1. Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king of the gentile times and nations. He had been a victorius general and became a conquering king.
2. He grew famous as a great builder of his capital, temple, palace and the hanging gardens which became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
3. The walls of Babylon were 60 miles in circumference, 360 feet high, 87
feet thick with a moat 150 feet wide. Inside the three tier hanging gardens rose 180 feet in the air. Two main buildings, the temple with
its grounds 3 miles in circumference, and the palace with its grounds 8
miles in circumference, were both decked with gold.
4. All that Nebuchadnezzar built has fallen and been practically forgotten, but for his dream and testimony he shall forever be remembered. We can do few things greater than give our testimony of
God Almighty.
THE KING'S PROCLAMATION
Verses 1-3: Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that
dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs
and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and
how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion
is from generation to generation.
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Verse 1 begins a proclamation that king Nebuchadnezzar made and addressed to all people, nations, and languages who resided in all parts of the earth. Daniel had told him that he was the mightiest of the mighty, made so, raised up by the Lord, Daniel 2:37, 38.
In this position, as the first universal Gentile ruler, in whom "the times of the Gentiles"
began, may be recognized the manner in which it shall end, with the coming and cunning deception of the Anti-christ or the "man of sin," Daniel 9:26, 27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation ch. 13. Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed "peace be multiplied to you," or
"Shalom" to you. It was a false promise of peace, even as that of the anti-christ shall be, so unlike the peace that angels heralded at the coming of our Lord.
Verse 2 states that Nebuchadnezzar thought it proper that he should relate and acknowledge the signs and wonders or miraculous things that the most high God (the living Jehovah God) had done toward him, to help him. His dream fears had been removed!
Verse 3 recounts an exclamatory expression of the greatness of the signs and wonders of the living God in recalling and interpreting his dream and resolving fears that came to him when the monstrous image appeared, then went from him in the dream. This living God, he proclaimed had an everlasting kingdom and dominion, generation after generation.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S TREE-VISION
Verses 4-18: I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my
palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the
visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men
of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the
dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me
the interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was
Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy
gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the
magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret
troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation
thereof. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the
midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong,
and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the
earth: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for
all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the
boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my
bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud,
and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and
scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and
brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let
his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: Let his heart be changed from
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man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy
ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom
of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the
interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to
make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy
gods is in thee.
Verses 4, 5 relate that while king Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in his own residence and flourishing, at the height of prosperity, in his palace, he had another dream; He was resting from many battles. Peace and prosperity had come to him. In this state another dream came to shock him with trembling fear. The flashing thoughts of the vision upon his bed troubled his head, gave him a splitting headache, caused him to "come unglued,"
as that in Daniel 2:1, 28.
Verse 6 asserts that as a result of this upsetting dream he made another decree, to call in all the wise men of Babylon before him that he might relate this dream, which he remembered, but he wanted an interpretation from them of the meaning or import of the dream, as in Daniel 2:1, 2. Strange that he did not call Daniel; But the Chaldean wise men were their national confidants, their magi for such. God reserved His servant Daniel for the worst to magnify Himself through him.
Verse 7 relates that the Chaldean magicians, astrologers, and soothsayers came from far and near and appeared before Nebuchadnezzar. He related the dream to them in detail; but they could not give him the interpretation of it. They could not recall 1) the one that had formerly "went from him," Or 2) interpret the one he could recall. Their gods were too dumb.
Verse 8 relates that at the conclusion and failure of all Nebuchadnezzar's efforts to find an interpretation from his heathen magi, of every god and cult, he turned to Daniel to whom he had given the name Belteshazzar, Daniel 1:7, in honor of his personal god Bel.
Then he asserted that in him (Daniel) was the spirit (dynamic power) of the holy gods, all combined as he viewed it from a heathen king's view. Then he told the dream that he had related to his magi, which they could not interpret, to Daniel.
Verse 9 is a direct address of Nebuchadnezzar to Belteshazzar. He addressed Daniel as
"master of the magicians," because he said, "I know that the spirit of the holy gods (the sum of them) is in thee," in your power. He knew on the basis of Daniel's former help to him, Daniel 2:48; 5:11. Then he proceeded to express his faith that no secret troubled Daniel. On the basis of this testimony of his faith in Daniel he asked him to tell him the visions of his dream and the interpretation of them, which he believed Daniel could do without difficulty. Only the true God is holy; false gods and prophets did not even consider one another holy.
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Verse 10 recounts the vision Nebuchadnezzar saw, as he lay by night upon his bed; He beheld first a great tree, of great height, in the midst of the earth, as a symbol of a great king, which he was, v. 22; Ezekiel 31:1-14 describes an Assyrian leader as a great "cedar in Lebanon."
Verses 11, 12 states that the tree grew, was strong, and its height reached unto, toward heaven; the leaves of it were fair, of good color; and the fruit of it was abundant for meat or food. The beasts of the field came to rest in its shade, and the fowls of the air roosted or lighted on its limbs; and all flesh of man, beasts, and fowl fed of this mighty tree-ruler of earth's center.
Verse 13 continues that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his visions upon his bed, as he then recalled, a watcher, even an holy watcher descended from heaven, with a mission message, v. 17, 23. Angels do come down from heaven, as watchful ministers to do God's will among men, in blessing the righteous and judging or smiting the wicked, at the bidding of the Lord still.
Verse 14 reports that the holy, heaven sent watchman, cried out loud, in a thunderous judgment tone to "hew down the tree, cut off the limbs, shake off the leaves, and scatter the fruit; let the beasts be driven away from under the shadow area about it and the fowls from off its limbs or branches," The implication is one of warning before judgment, a principle of Divine justice in judgment.
Verse 15 adds however that the stump or trunk of the tree is to be left intact, even supported by a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field. It was to be wet with the dew of heaven; and his portion of food or livelihood was to be "with the beasts in the grass of the earth." This stump or trunk alludes to Nebuchadnezzar's remaining king over the great golden empire; But he was to become a maniac, a lunatic, under Divine judgment, a deranged king who would eat grass like a dumb animal, v. 24, 25.
Verse 16 continues the judgment words of the heaven-sent watchman as he announced that his heart (affection) would be changed from that of a man to that of a beast that would be given to him, until "seven times" had passed over him, or complete waves of judgment had fallen on him, in recurring seizures of periodic, insanity.
Verse 17 announces that this decree is of the "watchers" and the mandate is by the word of the holy ones, ministering servants of God. The decree was "to the intent," in order that, the living (all men) might know, recognize, or comprehend that the most high (Jehovah God) continually rules in the kingdom of men. And He gives it to whoever He wills, even setting up over it the basest of men, to receive glory in them.
Verse 18 concludes the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar as he related it to Daniel. He then addressed Daniel, by his magi name Belteshazzar, asking that he interpret this dream for him, a thing he affirmed all the Chaldean wise men were unable to do. He added in essence, you can do it Daniel, because "the spirit of the holy gods is (exists) in you." He had acknowledged this before, but not accepted Daniel's God as his own god. Like Pilate 89
he tried to "play two sides of the fence." He compromised his convictions, resisting the spirit until he may have wound up in hell.
DANIEL INTERPRETS TREE VISION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Verses 19-27: Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour,
and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the
dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My
lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine
enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached
unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the
fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt,
and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O
king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto
heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher
and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and
destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron
and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and
let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This is the
interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my
lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the
beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet
thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that
the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And
whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be
sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore,
O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness,
and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy
tranquillity.
Verse 19 describes a period of one hour or a moment of astonishment and troubled thoughts that came over Daniel whose Chaldean name was Belteshazzar.
Nebuchadnezzar noticed Daniel's shocked response of awe to the vision he had related to him. He then directed Daniel not to permit either the content of the dream or its interpretation to disturb him, but to tell its meaning like it should be told. To this Daniel respectfully responded, "my lord," or master, the dream is toward those who hate you and the interpretation applies to your enemies. Many despots would have killed any who prophesied woe against them or any of their subject states, but Nebuchadnezzar assured Daniel that of such he need not fear.
Verses 20, 21 certify the tree of Nebuchadnezzar's vision as a great one whose height reached to heaven, strong, viewed by all the earth with leaves that were fair, fruit that was edible for much food, and limbs and branches in which fowls lodged (roosted) and beasts of the field lay for rest, v. 10-12.
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Verse 22 further relates that Daniel then directly certified to Nebuchadnezzar that he was the stump of that great tree, whose strength and height had reached in dominion or jurisdiction overall the earth, even as he had been described in the gold head of the monstrous image he had seen and he had interpreted by Daniel in the former vision, Daniel 2:37, 38. Without compromise, evasion, or equivocation, much as Nathan confronted David, saying "thou art the man," 2 Samuel 12:7; Daniel spoke plainly to Nebuchadnezzar.
Verse 23 is a restatement by Daniel of what Nebuchadnezzar saw in the dream. He saw a
"watcher," and "holy one," an angelic minister of Divine judgment descend from heaven to cut down the strong tree that had grown to reach into the heaven, to be beheld by all the earth. This Divine messenger cut out the top, hewed off the limbs, destroying shade, branch support, and fruit or food for men, beasts, and fowl; but he left the stump or trunk of the tree with a band of iron and brass around it in the midst of the field of tender grass and dew, void of help for man, fowl, and beasts, to stand alone, under Divine judgment, to exist with the beasts of the field, as they existed for a time, v. 14, 15; Daniel 5:21.
Verses 24, 25 give Daniel's further interpretation of the vision of the mighty tree; The interpretation gave the decree of the most High (Jehovah) God that was to come upon the king, Nebuchadnezzar, the stump-tree of the vision, v. 17. Deranged demon seizures were to come upon him, causing him to act like a beast of the field, and to be isolated, quarantined outside of the palace city, to live as an outcast, eat dew covered grass or herbs of the field, on all fours like an animal, in times of these recurring dementia seizures, until in a moment of sanity he arose to honor the living God. He was to recognize and acknowledge that the most High (Jehovah) God set up and put down kings and kingdoms; ‘Twas like the Gadara demoniac in Luke 8:26-39.
Verse 26 assures Nebuchadnezzar that as the stump of the tree was left bound or restricted with iron and bands, so he should be with insanity, but would be loosed from it when he came to acknowledge the true reign of heaven's God and the angels of God over all.
Verse 27 concludes Daniel's interpretation of the tree vision of Nebuchadnezzar with an appeal that his counsel be accepted by Nebuchadnezzar in a right spirit of repentance. He called on this great, monstrous, gold head of the image and stump of the great tree to break off his sins of idolatry and rebellion against the most High God and turn to do righteously, and his lawless deeds and oppression of men by showing mercy to the poor.
To turn to the Lord Daniel assured him, might be a means of lengthening the days of his tranquility on earth. Sin is a galling yoke, a burden for a sinner to bear; He need not bear it, if he will but turn to the Lord. Such as Daniel's plea to this heathen Gentile one world ruler: Hezekiah turned, his days were lengthened, Isaiah 38:1-5; Nineveh repented and the city was spared, Jonah 3:5-10; Jeremiah 18:7, 8.
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Daniel demonstrated the loyal servant’s spirit of concern for his king for perhaps 30 years.
Thus with the king’s urging, Daniel faithfully prefaced the interpretation with his warning that the dream would please the king’s enemies, vs. 20-26.
The king had not yet recognized God’s authority and rule over all, vs. 25.
Daniel faithfully and lovingly confronted the king with a courageous call for repentance, vs. 27. His counsel had great force behind it for it came from a most loyal servant, a most upright man whose holy lifestyle issued its own call for right living and it came with the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
THE TREE-VISION RESTORATION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Verses 28-37: All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve
months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said,
Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of
my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth,
there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken;
The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy
dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen,
and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing
fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as
oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like
eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I
Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned
unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for
ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation
to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he
doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time
my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and
brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I
was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I
Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are
truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
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Verses 28, 29 certify that all this judgment that was prophesied by Daniel came upon king Nebuchadnezzar with sudden seizure calamity, as he walked in his palace or on his palace roof of the kingdom of Babylon, at the end of twelve months. It was ample time 92
for him to repent, after ample warning, so that he was "without excuse." Warning always comes before judgment from God.
Verse 30 states that after twelve months, as the king walked softly on the roof of his palace, in resplendent glory, his heart was lifted up and he glorified himself with pride, saying, "Is not this great Babylon the fruit of my might, power, and doing?" v. 37 later reflects his repentance for this self-glory, but only after a terrible fall of extended humiliating mental derangement that struck him down. He experienced that "Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall," Proverbs 16:18.
Verse 31 relates that while those bragging words were in his mouth there fell a voice from heaven that said, "O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken, the kingdom is departed or severed from you," from his direct rule. How much this was like the rich barn builder, who while bragging of what he would do with his fields, his grain, and his storehouses was told that that night his soul would be required of him.
Verse 32 indicates that demon spirits of Lucifer's realm would take, or cause king Nebuchadnezzar to be taken (violently) from dwelling or residing among men, and drive him into the open fields to live among beasts of the field, eating grass and herbs like an ox, becoming wet from the dew until seven times, or a full measure of judgment should strike him down; Until in a sane moment he would recognize and acknowledge in truth that the most High God did rule in the governments of men, giving rulership as it pleased Him, to whomever He pleased, as recounted Daniel 5:18-23.
Verse 33 verifies that at that very hour, suddenly, the demoniac depression of dementia seized him. He was, like the demon man of Gadara, Luke 8:26-39 taken from normal society, isolated or quarantined, according to the customs of the times, to stay in the open fields where domesticated beasts were herded. There he ate grass like an ox, fancying himself that he was a beast; his hair grew long like eagle's feathers, matted in an unkempt manner on his body, and his finger and toe nails grew to long length to curl like eagle's claws, until seven time or full judgments had come to him. God has used wicked angels to send judgment upon the obstinately rebellious, in every age since the fall of Satan and men.
Verse 34 recounts Nebuchadnezzar's own testimony that at the end of the days of insanity
"he lifted up his eyes to heaven," whereas he had them glued in self-glory on earthly things when God sent the full swoop of judgment upon him. When he looked up to heaven, the first evidence of his restored sanity, he began to praise God for just judgment that had struck him down in pride. He then, with restored sanity, blessed or praised the Lord and honored Him who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting one; and His kingdom is (exists) from "generation to generation."
Verse 35 is a testimony of Nebuchadnezzar's that the most High or the living God reputes all the inhabitants of the earth as nothing, no problem for Him to deal with, in their rebellion, for he had learned the hard way. This God does according to His own will, in directing the army of heaven's rulers, as well as among the inhabitants of the earth, 93
Nebuchadnezzar here affirmed. He added that no one was able (sufficiently powerful or dynamic) to stay or stop His hand or successfully ask Him what He does!
Verse 36 recounts King Nebuchadnezzar's own testimony of praise to the Lord in certifying that, as He praised God, his reason or sanity fully returned to him. With this he was restored to the glory and honor and brightness of his kingdom. Then his cabinet of counselors and lords restored positions to serve with and under him as king. After this manner or order his excelling majesty was again added to the full of his life. His majesty, like that of Job's, was greater than ever before; For everyone who humbles himself (before God) shall be exalted. It appears that Nebuchadnezzar was now saved.
Verse 37 concludes Nebuchadnezzar's words of praising, honoring, and extoling the King of heaven. He witnesses, heaping words upon words of praise to the mighty God whose works are in harmony with truth and ways are those of fair, just judgment. He too warned as one of recent experience, that those who walk in pride He is able to abase or bring very low. Such was a mark or evidence of true contrition.
Note three steps in Nebuchadnezzar's recognition of God: 1) First, as a God of gods, one among many nations gods, and Lord of master of kings, and revealer of secrets, Daniel 2:47; 2) Second, He is an Hebrew deity, master of angels, who responds to ones faith, Daniel 3:28; and 3) Third, He rises to recognize Him as a personal God whom he has offended and from whom he sought and found forgiveness and praise, Daniel 4:34,35.
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Consider the impact of Nebuchadnezzer’s testimony when officially published and promulgated unto all the provinces in the great kingdom which he had rules for perhaps forty years! He continued to reign a total of 43 years until 562 B.C.
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DANIEL - CHAPTER 5
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