DANIEL SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 4.18
Gleanings
from the Book of Daniel:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
DANIEL
Chapter
Four
The
Second Dream of Nebuchadnezzar:
The
Tree Dream
(Humbling
Nebuchadnezzar)
Review
King
Nebuchadnezzar had proclaimed to all Babylonians the contents and the events
leading up to his second dream. Once again, the seers of Babylon were unprofitable
to give their interpretation. After being summoned, Daniel dialogues with the
King regarding the dream...
(Verse 18)
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now
thou, O Belteshazzar (Daniel), 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.
After Nebuchadnezzar
appealed to Daniel for its interpretation, he admitted the uselessness of his
soothsayers (cf. 2:5). But, Nebuchadnezzar affirmed Daniel as having the spirit of the holy gods. Recall,
Nebuchadnezzar’s background is in the wake of a polytheistic society. So, Daniel’s
God was included in his thinking.
4. The Interpretation of the King’s Dream (Vv. 19-27)
(Verse 19)
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied
for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said,
Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.
Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof
to thine enemies.
Daniel’s Alarm
Upon hearing about the
dream, Daniel’s immediate reaction was perplexity. And, for an interim of one
hour, his thoughts troubled him deeply. Daniel perceived the dream to be a
prophetic portrayal of what would befall Nebuchadnezzar. His hesitancy thus
prompted the King to become anxious and slightly agitated.
The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not
the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee
Not thinking the dream to be grim, the
King no doubt recalled the grandiosity of his first dream, where he was the
head of gold in the succession of Empires. So he consoles Daniel not to be dismayed.
Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the
dream be to them that
hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies
Wishing the dream was
not so, tactfully and compassionately Daniel enlightened the impact by noting
his desire that the dream applied to the King’s enemies.
(Verse 20)
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was
strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the
earth.
Daniel now reiterates
the King’s dream along with its interpretation. He tells of a strong tree metaphorically
reaching heaven. The tree was also visible to everyone in the Empire. In
addition, the great tree is emblematic of Nebuchadnezzar and his ruler-ship
over the Babylonian Empire.
(Verse 21)
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.
Characteristics of the
Tree
1. The tree patterned
beautiful foliage
2. The tree produced
bountiful fruit
3. The tree provided
provisions for everyone
4. The tree-protected
animals
5. The tree permitted
residence for birds
(Verse 22)
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.
The Revelation from Daniel
“You are the dream,”
states Daniel. This assertion “it is you,
O king” is often compared to when the prophet Nathan revealed David’s sin
by way of a parable:
2 Samuel 12:7a - And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.
Next, Daniel slowly
revealed the interpretation of the dream to Nebuchadnezzar by first telling him
the good news he desired to hear. It was a picture of his current condition and
position at the zenith of power. Allegorically speaking:
1. The King’s greatness increased
and reached heaven
2. The King’s sovereignty
reached the ends of the earth
(Verse 23)
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.
Details of the Tree Dream
Continuing to restate
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel tells of a watcher (holy one, angel, or
messenger of God) descending from Heaven with the following instructions:
1. The tree was to be cut down
a. Nebuchadnezzar would lose his
leadership
2. The tree was to be destroyed
a. Nebuchadnezzar would lose his
sovereignty
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.
After the tree was hewn, four additional
conditions were imposed by the holy messenger:
1. The stump with roots was to remain
a. Nebuchadnezzar would retain his
monarchy
2. The stump was to be banded with
iron and brass
a. Nebuchadnezzar would not be
functional, but…
b. Nebuchadnezzar would continue to
be ruler
c. The iron and brass of the tree
prophecy link with the statue dream of Daniel 2, i.e., the reverse list of metals
3. The stump was to be surrounded
with tender grass
a. Nebuchadnezzar would be surrounded
with tender grass which included
herbs and vegetables
4. The stump was to be drenched with
the dew of heaven
a. Nebuchadnezzar would be kept wet for
the preservation of his bodily fluids
And let his
portion be with the
beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.
As the passage continues, the
pronouns easily transition from it to he. This appears to be a literary
device Daniel used to soften the impact of Nebuchadnezzar's demise. Noteworthy,
two added future experiences are recorded:
1. Nebuchadnezzar would be living and
feeding with wild animals in the fields
2. Nebuchadnezzar would remain in
this condition for seven years
(Verse 24)
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High,
which is come upon my lord the king.
Presumably, Daniel
dreaded the thought of what would happen to his superior. Nonetheless, he told
Nebuchadnezzar the decree placed upon him by the holy angel was a judgment from
the Most High God. Daniel compassionately and respectfully addressed
Nebuchadnezzar as my lord the king.
(Verse 25)
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.
Additional severe and
graphic stipulations will be incurred upon Nebuchadnezzar:
1. He will be driven away
from society
a. He will become an
outcast
2. He will live with wild
animals in the field
a. He will become
mentally incapacitated
3. He will be forced to
eat grass like cattle
a. He will be reduced to
insanity
b. He will not be able to
tend to the affairs of the state
4. He will become wet with
the dew from heaven
a. He will be driven from
shelter
b. He will live under the
night mist from the sky
The phraseology the dew from heaven is used various
times throughout Scripture. For example:
1. When Isaac pronounced
the blessing upon Jacob:
Genesis 27:28 -Therefore [may] God
give thee of the dew of heaven, and the
fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.
2. When Isaac responded
to Esau’s request for another blessing:
Genesis 27:39 - And Isaac his father answered [Esau] and
said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be
[away from] the fatness of
the earth, and of the dew of heaven from
above.
5. He will remain in this
state for seven periods of time
a. Seven times is also an expression used frequently in Scripture (e.g., Genesis
33:3; Leviticus 14:7; Luke 17:4). Presumably, it is seven years. However, it is
an undetermined amount of time. The Bible is not specific. On the other hand, seven
is indicative of God’s perfect number.
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.
God is seen plainly at
work in the life of Nebuchadnezzar. He presented him with yet another chance by way
of a warning through a second dream as to his destiny.
After the punishment
of being mentally ill for seven periods of time, the hope was the monarch
acknowledges the True God of Heaven, rather than worship the heathen gods of
the Babylonians.
After Nebuchadnezzar’s
restoration, God expected two responses to be evident:
1. Until the King
realized the Most High God sovereignly rules over the kingdoms of mankind
2. Until the King
realized the Most High God ordains the powers in authority
(Verse 26)
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump
of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure (restored) unto thee,
after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
God is in Charge
Once again, God’s
grace becomes evident for Nebuchadnezzar. The order to leave the tree stump was
a clear indication Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment was temporary, and His kingship
and Kingdom would be restored and secure. Again, this would be conditional upon
his acknowledgment of the one true God.
The heavens do rule is a figure of speech. It refers to God, on His throne, and reigning
from Heaven.
Will Nebuchadnezzar
accept or reject Daniel’s interpretation of the
Tree Dream and his advice? The
subsequent study will reveal the direction Nebuchadnezzar takes.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why did Nebuchadnezzar call upon Daniel?
2. Why did Nebuchadnezzar call Daniel
Belteshazzar?
3. What was unique about the tree?
4. The tree was representative of whom?
5. What does the dew of heaven mean?
6. What is the meaning of seven times?
7. What happens to the King in his dream?
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