Daniel Four ... A Background Study

(This page has been copied from an earlier study in Daniel)

Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, near modern day Baghdad. The Babylonians were known to be fierce in battle as the Assyrians had been before them. By this time, the Babylonians had conquered the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah. They were conquered in 586 BC, and the exile lasted 70 years, so that would put this event somewhere between 586 and 516 BC. The northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC. We believe that Daniel was a teenager when he was taken into captivity and very likely would have been in at least his 50s or 60s by the time this took place. Daniel did eventually return with the Israelites to the Promised Land, so he would most likely have been in his 80s at that point.

Many of the Israelites had also been given Babylonian names while they were in captivity, which is the reason that verse 8 mentions that Daniel also had the name Belteshazzar. Daniel was his Hebrew name, and Belteshazzar was his Babylonian name. The Babylonians worshiped many gods rather than the God revealed in Scripture. In the ancient Middle East, rulers often held themselves to be gods. This was the case with Pharaohs of Egypt, Alexander the Great of Greece and most Roman Emperors. Nebuchadnezzar was most likely no exception.

Even though we tend to think today of dreams being nothing more than an overactive imagination or the result of something eaten for supper, people in the ancient Middle East had a very different view. They saw these as potentially messages from God, such as was the case when Joseph was warned to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod. Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream, but none of his magicians could interpret the dream for him. The passage records Daniel then being called to interpret the dream. Daniel apparently already had a reputation for being able to interpret difficult dreams. He describes a beautiful tree bearing much fruit, with birds living in the tree and animals eating from it. Then he is disturbed by an "angelic watcher" calling for the tree to be chopped down, with the fruit being torn off of it and the animals scattered everywhere. It would be reduced to a stump but with a band of iron and bronze around it. Evidently the dream is about a person, because verses 15-16 say that he is to be drenched with the dew of heaven and he will have to share with the beasts in the grass of the earth, meaning that he will be reduced to eating grass. His mind would also be changed from that of a man and a beast's mind would be given to him, meaning that he would also go insane. The reason for this is given in verse 17, that the Most High would be shown as the ruler over the realm of mankind.

Daniel was alarmed when he heard this dream, because he knew the dream was about Nebuchadnezzar. In that time, telling a king something he didn't want to hear could be a life-threatening situation. He prefaced the fact that it was bad news by saying, "If only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!" He explained that the tree was Nebuchadnezzar, because he had indeed become great and very strong. He said the king would be driven away from people and would live with the beasts of the field. He would have grass to eat and would be drenched with the dew of heaven. The king was told that "seven periods of time will pass over you," meaning this condition would last for seven years. He would stay this way until he recognizes that the Most High is the ruler over all the earth. In the midst of all this troublesome news, God also gives him a message of hope. The stump with the iron and bronze around it symbolizes that Nebuchadnezzar is assured that his kingdom will be returned to him after he recognizes that God is ultimately the one who rules. Daniel then offers wise counsel. He tells the king to break away from his sins then and there by doing righteousness and showing mercy to the poor. He offers the hope that the king may prolong his prosperity.

The dream was fulfilled a year later, when Nebuchadnezzar was reflecting on how he had built up the greatness of his kingdom with his own power and for his own majesty. While he was still saying this, a voice came from heaven saying that his sovereignty had been removed. All these things that Daniel warned came to pass, until Nebuchadnezzar would recognize that the Most High is ruler over humanity. Immediately Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from people and began eating grass like cattle. His body was drenched from dew and rain, his hair grew "like eagles' feathers" and his nails became like birds' claws.

At the end of this period, Scripture records that he raised his eyes to heaven and his reason returned to him. He praised and honored God and recognized that he is the one who rules over heaven and earth. He realized that there is no one like God and that he has no equal. Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was then restored to him. Apparently great wisdom was also given to him, because nobles and counselors sought him out (verse 36). Scripture also states that surpassing greatness was added to him, so apparently his riches and power were greater than before, but he did not lose sight of the fact that it is God who rules. All his works are true and his ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride. It is interesting to think that in the midst of all this, as God showed his sovereignty, there was also an evangelistic aspect in bringing Nebuchadnezzar to a realization of who actually rules over heaven and earth.

*= Denotes taken from the Expositor's Bible Commentary