Nebuchadnezzar dream in Dan 4:1-19
TREE
in the midst of the earth with great height (vs 10)
Tree grew, was strong (vs 11)
Height reached to heaven (vs11)
Could be seen by whole earth (vs 11)
Beautiful leaves and abundant fruit ( vs 12)
In it was food for all (vs 12)
Beast of field found shade under it (vs 12)
Birds of heaven lived in its branches (vs 12)
AND ALL FLESH WAS FED FROM IT (vs 12)
Watcher and/or a Holy One came down from heaven (vs 13)
Said "chop the tree down, cut off its branches" (vs 14)
"Shake off its leaves, scatter it's fruit" (vs 14)
"Let the beasts flee from under it" (vs 14)
"Let the birds flee from its branches" (vs 14)
Leave the stump of its roots in the earth (vs 15)
Bound with band of iron and brass amid the tender grass of the field (vs 15)
Let it (him) (the stump?) be wet with the dew of heaven (vs 15)
Reference changes FROM 'IT' TO 'HIM'
Let HIS (?) portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth (vs 15)
Let HIS heart be changed from man's and let a beast heart be given to HIM (vs 16)
Let seven times pass over HIM (vs 16)
The Sentence (vs 17)
Decreed by watchers and/or "word" of Holy Ones (vs 17)
The intent is so "the living will know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (vs 17)
And gives it to whomever he will (vs 17)
And sets it over the lowest of men (vs 18)
Interpretation
Dan 4:20-22
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their habitation: 22 it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
***Nebuchadnezzar's previous dream said he was the head of gold. If there is a connection, the tree probably represents the head of the statue?
Symbols
Tree = Nebuchadnezzar
Growth of tree, leaves, fruit, food for all, beast under shadow, birds in branches, and all flesh fed from it = All are part of Nebuchadnezzar's greatness and strength and/or habitation which reaches up to heaven and the end of the earth
Psa 37:35-36
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. 36 But one passed by, and, lo, he was not (he was no more): Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Daniel 4:23-26
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven: and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
Symbols
Should he have already known that God/heaven rules in kingdom of men?
Yes in Dan 3, God overruled Nebuchadnezzar when He kept alive Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego despite their refusal to bow down to his idol.
Dan 4:27-30
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
Daniel's warning
Discontinue sinning by doing right
Discontinue your perversities by showing mercy to the poor
Maybe your prosperity will be lengthened?
What sin was Nebuchadnezzar guilty of?
Pride
Pride - Some of the warning signs of a proud heart are:
Usually thinks that he is right.
Easily offended.
Does not like to be corrected.
Often complains about circumstances or people.
Usually ungrateful.
Often impatient with others and sometimes with God.
Not afraid of temptations.
Secretly ashamed of serving Christ.
Likes to talk more than listen; freely offers opinions.
Desires to be first or best.
Needs to be noticed.
Obstinate towards authority.
Quick to find fault with others.
Bold to contradict others.
Demanding and hard to please.
Much more sensitive to personal desires than to the needs of others.
Boasts about achievements.
Lives beyond his means.
Has a hard time forgiving others.
Pride makes people covetous, liars, flatterers, hypocrites, men-pleasers, and contentious.
Do we see ourselves anywhere in this list? Or perhaps you might be like me, for I looked desperately for a line which did not at times apply to me! Praise God for Pr 28:13, 1John 1:9.
1Jn 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Forgive vs cleanse?
Dan 4:31-33
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee: 32 and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
See anything different about what occurred to Nebuchadnezzar vs Daniel's interpretation?
descriptive words such as "his hair was grown like eagles" and "his nails like birds"
What might the band of "iron and brass" around stump mean?
****Note: a deep under-the-surface story of the meaning of iron and brass in Bible***
Gen 4:22
And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
Lev 26:18-20
18 And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power: and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass; 20 and your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.
Job 41:27
He counteth iron as straw, And brass as rotten wood.
Jer 6:28 They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.
1Co 3:12-15
12 But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble (straw); 13 each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.
Dan 4:34-37
34 And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation; 35 and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Change in Nebuchadnezzar?
Lifted his eyes toward heaven and understanding returned
I bless, praise and honor the Most High
Dominion is everlasting (vs 34)
Kingdom from generation to generation (vs 34)
Both of these are opposite of Dan 4:3
Dan 4:3
"...his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation."
Dan 4:34
"...his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;"
inhabitants of the earth are as nothing; he is the Big Boss on earth and in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can hinder Him, or say, What are you doing?
More greatness added to Nebuchadnezzar at the end than at the beginning
Dan 4:37
He …."praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice"
and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (humble)
Commentary
"Baldwin" notes that information concerning Nebuchadnezzar’s last thirty years is sparse, and no record of the king’s illness has been found in Babylonian annals. Yet such a humiliating experience certainly would have been omitted from official accounts, for “corroboration of it [the illness] can hardly ever be expected from archaeology, for royal families do not leave memorials of such frailties.”
Nebuchadnezzar's end?
Bible chronologists estimate that Nebuchadnezzar’s affliction came to an end approximately one year before his death, in 563-562 B.C.
***If time, show SHARE the timeline.***
***Prob should be 571BC-ish, 567BC.
Meaning? - thoughts?
Possible just a king who was humbled and repented
Probably an example of Gods NT people, who see the "son of Man" in the furnace in Dan 3, think they rein on the earth, and God humbles them in this chapter.
Is "and all flesh was fed from it" in Dan 4:12 is a reference to food? Or flesh?
Tree used in parable by Jesus in Luke 13, Matt 13 and Mark 4
Babylon is spoken of in Rev 18 as having "fallen, fallen" like a tree
America?
My dream
7/2011
Dream that a tree at a house in HH was being cut down in very quick fashion by what appeared to be an angel. It was cut through like butter. **Warning**
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