Daniel 4:1--6:28
Nebuchadnezzar <05020> [Nebuchadnezzar.]
This is a regular decree, and one of the most ancient extant; and no doubt contains the exact words of Nebuchadnezzar, copied out by Daniel from the state papers of Babylon, and preserved in the original language.
all .......... all <03606> [unto all.]
Peace <08001> [Peace.]
delighted ..... about <06925 08232> [I thought it good. Chal. It was seemly before me.]
most high <05943> [that.]
great <07260> [great.]
kingdom <04437> [his kingdom.]
from <05974> [is from.]
I Nebuchadnezzar <0576 05020> [I Nebuchadnezzar.]
After he had successfully finished his wars in Syria, Egypt, etc., and the immense improvements and buildings at Babylon, and in the enjoyment of uninterrupted peace and prosperity in his palace.
was <01934> [was.]
dream <02493> [a dream.]
things ... imagined <02031> [and the thoughts.]
brought <05954> [to bring.]
When ......... entered <0116 05954> [Then came.]
unable <03809> [but.]
Belteshazzar <01096> [Belteshazzar.]
spirit <07308> [and in.]
chief <07229> [master.]
spirit <07308> [the spirit.]
no mystery <07328 03606> [no secret.]
set forth <0560> [tell.]
there was <01934> [saw. Chal. was seeing. a tree.]
This represented his exceedingly prosperous condition, the height of his exaltation, the extent of his dominions and renown, the splendour of his kingdom, the multitude of his subjects who received protection from him, and the peace and plenty they enjoyed.
reached far <04291> [reached.]
animals <02423> [the beasts.]
seek shade <02927> [shadow.]
birds <06853> [the fowls.]
visions <02376> [in the.]
a watcher. Either a holy angel, or a divine person, called a watcher, as watching over the affairs of men. .# 17,23 Ps 103:20
holy <06922> [an holy.]
loudly <02429> [aloud. Chal. with might.]
Chop down <01414> [Hew.]
animals <02423> [let.]
leave <07662> [leave.]
mind .............. mind <03825> [Let his.]
Here a transition is made from the tree to Nebuchadnezzar, whom it represented; the tree being lost sight of, a person came in its stead. This person having lost the heart, or disposition of a man, and conceiving himself a beast, should act as such, and herd among them.
altered <08133> [be changed.]
seven periods ... time <05732 07655> [seven times.]
That is, seven years, a time in the prophetic language denoting a year.
decree .......... pronouncement <01510 03983> [by the.]
holy ones <06922> [the holy.]
alive <02417> [that the living.]
Most High <05943> [the most High.]
bestows <05415> [giveth.]
lowliest <08215> [the basest.]
none <06903> [forasmuch.]
you ......................... you <0607> [but.]
Daniel <01841> [Daniel.]
[was astonished.]
He saw the design of the dream; and felt acutely for his prince and benefactor. Accordingly he expresses himself with the greatest delicacy and kindly feeling.
don't <0409> [let.]
Sir <04756> [My Lord.]
dream .............. dream <02493> [the dream.]
it ... you <0607> [thou.]
greatness <07238> [thy greatness.]
seeing <02370> [saw.]
periods <02508> [and let his.]
decision <01510> [the decree.]
happened <04291> [come.]
driven <02957> [drive.]
live <04070> [and thy dwelling.]
All the circumstances of Nebuchadnezzar's case, says Dr. Mead, agree so well with a hypochondriasis, that to me it appears evident the Almighty God brought this dreadful distemper upon him, and under its influence he ran wild into the fields: then fancying himself transformed into an ox, he fed on grass, after the manner of cattle; and, through neglect of himself, his hair and nails grew to an excessive length, so that the latter became thick and crooked, resembling bird's claws.
fed <02939> [to eat.]
before <05705> [till.]
leave <07662> [to leave.]
heaven <08065> [the heavens.]
advice <04431> [let.]
Break away <06562> [break.]
mercy <02604> [by shewing.]
Perhaps ..... be <02006 01934> [if it.]
prosperity .... prolonged <07963 0754> [lengthening of thy tranquillity. or, healing of thine error.]
After <07118> [end.]
battlements <05922> [in. or, upon.]
not <03809> [Is not.]
great <07229> [great.]
I <0576> [that.]
honor <03367> [and for.]
words <04406> [the word.]
came down <05308> [fell.]
kingdom <04437> [The kingdom.]
driven <02957> [they shall drive.]
before <05705> [until.]
moment <08160> [same.]
driven <02957> [and he was.]
end <07118> [A.M. 3441. B.C. 563. at the end.]
looked up <05191> [lifted.]
extolled <01289> [I blessed.]
Most High <05943> [the most High.]
lives <02417> [him.]
authority ..... authority <07985> [whose.]
from <05974> [is from.]
All <03606> [all.]
does ............................. done <05648> [and he.]
inhabitants ....................... inhabit <01753> [the inhabitants.]
nothing ................... No one <03809> [none.]
What <04101> [What.]
sanity <04486> [my reason.]
Every thing was fulfilled that was exhibited in the dream and its interpretation; and God so ordered it in his providence, that Nebuchadnezzar's counsellors and lords sought for him and gladly reinstated him in his kingdom. It is confidently believed that he was a true convert, and died in the faith of the God of Israel.
splendor <01923> [mine.]
than before <03255> [added.]
I Nebuchadnezzar <0576 05020> [I Nebuchadnezzar.]
King <04430> [the King.]
all <03606> [all.]
live <01981> [those that walk.]
prepared <05648> [made.]
Belshazzar <01113> [Belshazzar.]
Belshazzar is said by Josephus to be the same as Naboandelus, the Nabonadius of Ptolemy, and the Labynetus of Herodotus. He reigned seven years, during which time he was engaged in unsuccessful wars with the Medes and Persians; and at this very time was besieged by Cyrus.
gold <01722> [the golden.]
father <02> [father. or, grandfather.]
confiscated from <05312 04481> [taken out. Chal. brought forth. might.]
praised <07624> [praised.]
gold <01722> [of gold.]
moment <08160> [the same.]
wrote ........................ writing <03790> [wrote.]
king's <04430> [the king's.]
face <02122> [countenance. Chal. brightness.]
color drained <08133> [was changed. Chal. changed it. and his thoughts.]
joints <07001> [so that.]
joints <07001> [joints. or, girdles.]
[Chal. bindings, or knots. and his knees.]
loudly <02429> [aloud. Chal. with might.]
summon <05954> [to bring.]
clothed <03848> [be clothed.]
purple <0711> [scarlet. or, purple. a chain.]
third <08523> [the third.]
unable <03546> [but.]
Because, probably, it was written in the ancient Hebrew or Samaritan character.
very <07690> [greatly.]
<02122> [countenance. Chal. brightness.]
visibly shaken <08133> [changed.]
queen mother ....... She <04433> [the queen.]
This was probably Nitocris, the queen-mother, widow of Evil-merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar, and father of Belshazzar.
king ................ king <04430> [O king.]
Don't .... Don't <0409> [let not.]
man <01400> [a man.]
father .................. father <02> [father. or, grandfather.]
insight <05094> [light.]
Nebuchadnezzar <05020> [Nebuchadnezzar.]
Nebuchadnezzar was certainly the grandfather of Belshazzar; but the term father in Hebrew and Chaldee is frequently used to denote a progenitor, or ancestor, however remote.
father .................. father <02> [father. or, grandfather.]
chief <07229> [master.]
extraordinary <03493> [an excellent.]
interpret dreams <06590 02493> [interpreting of. or, of an interpreter of, etc. dissolving. or, of a dissolver. doubts. Chal. knots.]
king <04430> [whom.]
you that <0607> [Art thou.]
Though Daniel was one of the chief ministers of state, who did "the king's business" in the palace, (Da 8:27,) yet Belshazzar seems to have known nothing of him. This shews that he was a weak and vicious prince, who minded pleasure more than business, according to the character given him by historians. He appears to have left the care of public affairs to his mother, Nitocris, a lady celebrated for her wisdom, who evidently knew Daniel well, and probably constantly employed him in the government of the kingdom.
one <01123> [the children.]
father <02> [father. or, grandfather.]
Judah ......... Judah <03061> [Jewry.]
[Judea.]
provide interpretations ................. make known <06590 03046> [make. Chal. interpret.]
wear <03848> [thou shalt.]
gifts <04978> [Let.]
Daniel, on this occasion, behaved in a very different manner to Belshazzar, than he had formerly done to Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar had that very night insulted the God of heaven in the most daring manner; and the venerable prophet, as His delegate, denounced sentence against him.
rewards <05023> [rewards. or, fee.]
read <07123> [I will read.]
you <0607> [O thou.]
most high <05943> [the most.]
bestowed <03052> [that he.]
were ........... wished ... spared .... wished ... exalted .... wished .... brought <01934> [whom he would he slew.]
mind <03825> [when.]
filled <08631> [hardened.]
pride <02103> [in pride. or, to deal proudly. deposed. Chal. made to come down.]
driven <02957> [he was driven.]
mind ... changed to that ....... with <07739 05974 03825> [his heart was made like. or, he made his heart equal. etc. till.]
you ........... knew <0607 03046> [thou.]
son <01247> [his son.]
He was, strictly speaking, "his grandson;" but the term son is frequently used to denote filiation at any distance.
not <03809> [hast.]
although <06903> [though.]
exalted <07313> [lifted.]
Lord <04756> [the Lord.]
brought <0858> [and they.]
praised <07624> [hast praised.]
see <02370> [which.]
control <03028> [in whose.]
all <03606> [and whose.]
cannot ... or ... or ...... not <03809> [hast thou.]
MENE MENE <04484> [MENE.]
Had these words been written in the Chaldean character, every one who knew the alphabet of the language could at least have read them: they are pure Chaldee, and literally denote "He is numbered, he is numbered; he is weighed; they are divided."
God <0426> [God.]
teqel .... weighed <08625> [Thou.]
teqel .... weighed ...... found <08625 07912> [art.]
peres ..... divided <06537> [PERES.]
Peres,"he was divided," pronounced paras, denoted Persians, who seem evidently referred to.
kingdom <04437> [Thy.]
clothed <03848> [they clothed.]
Darius <01868> [Darius.]
This was Cyaxares, son of Astyages, king of Media, and maternal uncle to Cyrus, who allowed him the title of his conquests, as long as he lived.
sixty-two <08361> [being. Chal. he as the son of, etc. about. or, now.]
Darius <01868> [Darius.]
120 <03969> [an.]
of <04481> [of.]
These <0459> [that.]
king's <04430> [and the.]
was distinguishing himself <01934 05330> [was preferred.]
extraordinary <03493> [an.]
intended <06246> [thought.]
Intended to make him grand vizier or {emiru'l umra.} Daniel had now been employed full sixty-five years as prime minister under the kings of Babylon; and was justly entitled, from his acknowledged wisdom, to this preference.
were <01934> [Cir. A.M. 3467. B.C. 537. sought.]
any such .... because ........ no <03606> [but.]
came by collusion <07284> [assembled together. or, came tumultuously.]
king ....... King <04430> [King.]
all ..................................... anyone ..... any <03606> [All.]
seemed like a good idea <03272> [have consulted.]
interdict <0633> [decree. or, interdict. he shall.]
issue <06966> [establish.]
law <01882> [according.]
[altereth not. Chal. passeth not.]
issued <07560> [signed.]
Daniel <01841> [when.]
windows <03551> [his windows.]
kneeling <01289> [he kneeled.]
Three <08532> [three.]
thanks <03029> [gave.]
just as .... been accustomed <06903 01934> [as he.]
came by collusion <07284> [assembled.]
approached <07127> [they.]
den <01358> [the den.]
It is probable that these lions were kept for the purpose of devouring certain criminals, whom the laws might consign to that kind of death.
That <04406> [The thing.]
Daniel <01841> [That Daniel.]
pays ... attention <07761> [regardeth.]
very <07690> [was sore.]
The king now clearly perceived for what purpose the decree had been solicited; and was exceedingly displeased with himself that he had suffered himself to be so deluded.
was <01934> [and he.]
He strove during the whole day, by every means, to evade or annul the edict; but the foolish constitution of his government (exactly the reverse of the happy rule for the conduct of our gracious monarch) did not allow them to pardon any person who had broken one of their decrees, however arbitrary and unreasonable.
Recall <03046> [Know.]
king ................. king <04430> [the king.]
God <0426> [Thy God.]
a stone <069 02298> [a stone.]
spent the night <0956> [and passed.]
diversions <01761> [instruments. or, table. and.]
God .... God <0426> [is.]
serve <06399> [servest.]
able <03202> [able.]
king ... king <04430> [O king.]
God <0426> [My God.]
sent <07972> [hath sent.]
closed <05463> [hath shut.]
because <03606> [forasmuch.]
<0638> [and also.]
king ......... haul ... up ........ hauled up ....... had <04430 05267 07912> [was.]
trusted <0540> [because.]
gave <0858> [and they brought.]
den ................. den ........ crushed <01358 0581 01855> [them.]
This savage act accorded with the customs of those times; contrary to the Divine law which enacted that "the fathers should not be put to death for the children, nor the children for the fathers."
children <01123> [their children.]
lions ..................... lions <0744> [the lions.]
King <04430> [king.]
Peace <08001> [Peace.]
issued <07761> [make.]
are <01934> [tremble.]
living ..... forever <02417 05957> [for.]
endures <07011> [and stedfast.]
kingdom ...................... kingdom <04437> [and his kingdom.]
rescues .................. rescued <07804> [delivereth.]
performs <05648> [and he.]
power <03028> [power. Chal. hand.]
reign ...... reign <04437> [and in.]
