Daniel 4

CHAPTER 4

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree (4:1–18)

1–8 Much of this chapter consists of a public letter or decree written by Nebuchadnezzar, possibly with Daniel’s help (verses 1–18,34–37). At the beginning of the letter, Nebuchadnezzar praises God because God has performed for him some miraculous signs and wonders (verses 2–3). These signs and wonders are described in the verses that follow.

Nebuchadnezzar had already seen God’s supernatural power at work in the lives of Daniel and his three friends (Chapters 23), but he was still not ready to humble himself before this all–powerful God. The king was at the height of his power and prosperity (verse 4) when, as he writes, he had a dream that made him afraid (verse 5). This dream occurred eight years before the king wrote this letter; the dream set in motion a series of events that gave Nebuchadnezzar a deeper and more personal experience of God—though at the time he wrote the letter he had still not given up his belief in other lesser gods (see verses 8,18).

After he had the dream, Nebuchadnezzar commanded his wise men to interpret it for him, but they were unable to do so (verses 6–7). So once again the king called for Daniel.

9–12 In verses 9–18, Nebuchadnezzar describes the dream. In his dream, he saw an enormous tree reaching to the sky; the tree provided food and shelter for all living creatures.

13–18 But then he saw a messenger, an ANGEL, coming down from heaven, and this angel ordered that the tree be cut down (verses 13–14). Only the stump and roots were to remain (verse 15).

In the dream the stump is personified. After being bound with iron and bronze like a wild animal, the stump was to live with the animals (verse 15). The “stump” was to lose its “human mind” and be given the mind of an animal till seven times (years) had passed (verse 16). The stump, of course, represented a man, and that man was Nebuchadnezzar. After the seven years had passed, the stump would be revived and grow into a tree again (see verse 26).

In verse 17, the king writes (eight years after the dream) that the tree was cut down in order to show that the Most High (God) was sovereign over the kingdoms of men. Then he describes how, after the dream, he asked Daniel (whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar) to interpret it for him (verse 18).

Daniel Interprets the Dream (4:19–27)

19–23 In verses 19–33, Daniel is the one doing the writing, not the king. Daniel knew at once what the dream meant, but he was greatly perplexed about how to present the matter to the king (verse 19). But with the king’s encouragement, Daniel boldly told him the meaning of the dream: “. . . you, O king, are that tree; you are the ‘stump’ that will live like the wild animals for seven years” (verses 22–23).

24–27 Having given the interpretation, Daniel then gave God’s decree against the king: for seven years the king would become like a wild animal. It would take seven years for the king to acknowledge that God the Most High was truly sovereign over all the kingdoms of men (verse 25). Then Daniel gave the king some advice: if he would renounce his sins and do what was right, perhaps the terrible judgment described in the dream could be averted and the king’s prosperity continue (verse 27).

The Dream Is Fulfilled (4:28–37)

28–33 All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar (verse 28); that is, the judgment of the dream came true. Why? Because the king did not take Daniel’s advice (verse 27). Twelve months went by after Daniel urged the king to renounce his sins and wickedness, but the king remained as proud as ever (verses 29–30). At the very moment he was boasting about his mighty power, the Lord pronounced judgment upon him, just as foretold in the dream (verses 31–33). Nebuchadnezzar became insane, and remained like a wild animal for seven years.

34 –37 Here Nebuchadnezzar’s public letter of praise to God is resumed. The twelve months of delay (verse 29) and the seven years of punishment are now over, and the king wants to publicly thank God for delivering him from insanity and restoring him to his throne. Nebuchadnezzar had finally come to acknowledge God’s sovereignty: He (God) does as he pleases . . . No one can hold back his hand (verse 35). Most important, Nebuchadnezzar realized that he had been walking in pride and that God had finally been able to humble him (verse 37); only after being humbled was he ready to be lifted up again (see James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:5–6).

Though not truly converted, Nebuchadnezzar had begun to fear the Lord. Think of how the Jewish exiles throughout Babylonia must have felt when they heard what had happened to the king. Their God may have left Jerusalem, but He was now reigning in Babylon!¹³