Daniel 4

Daniel 4:1

Discovered - Defiled their fathers bed.

Daniel 4:4

Smitten mine hand - In testimony of my abhorrence.

Daniel 4:5

Endure - Withstand the evils that are coming, or bear them when come.

Daniel 4:7

In thyself - Whereas I was thine inheritance so long as thou wert a holy, obedient people; now be an inheritance to thyself, if thou canst.

Daniel 4:9

Dross - Utterly degenerate, and base metal. The furnace - The afflictions I have laid upon them have not bettered them. The dross - While they loved mercy, did justly, walked humbly with their God, they were as silver; now they are but dross.

Daniel 4:10

Gather you - From all parts. I will, by a secret over - ruling providence, bring you into Jerusalem, as into a furnace, where you may be consumed.

Daniel 4:14

Her - The land of Israel. Not cleansed - Though God’s judgments have been as violent floods; and as hottest fires. Nor rained upon - Yet neither thy filth hath been carried away, nor thy dross melted out of thee. Therefore thou shalt be deprived of the rain, that should cool thy thirsty land.

Daniel 4:16

A conspiracy - A contrivance, to speak all alike, smooth words, and give out promises of peace and safety. Thereof - Of the land. The treasure - As a reward of their lies. Made her - By persuading Zedekiah to hold out the war, which filled Jerusalem with dead husbands, and forlorn widows.

Daniel 4:17

My holy things - Sacrifices, and oblations. Put no difference - Neither have they in their practice, differenced holy and profane, nor in their teaching acquainted the people with the difference, nor in the exercise of their authority, separated the profane from the holy, either persons, or things. Hid their eyes - Despised, and would not see the holiness of the sabbaths. Profaned - Contemned, dishonoured, disobeyed.

Daniel 4:18

Destroy souls - Ruin families; cutting off the fathers, and impoverishing the widow, and fatherless.

Daniel 4:19

Daubed them - Flattered them, in their ways of sin. Untempered mortar - With promises that like ill - tempered mortar, will deceive them, though all seems at present smooth and safe.

Daniel 4:21

I sought - God speaks after the manner of men. A man - Any one, among princes, prophets, priests, or people, to repair the breach. And stand - Interpose between a sinful people, and their offended God, and intreat for mercy. But - All were corrupted.

Daniel 4:25

Two women - Judah, and Israel, two kingdoms.

Daniel 4:26

Whoredoms - Idolatry.

Daniel 4:27

Aholah - That is, his own tabernacle; for Israel falling off from the house of David, fell off from the tabernacle, or temple of God; so that all the temple they had was of their own making. The elder - Greater for number of tribes, and for power, wealth, and for multitudes of people. Aholibah - That is, my tabernacle in her: the two tribes had the temple of God with them. Mine - By solemn marriage - covenant. Bare sons - Were fruitful and brought forth children to me; they increased in numbers of people; and among these, some there were that were children of God by faith, love, and obedience.

Daniel 4:28

Played the harlot - United in idolatry, with the Assyrians. Mine - When under my government, and protection.

Daniel 4:29

Horsemen - Skillful in riding, and well furnished with choice horses.

Daniel 4:30

With all - Other nations, with whom she had commerce.

Daniel 4:33

Discovered - Stript her naked, and exposed her to shame. Took her sons - Captives. Slew her - The kingdom of Israel, under Hoshea, was by Salmanesar utterly destroyed. They - The Assyrians, had executed God’s just displeasure upon her.