Daniel 4

Daniel 4:1

IN all the earth] Meaning as farre as his dominion extended.

Peace be multiplied] Heathens sending out Proclamations to their people, begin with wishing happinesse to them; so Daniel 6:25. therefore have need to see that nothing be commanded but for their happinesse: the like form of salutation is used by the Apostle, 1 Peter 1:2. and 2 Peter 1:2. and by Jude vers. 2.

Daniel 4:2

I thought it good] Chald. it was seemly before me.

to shew the signes] That God which can make the mouthes of children to speak to his praise, Psalms 8:2. can make heathens trumpetters of his glory.

Daniel 4:3

an everlasting kingdome] Chald. a kingdom of eternitie. lasting beyond all time. Chap. 2. 44.

from generation to generation] Chald. with generation and generation; or, with one generation as well as with another; or, to all generations.

Daniel 4:4

I Nebuchadnezzar] He had not conquered Egypt untill after the 27. of Jecomas, or his own 34. Ezek. 30. wherefore this vision should be about his 36. year, and this Proclamation about an year or two before his death, at 45. years reign, eight years after the vision.

was at rest in mine house] From all enemies and fear of such as he had subdued, so that there was no trouble that might cause me to dream; and therefore it came onely of God, who can trouble men in the height of their prosperity.

Daniel 4:5

a dream] This was another dream besides that which he saw of the foure Empires; for Daniel both declared what that dream was, and what it meant: and here he onely expoundeth the dream.

all the wise-men] The greatest Princes have sometimes need of others to declare unto them.

Daniel 4:7

they did not make known] In that he sent abroad to others, whose ignorance in times past he had experimented, and left Daniel which was ever ready at hand, it declareth the nature of the ungodly, which never seek to the servants of God but for very necessitie, and then they spare no flatterings.

Daniel 4:8

Belteshazzar] See the note Chap. 1. 7.

of my god] This no doubt was a great grief to Daniel, not onely to have his name changed, but to be called by the name of a vile Idol; which thing Nebuchadnezzar did, to make him to forget the religion of God: and this place argueth that the king forsook not his Idolatry.

Daniel 4:9

master of the Magicians] Chap. 2. 48. and 5. 11. Which also was a great grief to the Prophet, to be numbered among the Sorcerers, and men whose practises were wicked, and contrary to Gods Word.

tell me the visions] That is, what the visions mean, as it followeth in the Text, the latter word expounding the former, for in the verse next before Nebuchadnezzar telleth the dream to Daniel.

Daniel 4:10

I saw] Chald. I was seeing.

a tree in the midst of the earth] Ezekiel 31:3. By the tree is signified the dignity of a King, whom God ordains to be a defence for all kinde of men, and whose state is profitable for mankinde.

Daniel 4:12

the beasts of the field] Ezekiel 31:6.

Daniel 4:13

a watcher] Meaning the angel of God, which neither eateth nor sleepeth, but is ever ready to do Gods will, and is not infected with mans corruption, but is ever holy: and in that that he commandeth to cut down the tree, he knew that it should not be cut down by man, but by God.

an holy one] Chap. 8. 13.

Daniel 4:14

aloud] Chald. with might.

Hew down the tree] When God calleth great men to account for their sinnes, he maketh through worke with them, leaving neither fruit, nor leaf, nor branch.

from under it] That is, from abiding there.

Daniel 4:15

the stump of his roots] When God dealeth heavily with great sinners, yet there is some mercy, he leaveth a stump in the ground.

let it be wet with the dew of heaven] That is, him that is signified by this stump.

Daniel 4:16

Let his heart be changed] Hereby he meaneth that Nebuchadnezzar should not onely for a time lose his Kingdom, but be like a beast; and we see by this, that God can make a mans heart as stupid as a beasts.

let seven times passe over him] As Solomons Temple, that seven years work of many thousands, was by him destroyed. That these times were yeares, the Hebrew word sheweth it, Chap. 11. 13.

Daniel 4:17

This matter] God hath decreed this judgement, and the whole army of heaven have as it were subscribed unto it, like as also they desire the execution of his decree, against all them that lift up themselves against God.

the watchers] That is, of God, vers. 24. invironed with his Angels, described in Scripture, as those that sit in counsell with God. 1 Kings 22:29. Job 1:6. Psalms 89:8.

the living may know] God bringeth down the kingdoms of men to make his own known.

Daniel 4:19

was astonied] Both in regard of the sad interpretation, and also because it lay on his part to expound it to the King, whose peace was profitable both to Daniel, and the people of the Jews, for which they were commanded to pray, Jeremiah 29:7. so the Prophets used on the one part to denounce Gods judgements, for the zeal they bare to his glory; and on the other part, to have compassion upon man, and also to consider that they should be subject to Gods judgements, if they did not regard them with pity.

the king spake] The King perceived Daniel was not troubled for want of knowledge of the interpretation, but because somewhat was to befall the king.

My Lord] When Gods messengers are to deal with great men, they must do it wisely, as Daniel did here with the King, and so did Nathan with David, by a parable bringing his fault to his minde. 2 Samuel 12.

to them that hate thee] That is, would to God the sense of this dream might be directed against thine enemies, rather then against thee: A kinde of protestation, to shew that in the interpretation thereof he was not prepossessed with any hatred or passion against the King.

Daniel 4:22

It is thou] That is, this great Empire which thou possessest is meant, which was signified by the tree, as above, Chap. 2. 38.

Daniel 4:23

till seven times passe over him] See above, vers. 16.

Daniel 4:25

drive thee from men] Chap. 5. 21, &c.

oxen] Not that his shape or form was changed into a beast, but that he was either stricken mad, and so avoided mans company; or was cast out for his tyranny, and so wandred among the beasts, and ate herbs and grasse.

most high] Daniel sheweth the end why God thus punished him.

to whomsoever] Jeremiah 27:5.

Daniel 4:26

after that thou] Then thou shalt be tamed or humble by this horrible accident; thou shalt recover thy understanding, having quitted thy ambition which possessed thee; and art revested with humilitie towards God, by whose onely favour thou reignest.

the heavens do rule] That is, God, which dwelleth, and reigneth in glory in the heavens, as Matthew 21:25. Luke 15:21.

Daniel 4:27

break off thy sinnes] Cease from provoking God to anger any longer by thy sinnes, that he may mitigate his punishment, if thou shew by thine upright life that thou hast true faith and repentance: for Gods greatest judgements have an end, when they bring forth such good fruits.

a lengthening of thy tranquillitie] Or, an healing of thine errour. Others read, It shall be a lengthening to thy peace and prospritie: and indeed there was some lengthening, to wit, for a yeer, as may appear by the 29. verse. The like example of lengthening is of Ahab, 1 Kings 21:29.

Daniel 4:29

twelve moneths] After that Daniel had declared this vision: and that his pride declareth that it is not in man to convert to God, except his spirit move him, seeing that these terrible threatnings could not move him to repent.

in the palace] Or, upon.

Daniel 4:30

built for the house] That is, adorned, and beautified with many marvellous edifices, enlarged and compassed with a new wall, so that it may seeme a citie altogether new.

Daniel 4:34

end of the dayes] When the terme of these seven yeers was accomplished.

I praised] Wicked men can praise God when miracles are wrought for them.

an everlasting dominion] Chap. 7. 14. Micah 4:7. Luke 1:33.

Daniel 4:35

And all the inhabitants] Isaiah 40:15. 17.

his will] He confesseth Gods will to be the rule of all justice, and a most perfect law whereby he governeth both man and Angels and devils; so that none ought to murmure or aske a reason of his doings, but onely to rest content therewith, and give him the glory.

army of heaven] That is, in the celestiall bodies, and among the angelicall creatures.

stay his hand] Chald. strike back. Nothing can hinder what God hath foretold, none of Gods predictions faile.

What dost thou] Job 9:12. Isaiah 45:9.

Daniel 4:36

my reason returned unto me] That is, that Kingly presence, and other heroicall qualitles, fit to uphold the dignitie of an Empire.

brightnesse returned unto me] The same Chalde word is used, Chap. 2. 31. and is here most fit to expound the former, what was meant by the brightnesse of the image.

Daniel 4:37

praise and extoll and honour the King of heaven] He doth not onely praise God for his deliverance, but also confesseth his fault, that God may onely have the glory, and man the shame; and that he may be exalted, and man cast down.