1. DANIEL 4

2. DANIEL 4:1-9 The author Frightening dream Bring in the wise men
Daniel before the king
1. The author - King Nebuchadnezzar (v4)
To: All nations, languages that dwell on the earth
Why: Show the signs and wonders done unto king (left a lasting impression)
Praises God: Everlasting kingdom and dominion
The Septuagint has inserted text that a historical edict was actually issued
Edict - In the sense it was demanded to be read but no law was issued
2. Frightening Dream - Made him afraid, fantasies & vision troubled him
3. Bring in the wise men - Enchanters, Chaldeans, soothsayers,
Dream was told (compare Dan 2)
Could not interpret
4. Daniel before the king
Whose name is Belteshazzar (after Nebuchadnezzar's god)
Has “a spirit of the holy gods” (pagan view)
King requests Daniel make known the dream & interpretation but…
King goes ahead and tells the dream

3. DANIEL 4:10-19 THE DREAM A tree Angelic watcher Daniel’s reaction
Chop down the tree
Leave the stump
His mind be changed
Authority of the decree
Daniel’s reaction
THE DREAM
1. A tree - In the middle of the earth
Grew large and strong and reached to the sky (visible to all)
Beautiful foliage, abundant fruit, food for all
Shelter for beasts & birds, all living creatures (flesh) fed by tree
2. Angelic watcher - better “A watcher, even a holy one”; Compare 1 Sam 28:3
Descended from heaven
● Chop down the tree - Cut off branches, strip fruit, scatter beasts & birds
● Leave the stump - Place band of iron & bronze around it
● His mind be changed - From a man’s & given a beasts mind (Lycanthropy)
For 7 periods of time pass over him (LXX - “7 years”)
“Time” refers to a set period (day, week, month, year)
Same word is used in: Dan 2:8; Dan 3:5
● Authority of the decree - Decree of the Most High (v24)
Sentence & decree of the angelic watchers
Decision & command of the holy ones
WHY: Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind
Gives it to whom He wishes; sets over it the lowliest of men
3. Daniel’s reaction
Silent, thoughts troubled him; wished that it applied to enemies (bad news)

4. DANIEL 4:20-27 INTERPRETATION The tree Tree cut down Stump
Daniel’s plea
DREAM INTERPRETATION
1. The tree - Is King Nebuchadnezzar, grown strong, great with dominion
Ezk 31:3 - Assyrian king was compared to a large cedar tree
2. Tree cut down
Driven away from men
Live with the beasts of the field
Eat grass as oxen
Wet with the dew of heaven
Seven times will pass
3. Stump - Kingdom will be restored when God’s authority is recognized
Iron & brass ring to protect the stump (living roots); Possibly a fence
Stump can still grow again but is stunted
4. Daniel’s plea
Break off your sins by doing righteous (justice) acts
Show mercy to the poor; righteousness = almsgiving (Matt 6)
In doing so your peace will be lengthened

5. DANIEL 4:28-37 Great Babylon Voice from heaven Driven from men
DREAM FULFILLMENT
Great Babylon
Voice from heaven
Driven from men
Appearance
At the end of days
Kingdom restored
DREAM FULFILLMENT
1. Great Babylon - 12 months later
Boasted his great accomplishments; Might of my power, glory of my majesty
Height of his building phase (Hanging Gardens)
2. Voice from heaven - “The kingdom is departed from thee”
Exact words used by angelic watcher from his dream
Called to remember events from a year earlier
3. Driven from men - Ate grass like oxen. Physically happen? See Dan 5:18-21
● Appearance
Wet from the dew of heaven
Hair was grown like eagle’s feathers
Nails were like bird’s claws
4. At the end of days - 7 periods of time have elapsed
Lifted up eyes to heaven (acknowledge God); Ex. “eyes were opened”
Understanding returned
Blessed, praised and honored the Most High
5. Kingdom restored
Majesty and brightness returned
Counselors & Lords sought him out
Established in his kingdom & excellent greatness was added

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD
(Dan 4:3 NASB) ""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."

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD
(Dan 4:17 NASB) "“… In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes, And sets over it the lowliest of men.""

8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD
(Dan 4:34-35 NASB) "“… For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. {35} "And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?'"

9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD
(Dan 4:37 NASB) ""Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.""

10. ANCIENT DOCUMENTS Berosus preserved by Josephus
Josephus against Apion, b.1, section 20
“Nabuchodonosor, after he had begun to build the aforementioned wall, fell sick and departed this life when he had reigned forty-three years, whereupon his son Evil-Merodach, obtained the kingdom”
Berosus - Time of Alexander the great
A Chaldean and priest in the house of Belus.
Moved to Greece and opened a school for astronomy and astrology
Famous with the Athenians

11. ANCIENT DOCUMENTS Abydenus - preserved by Eusebius
Chronicon Armenolatium, I. p. 59
“After these things, as it is said by the Chaldeans, having ascended his palace, he was seized by some god, and speaking aloud, he said: ‘I, Nebuchadnezzar, O Babylonians, foretell your future calamity, which neither Belus, my ancestor, nor queen Beltis, can persuade the destinies to avert. A “Persian mule” will come, employing your own divinities as his auxiliaries; and he will impose servitude (upon you). His coadjutor will be the
Abydenus - Greek historian 268 B.C., pupil of Berosus

12. ANCIENT DOCUMENTS
Abydenus continued
"Mede," who is the boast of the Assyrians. Would that, before he places my citizens in such a condition, some Charybdis or gulf might swallow him up with utter destruction! Or that, turned in a different direction, he might roam in the desert (where are neither cities, nor footsteps of man, but wild beasts find pasturage, and the birds wander), being there hemmed in by rocks and ravines! May it be my lot to attain to a better end, before such things come into his mind!' Having uttered this prediction, he immediately disappeared.“
Attributes the “god” as a foreign god and not one of Babylon’s gods or idols
Similarities compared to the scriptures:
1. Seized by some god - voice from heaven; “madness” causing him to behave like
an animal
2. Would that the leader change direction - Daniel’s plead referred to
3. Roam the desert… where beasts find pasture - King’s mind exchanged with a
beasts
4. Attain to a better end - Until he acknowledges the Most High (restored with
understanding of God)

13. QUESTIONS 1. What were the three ways in which God was in control?
● Vision was from God
● Taking away of the kingdom (beast included)
● The restoration of the kingdom back to Nebuchadnezzar
2. When sinning and rebelling, it is only when we raise our eyes to heaven and
acknowledge that God is in control and we submit to His will, do we have the
assurance of his blessings.
Matt 6:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of God…