Daniel 4:13

13 "'And this also is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a holy watchman descend from heaven,

Daniel 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 4:13

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed
The king goes on to relate what other things presented themselves to his imagination in his dream, concerning this tree which signified himself: and, behold, a watcher:
which Saadiah interprets of Bath Kol; but Aben Ezra, Jarchi, Jacchiades, and Ben Melech of an angel; so called because incorporeal, ever watches, and never sleeps, and is always attentive to, and observant of, the commands of God so the angels in the fragment of Enoch are called "egregori", watchers; and the same word is here used in the Alexandrian copy. Some F11 render it "an enemy", "an holy one": according to the sense of the word in ( 1 Samuel 28:16 ) , and produce it to show that angels are called enemies: and an Holy One;
one of the holy angels that never sinned, nor left their first estate, but continued in it; in which they are established by Christ, and are impeccable; are perfectly pure and holy in their nature and actions: such an one came down from heaven; the place of their abode, as it seemed to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Lex. Kabalist. in voce (bwya) p. 54, 55.

Daniel 4:13 In-Context

11 As I watched, the tree grew huge and strong. Its top reached the sky and it could be seen from the four corners of the earth.
12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant - enough food for everyone! Wild animals found shelter under it, birds nested in its branches, everything living was fed and sheltered by it.
13 "'And this also is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a holy watchman descend from heaven,
14 and call out: Chop down the tree, lop off its branches, strip its leaves and scatter its fruit. Chase the animals from beneath it and shoo the birds from its branches.
15 But leave the stump and roots in the ground, belted with a strap of iron and bronze in the grassy meadow. Let him be soaked in heaven's dew and take his meals with the animals that graze.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.