding that God is sovereign over the men who rule over the kingdoms of this earth like David and Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel is speaking the truth to Nebuchadnezzar in love (cf. Ephesians 4:15). He is also rebuking the king for his open sin of rebellion against God with gentleness (cf. Galatians 6:1). Interestingly, not only is Daniel telling Nebuchadnezzar that the tree symbolizes the king but he is also reminding the king that God raised him and gave him his world-rulership, authority, power, success and prosperity. The fact that Daniel repeats the content of the dream back to the king is to emphasis with Nebuchadnezzar that God is responsible for his position and success and not the king. The discipline that Nebuchadnezzar is to receive if he does not repent by confessing his sin of rebellion and obey God is designed to teach the king this. You have become enormous means that Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom achieved enormous power and authority as a result of becoming a ruler of a worldwide empire. So that you are strong presents the result of Nebuchadnezzar achieving enormous in power and authority, which was that Nebuchadnezzar possessed enormous resources and great political and military power as a result of becoming a world-ruler. Indeed, your greatness has become enormous advances upon and intensifies the previous statement that Nebuchadnezzar had become enormous so that he was strong. The greatness of Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom had become enormous in the sense he and his kingdom had become distinguished and eminent 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 25

26 throughout the earth in that he and his kingdom stood above all the other kings and kingdoms of the earth. So that it has reached to the heavens presents the result of Nebuchadnezzar s greatness becoming enormous. It means that the greatness of Nebuchadnezzar and his empire began insignificantly and then grew to the extent that it reached to the sky in the sense his power and authority extended over the entire earth. In the sense that, your governmental authority extends to the extremity of the earth explains explicitly what Daniel meant when he told the king that the greatness of Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom reached to the heavens. It means that Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom extended throughout the entire earth with no nation or creature not under his jurisdiction. Daniel 4:23 Moreover, in view of the fact that the king saw a watchman, yes a holy one descending out from the heavens and saying Cut down the tree! In other words, destroy it however leave intact in the ground, the taproot which produces its roots but with a band composed of iron as well as bronze in the midst of the wild grass produced by the open field. Also, let it be drenched with the dew from heaven as well as its dwelling place among the beasts in the grass produced by the field until seven times pass by for him, 24 this is the interpretation to follow O king. Specifically, the decree is from the Most High which has been issued against my lord the king. 25 Namely that you will be driven away from mankind so that your dwelling place will be among the beasts of the field. You will even be fed grass like cattle. Furthermore, you will be drenched with the dew from heaven. Indeed, for your benefit, seven years will pass by until you acknowledge that the Most High is the sovereign authority over mankind s realm so that He can give it to whomever He desires. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:23-25 is presenting an additional reason why the tree which appeared in a vision to Nebuchadnezzar represented or symbolized him. In Daniel 4:22, Daniel presented to the king the reason why the first part of the vision is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 4:13-17, the king tells Daniel the second part of the vision, which he repeats back to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:23. Now, in Daniel 4:25-26, Daniel presents the reason why the second part of the vision is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel s statement to the king in Daniel 4:24 denotes that the interpretation of the second part of his vision is found in Daniel 4: In other words, he is telling him that he is now going to interpret for the king the second part of the vision. In this verse, Daniel informs Nebuchadnezzar that this interpretation that he is about to give the king is a decree from the Most High which has been issued by the Most High against the king. Since Nebuchadnezzar is a believer at this point 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 26

27 indicates that this decree is an order to discipline him and which discipline is a manifestation of God s love for the king. This decree is an authoritative judicial decision handed down by the Supreme Court of Heaven to humble the king. Daniel 4:25 contains four statements which contain the interpretation of the second part of the vision and reveals that God will depose Nebuchadnezzar from power for seven years until the king acknowledges God s sovereign authority over him. The first three statements reveal that God will discipline him by giving him the mental disorder of boanthropy. The description of the king s punishment makes clear that this is the king s discipline from God. This was a conditional prophecy or judgment meaning that if Nebuchadnezzar had at any time repented prior to the execution of this decree during the next year, the Lord would not have disciplined him. Daniel 4:29 reveals that one year had passed since Daniel had told the king of this decision from God. Yet, the king never heeded Daniel s advice in Daniel 4:27 to repent which would involve confession of sin and then followed by obedience to God. Daniel 4:26 However, in view of the fact that they decreed to leave intact the tree s taproot, which produces its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge the Heavens rule. (Author s translation) Daniel s statement in Daniel 4:26 stands in contrast to his statements to Nebuchadnezzar which are recorded in Daniel 4: These verses have Daniel interpreting the second half of the vision. He told Nebuchadnezzar that he would be deposed from power for seven years until he acknowledged that God has sovereign authority over him. So the contrast between Daniel 4:23-25 and Daniel 4:26 is Nebuchadnezzar being deposed from power for seven years and his being restored to power after repenting. Daniel 4:26 presents the third reason why the tree which appeared in a vision to Nebuchadnezzar symbolized or represented him and his kingdom. In this verse, Daniel repeats back to Nebuchadnezzar the second part of the vision, which was communicated by the king to Daniel in Daniel 4:15 which records the Holy Watcher ordering the taproot of the enormous tree to be left in the ground. Therefore, Daniel is telling the king that in view of the fact that he received this part of the vision recorded in Daniel 4:16, Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom will be restored to him when he acknowledges that God is sovereign over him. Daniel is making clear to Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom will be restored to him only when he acknowledges that God is sovereign over him, which would constitute repentance, which means to go in one direction and to change your mind and go in the exact opposite direction and does not involve emotion or feeling sorry for your sins. Repentance involves not only a change of attitude but of conduct. Daniel is telling Nebuchadnezzar here in Daniel 4:26 that his attitude and conduct towards 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 27

28 God s sovereign authority over him must do a 180 degree turn before his kingdom will be restored to him. It is simply a change of attitude or a change of mind. It means to being going in one direction and to change your mind and go in the exact opposite direction. Daniel 4:29 reveals that the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was not executed until a year after Daniel gave the king this interpretation of the vision. So for an entire year, God in His grace gave Nebuchadnezzar the opportunity to repent or change his attitude and conduct towards His sovereign authority over the king. Therefore, we can see that this prophecy that was given to Nebuchadnezzar was conditional meaning that if at any time during the one year prior to the execution of the punishment, Nebuchadnezzar had confessed his sin and then obeyed God, God would have never punished him. Daniel 4:27 Therefore, O king let my advice be acceptable to you: Please substitute your sins with righteousness, specifically your iniquities by demonstrating mercy to the poor. Then, your prosperity will be prolonged. (Author s translation) In Daniel 4:27, we have the record of Daniel offering advice to Nebuchadnezzar in light of his interpretation to the king that the vision he received from God was to inform him that he will be deposed from power for seven years and suffer the mental disorder of boanthropy during this period until he repented. Daniel s advice is in the form of a request, which if the king obeys would constitute repentance on the part of Nebuchadnezzar. This verse does not contain two requests but one since demonstrating mercy to the poor explains or defines specifically how Nebuchadnezzar was to substitute his sins with righteousness. Daniel s advice makes clear that Nebuchadnezzar was a believer not an unbeliever since he would first tell the king to have faith in the Lord before he would talk to him about his conduct since faith in the Lord results in receiving the capacity to please God. The unbeliever can only please God by exercising faith in the Lord as the Lord taught the unbelieving Jews in His day as recorded in John 6: Daniel would thus never tell Nebuchadnezzar if he was an unbeliever to substitute practicing sin and instead practice righteousness since the unbeliever has no capacity to do so. The unbeliever is spiritually dead in his sins and transgressions (Ephesians 2:1-3). Thus, they have no capacity to please God. The Scriptures teach that when speaking to an unbeliever, one must evangelize them so as to lead them to faith in the Lord (Acts 16:31; John 3:16-18). This results in the imputation of God s righteousness which results in justification. Before the unbeliever can live a righteous life pleasing to God, he must first receive God s righteousness through faith in the Lord. Therefore, the unbeliever has no capacity to live according to God s righteousness since he must receive God s righteousness first (Romans 3-4) William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 28

29 So the first thing Daniel would have said to the king would be to have faith in the Lord and then he would tell the king how the Lord wants him to live. However, we have Daniel talking to the king about his conduct, which indicates that the king has already expressed faith in the Lord. This took place after the Lord delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power as recorded in Daniel 3:28. In this verse, the king praises the God of these three. Nowhere in Scripture is there an unbeliever who praises the God of Israel. Only believers are recorded as doing so. Thus, the fact that the king was deposed from power for seven years was divine discipline of a believer rather than the judgment of an unbeliever. In Daniel 4:27, Daniel s first piece of advice please substitute your sins with righteousness denotes that he is requesting that the king practice righteousness towards those under his authority rather than sinning against them. This request would involve Nebuchadnezzar fulfilling his obligation to his fellow human to love them as himself. It speaks of him perfectly adhering to God s perfect standards, which appear in the Law, which Daniel would have taught him. It denotes Nebuchadnezzar doing all that God commands of him and all that He demands of him as His child and all that He approves, and all that He provides. Daniel is requesting that the king do all that God commands of him in the Law. Also, what God demands of him as communicated in the Law. Furthermore, all that God approves and provides through what Daniel taught the king in the law and which was written into the king s soul, which was the Ten Commandments (cf. Romans 1:18-15; 2:14-15). Daniel s statement specifically your iniquities by demonstrating mercy to the poor defines specifically how Nebuchadnezzar was to substitute his sins with righteousness. This epexegetical clause indicates that Daniel is requesting that the substitute practicing iniquity, i.e. practicing injustice with those under his authority by showing kindness and compassion to them instead. The statement then, your prosperity will be prolonged denotes the certainty of Nebuchadnezzar s prosperity being prolonged as the result of heeding Daniel s advice. This statement indicates that this Daniel s interpretation of the vision the king received from God was conditional meaning that if at any time during the one year prior to the execution of the punishment, Nebuchadnezzar obeyed Daniel s advice, God would have never punished him. The Vision is Fulfilled Daniel 4:28 Each and every detail took place for the benefit of Nebuchadnezzar the king. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:28 is a summary statement of the fulfillment of Daniel s interpretation of the vision Nebuchadnezzar received from God that the king would be deposed 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 29

30 from power for seven years while suffering the mental disorder of boanthropy until he acknowledged that God was sovereign over him. Daniel 4:29-36 presents the details of the fulfillment of Daniel s interpretation which was a prophecy. Interestingly, Daniel 4:28-33 is written in the third person whereas Daniel 4:1-27 and are written in the first person. Daniel 4:28-33 records Nebuchadnezzar suffering the mental disorder of boanthropy for seven years. Daniel 4:34-37 records Nebuchadnezzar coming to his senses at the end of the seven years and in a humble state of mind acknowledging that God is sovereign over him. Therefore, it appears the third person is used in Daniel 4:28-33 to express the fact that Nebuchadnezzar was not in his right mind because of suffering this mental disorder. It denotes that during this period he was not himself or in other words he could not express himself as a human being during this period. The third person in this section indicates that he perceived nothing of what happened to him during this period. Therefore, he could not report on what transpired duringthis seven year period of discipline. Daniel 4:29 At the end of twelve months, he was walking about on the roof of the city of Babylon s royal palace. (Author s translation) Daniel 4:29-30 tells the reader that Nebuchadnezzar was walking about the roof of the royal palace in the city of Babylon when the Lord executed the sentence against him. This city was founded by Nimrod according to Genesis 10:10 whom made it his capital. However, Babylonian religious tradition gives credit to the god Marduk. It is located in modern Iraq, about 53 miles south of Baghdad, near the modern city of Hilla, on the Euphrates River, south of where the Tigris and Euphrates approach. Babylon had long been the commercial and pagan religious center of the entire Mesopotamian region. The city was at its zenith when Daniel was taken captive. Nebuchadnezzar expanded the city and made it a magnificent capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The King Reflects Daniel 4:30 The king reflected and said, Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? (NASB95) The king reflected and said is composed of the composed of the masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active participle form of the verb ʿǎnā(h) (an- (ע נ ה) aw ), reflected and this is followed by the masculine singular form of the noun (ו ( wa (meh -lek), the king and then we have the conjunction (מ ל ך) mě lěḵ (waw), and which is followed by the masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active participle form of the verb ʾǎmǎr said. (am-ar ), (א מ ר) 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 30

31 Asyndeton Nebuchadnezzar under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is employing the figure of asyndeton because the Spirit wants the reader to dwell upon the statement in this verse, which records Nebuchadnezzar boasted of the city of Babylon as his personal possession as well as a reflection of his power and glory. This figure emphasizes with the reader the great pride and arrogance of the king. ʿǎnā(h) The verb ʿǎnā(h) means to pose a rhetorical question to oneself since the statement which follows it records Nebuchadnezzar posing a rhetorical question to himself which from the king s perspective demanded an emphatic affirmation. This rhetorical question expresses the king s great pride in himself and his accomplishments. The word does not mean answer since the king is not responding to any question or a statement from another. In context, the last statement made to the king was Daniel s advice to the king in light of his interpretation of his vision. Then, following this Daniel 4:29 says that one year elapsed after Daniel offered his advice when the king was said to be walking about the roof of his palace boasting of Babylon as his personal possession and a reflection of his power and glory. Therefore, the king s rhetorical question in Daniel 4:30 is not in response to Daniel since his advice came one year before the events of Daniel 4:30 took place. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb ʿǎnā(h) is fientive expressing an action taken by Nebuchadnezzar of posing a rhetorical question to himself which expresses his great pride and arrogance. The participle form of the verb denotes simultaneous action with the verb ʾǎmǎr indicating that both verbs occurred at the same instant. wa This time the conjunction wa is used to coordinate the verbs ʿǎnā(h) and ʾǎmǎr whose actions occur simultaneously. ʾǎmǎr The verb ʾǎmǎr means to say in the sense of saying something to oneself. Here it denotes Nebuchadnezzar speaking to himself in the form of a rhetorical question which demands an emphatic affirmation from the king s perspective. It denotes the king posing this rhetorical question to himself William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 31

32 The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem is fientive and denotes Nebuchadnezzar performing the action of speaking to himself in the form of a rhetorical question which demands an emphatic affirmation from the king s perspective. The participle form of the verb denotes simultaneous action with the verb ʿǎnā(h) indicating that both verbs occurred at the same instant. This indicates that the king s boast to Daniel is found in his rhetorical question which follows. Nebuchadnezzar Boasts of Babylon as His Personal Possession Daniel 4:30 The king reflected and said, Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? (NASB95) Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence is composed of the interrogative particle h ǎ - (ה ) (hah), which is not translated and then we have the negative particle lā(ʾ) (ל א) (law), not which is followed by the masculine singular demonstrative pronoun dā(ʾ) (דּ א) (daw), this (ה יא) hî(ʾ) and then we have the third person feminine singular personal pronoun (he), which is not translated and followed by the feminine singular noun bā ḇěl (baw-bel ), Babylon and then we have the feminine singular form of the (בּ ב ל) noun rǎḇ (ר ב) (rab), the great and then we have the particle dî (דּ י) (dee), which and this is followed by the first person singular personal pronoun ʾǎnā(h) (an-aw ), I myself and then we have the first second person singular peʿal (א נ ה) (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb b e nā(h) (בּ נ ה) (ben-aw ), have built and then once have we have the third person feminine singular personal pronoun hî(ʾ) (ה יא) (he), which is not translated this time and followed by the preposition lĕ (leh) and its object is the masculine singular construct form of the noun bǎ yiṯ (ל ( (bah-yith), a residence which is modified by the feminine singular noun (בּ י ת) mǎl ḵû (מ ל כוּ) (mal-koo ), royal. h ǎ - The interrogative particle h ǎ - is used to mark a question and need not be translated and can be signified by a question mark and quotes or you can mark it with the expression is it true? (BDB ) Here we will use the former. hî(ʾ) The third person feminine singular personal pronoun hî(ʾ) means is since it is used as a marker joining clauses and thus functioning as a copula. It is joining demonstrative pronoun dā(ʾ), this with the expression bā ḇěl rǎb b e ṯā(ʾ), the 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 32

33 great Babylon. The word s meaning is negated by the negative particle lā(ʾ) indicating that Nebuchadnezzar posed a rhetorical question to himself in which he asked is this not the great Babylon which I have built for his royal residence by his own power and strength and for his majestic honor. dā(ʾ) The demonstrative pronoun dā(ʾ) means this and is kataphoric meaning that it is pointing out the expression bā ḇěl rǎb b e ṯā(ʾ), the great Babylon which follows it. bā ḇěl rǎb b e ṯā(ʾ) The proper noun bā ḇěl refers to the city of Babylon and not the province or the empire as a whole since Nebuchadnezzar boasts of having built this city for his royal residence and for his glory and honor. It must refer to the city since he identifies this word as the place of his royal residence, which history records as being this city. This word is modified by the adjective rǎḇ, which means great in the sense of being preeminent over others and having a larger impact than others. Here it denotes the city of Babylon as being the preeminent city in the world at the time when Nebuchadnezzar made this boast. It also denotes that this city had a larger impact on human history than the rest of the cities in the world at that time. dî The particle dî means which since it functions as a relative pronoun referring to the expression bā ḇěl rǎb b e ṯā(ʾ), the great Babylon which preceded it. ʾǎnā(h) The independent personal pronoun ʾǎnā(h) functions as the subject of the finite verb b e nā(h) (בּ נ ה) (ben-aw ), have built and serves to focus attention on Nebuchadnezzar as the subject. The king uses this word in order to emphasize his personal accomplishment of making the city of Babylon as the greatest city on the earth at that time. We will translate the word I myself. b e nā(h) The verb b e nā(h) means to build, construct and is used of course in relation to the city of Babylon. Therefore, the word denotes that the king is boasting that he 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 33

34 built or constructed this city so that it became the greatest city on the earth when the king made this boast. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb is fientive expressing an action. Here it is expressing an action performed by Nebuchadnezzar in building the city of Babylon into the greatest city on earth. The perfect tense of the verb is constative describes in summary fashion this action. hî(ʾ) This time the third person feminine singular personal pronoun hî(ʾ) means her since the context indicates that it is functioning as a pronoun referring to the city of Babylon and is the direct object of the verb b e nā(h). l mǎl ḵû ḇêṯ The noun bǎ yiṯ is in the singular and construct form referring to the residence or the dwelling place or home of Nebuchadnezzar. The word is modified by the noun mǎl ḵû, which means royal since it is used in a grammatical construct relationship with the noun bǎ yiṯ. This word is used with the construct form of the noun bǎ yiṯ, which means that the latter is governing the former expressing a genitive relationship which here is attributive meaning that mǎl ḵû describes bǎ yiṯ in a way which is best translated as an attributive adjective. The noun bǎ yiṯ is the object of the preposition lĕ, which is a marker of purpose indicating that Nebuchadnezzar is boasting that he built the great Babylon for the purpose of it being his royal residence. Therefore, we will translate this prepositional phrase l mǎl ḵû ḇêṯ, for a royal residence. Nebuchadnezzar Boasts of Babylon as a Reflection of His Power and Glory Daniel 4:30 The king reflected and said, Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? (NASB95) By the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty is composed of the preposition bĕ ( (בּ (beh), by and its object is the masculine singular construct form of the noun t e qāp (תּ ק ף) (tek-ofe ), the might of and then we have the masculine singular noun ḥ ě sēn (ח ס ן) (khay -sen), the power which is modified by the first person singular pronominal suffix î ( י) (ee), my and then we have (ל ( lĕ (waw), and which is followed by the preposition (ו ( wa the conjunction (י ק ר) (leh) and its object is the masculine singular construct form of the noun y e qār (yek-awr ), the glory of and this is followed by the masculine singular construct 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 34

35 form of the noun h ǎ ḏǎr ( ה ד ר ) (had-ar ), majesty which is modified by the first person singular pronominal suffix î ( י) (ee), my. bi ṯ e qǎp î ḥisn The noun t e qāp means mighty and is in the construct state meaning that it is governing the noun which follows it, namely the noun ḥ ě sēn, which refers to Nebuchadnezzar s military power to conquer and rule over other nations. It denotes that Nebuchadnezzar s military power enabled him or gave him the ability to impose his will on other kings and nations. The construct state of this noun t e qāp is expressing a genitive relationship which here is attributive meaning that t e qāp describes ḥ ě sēn in a way which is best translated as an attributive adjective. The first person singular pronominal suffix î means my referring of course to Nebuchadnezzar and functions as a possession personal pronoun modifying these two words t e qāp and ḥ ě sēn. The noun t e qāp is the object of the preposition bĕ, which is a marker of means indicating that Nebuchadnezzar is boasting that he built the city of Babylon into the greatest city on earth by means of his mighty military power. Therefore, we will translate this prepositional phrase by means of my mighty military power. wa The conjunction wa is used in a adjunctive sense meaning that it is introducing another purpose for Nebuchadnezzar building the city of Babylon into the greatest city in the world, which is in addition to the first purpose, which was for the king s royal residence. li yqār î hǎḏrh ǎ The noun y e qār means honor, praise and denotes public recognition referring to honor in the sense of public recognition or praise that Nebuchadnezzar received from men as a result of building the city of Babylon into a great city. It means honor in the sense of demonstrating respect toward Nebuchadnezzar. To respect someone in our context is to esteem the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or trait or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or trait. Here it denotes the respect paid to Nebuchadnezzar by the inhabitants of the earth in the sense that they esteemed him because of building the city of Babylon into the greatest city in the world. The noun h ǎ ḏǎr means majesty or greatness and is used with reference of course to Nebuchadnezzar. This word denotes the state of being preeminent over 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 35

36 others indicating that Nebuchadnezzar built the city of Babylon into the greatest city for his royal residence by his mighty military power and in addition for the praise of his greatness. Thus, this word denotes that the greatness of the city reflected Nebuchadnezzar s greatness as a human being from the king s perspective. The construct state of the noun y e qār is expressing a genitive relationship which here is an objective genitive meaning that the noun h ǎ ḏǎr receives the action implied by the construct form of the noun y e qār. The first person singular pronominal suffix î means my referring of course to Nebuchadnezzar and functions as a possession personal pronoun modifying the noun h ǎ ḏǎr. The noun y e qār is the object of the preposition lĕ, which again functions as a marker of purpose indicating that Nebuchadnezzar is boasting that he built the great Babylon for the purpose of it praising his majesty or greatness. Therefore, we will translate this prepositional phrase li yqār î hǎḏrh ǎ, for the praise of my greatness. Translation of Daniel 4:30 Daniel 4:30 The king posed a rhetorical question to himself and said, Is this not the great Babylon, which I myself have built her for a royal residence by means of my mighty military power as well as for the praise of my greatness? Exposition of Daniel 4:30 Daniel 4:29 tells the reader that Nebuchadnezzar was walking about the roof of the royal palace in the city of Babylon when the Lord executed the sentence against him. Daniel 4:30 records what the king said to himself when this sentence against him was executed by God. The king poses a rhetorical question to himself which from his perspective demanded an emphatic affirmation. This indicates that Nebuchadnezzar was expressing his great pride by boasting of the city of Babylon as his personal possession and a reflection of his power and glory. In this boast, he describes the city of Babylon as great in the sense that the city was preeminent among the cities of the world at that time, which it was. He is not saying that he built her since Nimrod built the city originally. However, Nebuchadnezzar did build her into a great city. He is not claiming he built her originally but that he built her into the greatest city on the earth at that time. He built her into the greatest city in the world at that time for two purposes. The first was for his royal residence and the second was for the praise of his greatness meaning he wanted the city to reflect his greatness as a human being in the sense 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 36

37 that he wanted the city to demonstrate that he was the greatest man on the earth at that time. Nebuchadnezzar says that his mighty military power was the means by which he accomplished both purposes. His mighty military power enabled him to accomplish these two purposes because he exacted tribute from those nations he defeated on the battlefield and subjugated to himself. This wealth from these nations would be brought to the city of Babylon the capital of Nebuchadnezzar s empire. This city would then grow and expand immensely as a result of so much money and possessions in the city s treasury. In fact, as we noted in Daniel chapter one, the articles of gold and silver and bronze in Solomon s temple were brought to the city of Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar s first invasion of Jerusalem in 605 B.C. They were placed in the temple of Marduk by Nebuchadnezzar and stayed there until the Jewish exiles returned to Israel seventy years later. Showers writes From a purely human viewpoint, Nebuchadnezzar had good reason to boast. He probably was the greatest builder in ancient times. Forty-nine building inscriptions of this king have been uncovered thus far. Most of the bricks recovered from ancient Babylon bear this inscription: I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. He himself declared that his heart impelled him to build. Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt the old palace of his father, then built two more palaces. He built seventeen religious temples in Babylon and its suburb, Borsippa. He completed the two great walls that surrounded the city. The outer wall was wide enough for chariots to pass each other on its top. The king installed great fortifications to protect the city and had canals dug from one end of the city to another to facilitate commerce. One of Nebuchadnezzar s most splendid projects was the magnificent Ishtar Gate. This was a double gateway through the walls of the city. The walls of this gate were covered with bulls and four-legged dragons in high relief. The approach to the gate was between strong fortress walls on which were rows of lions in relief and covered with brightly colored tiles. The king s greatest building feat was the Hanging Gardens. One of Nebuchadnezzar s wives, the princess of Media, grew homesick for the mountains of her homeland. In order to satisfy her, the king had mountains built on the roof of the royal palace complex. These mountains were planted with trees and other kinds of plants. An ingenious hydraulic machine system was devised to lift water from the Euphrates River to water the elevated gardens. These Hanging Gardens became so famous that the Greeks named them one of the Seven Wonders of the World. (The Most High God-A Commentary on the Book of Daniel). The city of Babylon was founded by Nimrod according to Genesis 10:10 whom made it his capital. However, Babylonian religious tradition gives credit to the god Marduk. It is located in modern Iraq, about 53 miles south of Baghdad, near the modern city of Hilla, on the Euphrates River, south of where the Tigris and 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 37

38 Euphrates approach. Babylon had long been the commercial and pagan religious center of the entire Mesopotamian region. The city was at its zenith when Daniel was taken captive. Nebuchadnezzar expanded the city and made it a magnificent capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The city of Babylon was located 53 miles south of Baghdad in modern Iraq. It encompassed approximately 2,100 acres. Excavations have revealed that an inner city of around 1,140 acres was built up along both sides of the Euphrates River. This was srounded by a wall 5.5 miles long, incorporating an inner wall 21 feet wide and an outer wall 12 feet wide with a 24 foot space between them filled with earth, which resulted in a total defense depth of 57 feet. Outside the outer wall was a moat, fed by the Euphrates, which ranged in width from 60 to 250 feet. To the east of the inner city were two more double walls totaling 4.5 miles in length. To provide additional protection against invasion from the north, Nebuchadnezzar constructed an enormous wall 20 miles north of Babylon, which was 16 feet thick and extended from the Euphrates to the Tigris River, which is a distance of approximately 25 miles. Within the city Nebuchadnezzar s magnificent palace occupied an area of about 50 acres. Along with this were over 50 temples as well as numerous shrines and other buildings. The city was a square and was approximately 14 miles on each side. It was surrounded by a double wall with a wide moat in between. The inner wall was about 75 feet high and 32 feet wide. The outer wall of the city was about 344 feet high and 86 feet wide. Four horse chariots could run on top of the wall, pass each other and turn. The Euphrates River flowed through the city. Orchards and fields were within the city walls. The famous hanging gardens were one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The walls, palaces, temples and homes associate with the city were built with brick. Every brick in the city wall was stamped with Nebuchadnezzar s name. The New Bible Atlas writes Modern excavations, combined with the evidence of thousands of inscribed tablets, have made possible a fairly detailed reconstruction of the city as rebuilt by Nebuchadrezzar. He rebuilt the temples of Marduk and Nabû (Nebo), and equipped the city with a system of multiple defence walls, the outer one large enough for chariots to be driven along the top. There were eight gates, the famous Ishtar gate on the N side marking a great processional way through the city. This was some 920 m (c. 3,020 ft) long, its walls decorated with scenes composed of enamelled bricks. It led to the temple of Marduk, Esagila and the ziggurat (temple tower). From it another road led W to cross the Euphrates, linking the ancient capital with the city on the W bank. Nebuchadrezzar also 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 38

39 provided the city with new canals. His great works of restoration are the subject of his boasting in Daniel 4:30. 1 Avraham Negev writes, The ruins of Babylon form a vast triangle and extend over an area of more than 3 1/2 square miles. The whole area was surrounded by walls, while on the west the city was defended by the Euphrates. Tell Babil, which has preserved the ancient name, rises in the northern part of this triangle. Several additional mounds scattered over the area concealed some of the more important monuments. A huge bridge over the river connected old Babylon with the new city, built under Nebuchadnezzar II. In the excavations of Tell Babil extensive remains of his palace were discovered. It consisted of several large courts around which were grouped countless halls, rooms, stores and so on. The same palace was still further enlarged by subsequent rulers, especially Artaxerxes III Ochus. A monumental passageway led to the palace from the east, terminating in the third court, adjoining which was the 50 feet square throne hall. The walls of his vast hall were lined with bricks enamelled in white, light blue, yellow and red, on a dark blue ground. Another huge palace was discovered in a mound in the northeastern quarter of the city. It consisted of a narrow passage, along which were grouped two lines of rooms, seven in each group. The excavators believed that these were the gardens of Queen Semiramis the Hanging Gardens of Babylon famous in classical literature. Inscribed clay tablets were found here on which were written the portions of food allotted to foreign artisans and important captives, among them Jehoiakim, King of Judah. Along the eastern side of the two palaces ran a ceremonial street connected with the inner city by the famous Ishtar Gate, decorated with enamelled bricks on which wild oxen and legendary animals were depicted. The street led into the most sacred part of the city, where the most venerated shrines were situated. In the center of a huge court (1,200 feet by 1,500 feet) stood the temple of Marduk, named E Sag Ila, and the Tower of Babel. Owing to the rise in the level of the ground water the excavators were unable to penetrate the strata pertaining to the Babylon of Hammurabi, but remains of the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman periods did come to light. 2 Donald Campbell writes The palace of Nebuchadnezzar also adorned the city and was proudly called by the king, The Marvel of Mankind, The Center of the Land, The Shining Residence and The Dwelling of Majesty. It is supposed that within the palace area were the Hanging Gardens, considered by the Greeks to be one of the wonders of the ancient world. These gardens, of such height as to be seen outside the walls, were said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar to gratify the desire of his wife Amytis to gave upon green mountains like those of her native 1 Bimson, J. J., & Kane, J. P. (2000). New Bible atlas (electronic ed.) (92). Wheaton, IL: InterVarsity Press. 2 Negev, A. (1996). The Archaeological encyclopedia of the Holy Land (3rd ed.). New York: Prentice Hall Press William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 39

40 Media. (Campbell, Donald K., Daniel: God s Man in a Secular Society; page 67; Discovery House Publishers; 1988) The ruins of Babylon: the South Citadel Charles Dyer writes about an inscription On the brick wall towards the north my heart inspired me to build a palace for the protecting of Babylon. I built there a palace like the palace of Babylon of brick and bitumen...i raised its summit and connected it with the palace with brick and bitumen. I made it high as a mountain. Mighty cedar trunks I laid on it for roof. Double doors of cedar wood overlaid with copper, thresholds and hinges made of bronze did I set up in its doorways. That building I named May Nebuchadnezzar live, may he grow old as restorer of Esagila. -- an ancient inscription about the building of Nebuchadnezzar s palace on the northern edge of Babylon...No doubt about it Babylon was majestic. Nebuchadnezzar had buried the Ishtar Gate built by his father so he could construct a new (and far more magnificent!) Ishtar Gate on top of it. He rebuilt the southern palace, constructed the hanging gardens, repaired the walls around the city, restored the Tower of Babel and the temple to Marduk, and built or extensively repaired most of the other temples in the city. His building exploits were legendary. On many of the bricks he had made for his building projects he stamped the following inscription: I am Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, king of everything from sea to far sea. Nebuchadnezzar's boasting was not false, but it was prideful. (The Rise of Babylon; Moody) Walvoord writes The building of Babylon was one of Nebuchadnezzar s principal occupations. Inscriptions for about fifty building projects have been 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 40

41 found, usually made of brick and sometimes of stone. Among the wonders of Nebuchadnezzar s creation were the gardens of Semiramis, the famous hanging gardens regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The gardens were planted on top of a building and served both to beautify and to keep the building cool from the heat of summer. They probably were in view of Nebuchadnezzar s palace. Although his palaces which he constructed were all in Babylon, there were numerous temples built in other cities. The city of Babylon itself, however, was regarded as the symbol of his power and majesty; and he spared no expense or effort to make it the most beautiful city of the world. If the construction of a great city, magnificent in size, architecture, parks, and armaments, was a proper basis for pride, Nebuchadnezzar was justified. What he had forgotten was that none of this would be possible apart from God s sovereign will. (Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation; pages ; Moody Press; Chicago; 1971) Herodotus writes Now when king Nebuchadnezzar had reigned forty-three years, a he ended his life. He was an active man, and more fortunate than the kings that were before him. Now Berosus makes mention of his actions in the third book of his Chaldaic History, where he says thus: (220) When his father Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar] heard that the governor whom he had set over Egypt, and the places about Celesyria and Phoenicia, had revolted from him, while he was not himself able any longer to undergo the hardships [of war], he committed to his son Nebuchadnezzar, who was still but a youth, some parts of his army, and sent them against him. (221) So when Nebuchadnezzar had given battle, and fought with the rebel, he beat him, and reduced the country from under his subjection, and made it a branch of his own kingdom; but about that time it happened that his father Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar] fell ill, and ended his life in the city of Babylon, when he had reigned twenty-one years; b (222) and when he was made sensible, as he was in a little time, that his father, Nebuchodonosor [Nebopollassar], was dead, and having settled the affairs of Egypt, and the other countries, as also those that concerned the captive Jews, and Phoenicians, and Syrians, and those of the Egyptian nations, and having committed the conveyance of them to Babylon to certain of his friends, together with the gross of his army, and the rest of the ammunition and provisions, he went himself hastily, accompanied with a few others, over the desert, and came to Babylon. (223) So he took upon him the management of public affairs, and of the kingdom which had been kept for him by one that was the principal of the Chaldeans, and he received a These forty-three years for the duration of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar are, as I have just now observed, the very same number in Ptolemy s canon. Moses Chorenensis does also confirm this captivity of the Jews under Nebuchadnezzar; and adds, what is very remarkable, that one of those Jews that were carried by him into captivity, got away into Armenia, and raised the great family of the Bagratidae there. b These twenty-one years here ascribed to one Naboulassar, in the first book Against Apion, or to Nabopollassar, the father of the great Nebuchadnezzar, are also the very same with those given him in Ptolemy s canon. And note here, that what Dr. Prideaux says, in the year 612, that Nebuchadnezzar must have been a common name of other kings of Babylon, besides the great Nebuchadnezzar himself, is a groundless mistake of some modern chronologers only, and destitute of all proper original authority William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 41

42 the entire dominions of his father, and appointed, that when the captives came, they should be placed as colonies, in the most proper places of Babylonia; (224) but then he adorned the temple of Belus, and the rest of the temples, in a magnificent manner, with the spoils he had taken in the war. He also added another city to that which was there of old, and rebuilt it, that such as would besiege it hereafter might no more turn the course of the river, and thereby attack the city itself: he therefore built three walls round the inner city, and three others about that which was the outer, and this he did with burnt brick. (225) And after he had, after a becoming manner walled the city, and adorned its gates gloriously, he built another palace before his father s palace, but so that they joined to it; to describe the vast height and immense riches of which, it would perhaps be too much for me to attempt; yet, as large and lofty as they were, they were completed in fifteen days. c (226) He also erected elevated places for walking, of stone, and made it resemble mountains, and built it so that it might be planted with all sorts of trees. He also erected what was called a pensile paradise, because his wife was desirous to have things like her own country, she having been bred up in the palaces of Media. (227) 3 The IVP Bible Background Commentary (Old Testament) has the following comment, Nebuchadnezzar s building projects in Babylon were magnificent. The Euphrates was channeled into a number of canals that passed through the city. His palace, on the north side of the city near the Ishtar Gate, was luxuriously appointed with all the finest materials. The palace gardens were terraced and gained international reputation, eventually being named one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was a parklike enclosure with an arboretum of exotic trees. Additional building projects included the temples and the streets. 4 Archaeologists have discovered ancient documents in which Nebuchadnezzar boasted of the glory and beauty of the city of Babylon. Archer writes On one of his inscriptions, Nebuchadnezzar boasted, The fortifications of Esagila [the temple of Marduk] and Babylon I strengthened and established the name of my reign forever (cf. George A. Barton, Archaeology and the Bible [Philadelphia: American Sunday School Union, 1916], page 479). To this inscription he appended a prayer to Marduk: O Marduk, lord of the gods, my divine creator, may my deeds find favor with thee Thou art indeed my deliverer and my help, O Marduk; by they faithful word which does not change, may my c These fifteen days for finishing such vast buildings at Babylon, in Josephus s copy of Berosus, would seem too absurd to be supposed to be the true number, were it not for the same testimony extant also in the first book Against Apion (sect. 19), with the same number. It thence indeed appears, that Josephus s copy of Berosus had this small number; but that it is the true number I still doubt. Josephus assures us, that the walls of so much a smaller city as Jerusalem were two years and four months in building by Nehemiah, who yet hastened the work all that he could, Antiq I should think one hundred and fifteen days, or a year and fifteen days, much more proportionable to so great a work. 3 Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: Complete and unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson. 4 Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed.) (Da 4:28). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 42

43 weapons advance, be sharp and be stronger than the weapons of the foe! At the time of his enthronement, he had composed of a hymn that included this humble petition to Marduk: I am the prince who obeys thee, the creation of thy hand. Thou art my creator, and the sovereignty over the hosts of men thou hast entrusted to me. According to thy mercy, O lord, which thou hast extended over all of them, incline unto compassion thine exalted power, and set the fear of they godhead in my heart. Grant that which may seem good unto thee. (Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia, volume 1, pl. 53). Nevertheless this official expression of deference to the patron deity of Babylon had in it a large measure of pride of one who by his own achievements deserved the special favor of Heaven. Moreover it was devoid of any appreciation of Yahweh, the one true God, who had so marvelously revealed himself to Nebuchadnezzar. (Archer Jr., Gleason L.; The Expositor s Bible Commentary, volume 7: Daniel-Minor Prophets; page 65; Regency Reference Library; Zondervan Publishing House; Grand Rapids, Michigan; 1985) The Ishtar Gate, Babylon. 7 th -6 th century B.C. John Goldingay commenting on the city of Babylon, writes The palace from which he surveyed Babylon was one of the citadels on the north side of the city. It had large courts, reception rooms, throne room, residences, and the famous 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 43