Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 4 · Argument method – Diverse readings
1. The Argument and Method.
THe summe of this chapter is to shewe how Nebuchadnezzar was after a most extraordinarie manner humbled for his pride in the which narration, the efficient cause of his humiliation is described to be God, the materiall cause Nebuchadnezzar himselfe, the formall, it is set downe in the manner of an epistle, the finall cause is the conuersion of Nebuchadnezzar to Gods glorie, and the comfort of his Church.
The Chapter hath two parts. 1. the inscription of the epistle, in the three last verses of the last chapter, which are rather to be referred vntounto this, as is shewed before, cap 3. quest. 40. the order and parts of the inscription are also shewed before, cap. 3. quest. 37.
1. The bodie of the epistle consisteth. 1. of the exordium, or beginning, describing in generall, 1. the dreame of the king, who, where, and in what manner he dreamed. 2. the inquisition for the interpretation thereof, of the wise men, which was frustrate, to ver. 6.
2. The narration followeth: where 1. there is the declaration of the dreame to vers. 16. 2. the interpretation thereof, vers. 26. 3. the accomplishment, ver. 26. to the ende.
1. In the declaration: there is, 1. the description of the tree, vers. 8. 9. 2. of the ouerthrowe of the tree with the manner thereof, ver. 13. 3. the certaintie of it with the end, v. 14.
2. In the interpretation. 1. there is the preamble to it, wherein is contained Nebuchadnezzars request vntounto Daniel, v. 15. and Daniels delberate answer after a certaine pause, v. 16. 2. then followeth. 1. the interpretation it selfe, consisting of the exposition, both of the tree and the beautifull state thereof, vers. 19. then of the ouerthrowe of the same, what is signified thereby, ver. 20. to vers. 24. 3. the counsell of Daniel to the king, v. 24.
3. The accomplishment comprehendeth. 1. the occasion, by the proud words of Nebuchadnezzar, where are expressed, the time, place, and words, which he vttered, 27. 28. 2. the iudgement. 1. denounced, vers. 28. 29. 2. executed in his humiliation, ver. 30. restitution to his humane condition and vnderstanding, 31. and to his kingdome, vers. 33. 3. the effects are the praising of God, and confessing of his power, ver. 32. 34.
2. The diuerse readings.
1. ver. Nebuchadnezzar king vntounto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth (world. G.) peace be multiplied vntounto you (this with the two verses following, though they are vsually put to the third chapter, yet are better ioyned with the fourth chapter, as the argument of the epistle sheweth, which is but a preface vntounto the narration following, and thus. V. I. L. B. doe deuide and distinguish the chapter.
2. It seemed good vntounto me (it was meet before me. C. it became me. I. it was my dutie. V. it pleased me. L. but these doe omit the word (kadam) before) to declare the signes and wonders, which the high God hath wrought toward me.
3. How great are his signes, and how mightie are his wonders, his kingdome is and euerlasting kingdome, and his dominion is from generation to generation, (with generation, and generation.)
4. I Nebuchadnezzar beeing at rest (happie. V.) in mine house, and flourishing, (like the spreading boughes. C.) in my palace.
5. I sawe a dreame, which made me afraide, and the thoughts vponupon my bed and the visions of mine head troubled me.
6. Therefore I set forth a decree, to bring before me all the wise men of Babel, to make knowne vntounto me (to shewe vntounto me. caeter.) the interpretation of the dreame.
7. So came the magicians, astrologians, Chaldeans, and Soothsayers, and I told the dreame before (to them. G. B.) but they could not make knowne vntounto me the interpretation thereof.
8. Till at the last Daniel (Daniel the collegue. L. S. but acharin beeing onelyonly found in this place, as R. Kimhi, is better interpreted here at the last) came before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, which hath the spirit of the holy gods in him, and before him I told the dreame.
9. O Belteshazzar, chiefe of the Magicians, because I knowe that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and not any secret puts thee to businesse (is impossible vntounto thee, L. or escapeth thee. V. or troubleth thee, G. B. or oppresseth thee. I. the word (anas) signifieth to trouble, to put to businesse,) tell me the visions of my dreame, which I hauehave seene, that is, I. (and caeter▪ but it is not here a coniunction copulatiue, for he desireth onelyonly the interpretation of his dreame, ver. 15. he declareth his dreame himselfe) the interpretation thereof.
10. Thus were the visions (not vision. L.) of mine head in my bed: I did behold, and loe a tree in the middes of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11. A great tree and strong, and the height thereof reached vntounto heauen, and the sight thereof to the ende of all the earth.
12. The boughes thereof (bough. C. the singular is put for the plurall, not the leaues thereof. L.) were faire, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meate for all: the beasts of the field tooke shade, I. B. (not it made shade. G. or the beasts dwelt) vnderunder it, and in the boughes thereof dwelt the foules of heauen, and all flesh fedde of it.
13. I sawe in the visions of my head vponupon my bed, and behold a watchman, and an holy one came downe from heauen.
14. And cried aloud (with strength. C.) and said thus, Hewe downe the tree, and breake off his branches: shake of his leaues, and scatter his fruite, that the beasts may flee from vnderunder it, and the foules from his branches.
15. Neuerthelesse leaue the stumpe (not the budde) of his rootes in the earth, and with a band of yron and brasse bind it, among the grasse of the field (not, which is without) and let it be wet (dipt. C.) with the dewe of heauen, and with the beasts (beast. C.) let his portion be among the grasse of the field.
16. Let his heart be changed (let them change. C.) from a mans (from a man) and let a beasts heart be giuen vntounto him, and let seauen times be passed (changed. L.) ouer him.
17. The sentence is according to the decree of the watchmen, and the request according to the word of the holy ones. B. I. V. not, and the word of the holy ones, and the request, (and) is but once in the originall, nor according to the word of the holy ones the demaund was answered. G. for this last word is not in the originall) to the intent that (vntill. L.) the liuing may knowe, that the most high hath power ouer the kingdome of men (man. C.) and giueth it to whom he will, and appointeth ouer it the most abiect of men.
18. This is the dreame that I king Nebuchadnezzar hauehave seene, now thou Belteshazzar tell the interpretation thereof: for all the wisemen of my kingdome are not able to make knowne the interpretation: but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19. Then Daniel whose name was Belteshazzar was amazed. I. (stood as astonished. V. held his peace. L. B. G. S. but the word (shamam) signifieth properly to be astonished, amazed, to wonder) by the space of an houre, and his thoughts troubled him: and the king spake and said, Let neither the dreame, nor the interpretation thereof trouble thee: then Belteshazzar answered and said, The dreame be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20. The tree which thou sawest, which was great and mightie, whose height reached vntounto the heauen, and the sight thereof through all the earth.
21. Whose leaues were faire, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meate for all, vnderunder the which the beastes of the field dwelt, and the foules of the heauen did sit.
22. It is thou O king, that art great and mightie, for thy greatnesse is growen, and reacheth vntounto the heauen, and thy dominion is to the ende of the earth.
23. Whereas the king sawe a watchman, and an holy one, that came downe from heauen, and said, Hewe downe the tree, and destroy it, yet leaue the stumpe of the rootes thereof in the earth, and with a band of yron and brasse bind it, among the grasse of the field, and let it be wet with the dewe of heauen, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seauen times passe ouer him.
24. This is the interpretation O king, (not of the king. I.) and this is the decree of the most high, which is come vponupon my Lord the king.
25. That they shall driue thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee …ate grasse like the oxen, (thou shalt …at. L.) and they shall wet thee with the dewe of heauen, till thou knowe that the most high beareth rule ouer the kingdome of men, and giueth it to whomsoeuer he will.
26. And whereas they said (not, he said. L.) that they should leaue the stumpe of the tree rootes, thy kingdome shall be stable vntounto thee (or remaine vntounto thee. L. B. G.) after thou shalt hauehave knowne (hast learned to knowe. L.) that the heauens beare rule.
27. Wherefore O king let my counsell be acceptable vntounto thee, and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse, I. G. B. (not redeeme thy sinnes. V. L. by almes deeds. L. for (pharach) signifieth to breake off, as it is taken, Gen. 27. 40. and the other word (tzidecah,) signifieth righteousnesse) if so be thy peace may be prolonged. I. A. P. V. (better then, that there may be an healing of thine error. G. B. or God may forgiue thy sinnes. L. S.
28. All these things came (not shall come. G. or touch. B.) vponupon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29. At the ende of twelue moneths, he walked in the palace of the kingdome of Babylon.
30. And the king spake and said, Is not this great Babel, that I hauehave built, for the house of the kingdome, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my maiestie?
31. While the word was in the kings mouth (the word beeing yet in the kings mouth, C. V. A. I.) a voice came downe from heauen, saying, To thee be it spoken (they speake, C.) O king Nabuchadnezzer, thy kingdome is departed from thee:
32. And they shall driue thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beast of the field: they shall make thee to eare grasse (they shall cause thee to tast grasse. C.) like the oxen, and seuen times shall passe ouer thee, vntill thou knowest, that the most high beareth rule ouer the kingdome of men, and giueth it to whomsoeuer he will.
33. The very same houre was this word (this thing, G. this matter, B.) fulfilled vponupon Nabuchadnezzer, and he was driuen from men, and did eate grasse as the oxen, and his bodie was wet with the dew of heauen, till his haires were growne, as eagles feathers, and his nailes as birds clawes.
34. And at the ende of these dayes, I Nebuchadnezzar lift vp mine eyes to heauen, and mine vnderstanding (or mind. V. I.) returned vntounto me, (was restored vntounto me. L. B. G.) and I blessed the most high, and I praised and glorified him, that liueth for euer, because his power (whose power. B. G.) is an euerl…sting power, and kingdome is from generation to generation.
35. And all the inhabitants of the earth, are reputed as nothing: and according to his will he worketh in the armie of heauen, and in the inhabitants of the earth: and there is not any that can stay (resist. L. B.) his hand, or say vntounto him, What doest thou?
36. At the same time did mine vnderstanding returne vntounto me, and I returned to the glorie of my kingdome: my glorie and my beautie was restored (returned. C.) vntounto me, and my counsellors and my princes sought vntounto me, and I was established in my kingdome, and my glorie was augemented toward me.
37. Now therefore I Nebuchadnezzar, praise, and extoll, and magnifie the king of heauen, because all his workes are truth, and his wayes iudgement, and those that walke in pride he is able to abase.