4:19 Daniel's initial reluctance to tell the king the interpretation must have been due to the bad news itself and to the potentially harmful consequences for Daniel for telling it to the king.147Daniel had not hesitated to interpret the king's first dream (2:27-28). Sensing his uneasiness Nebuchadnezzar encouraged the prophet to relate the interpretation without fear of retaliation. This verse reflects the respect that each man held for the other.
"This verse reveals the heart of Daniel as well as any in the entire book of Daniel. He knew the meaning of this dream and how well Nebuchadnezzar deserved what was to come upon him. Nevertheless, Daniel's heart was concerned for the king and grieved over what he had to tell him. This was the distinctive feature of the true prophets of God: though they often had to predict judgments, they were nevertheless grieved when any of God's creatures were chastised."148
4:20-23 By repeating the facts of the dream as Nebuchadnezzar had previously narrated them, Daniel assured the king that he understood the dream exactly and was therefore interpreting it accurately. Nebuchadnezzar would have to leave his present place in society and would live in the open air with beasts of the field. Moreover he would behave as a beast himself even eating grass. Zoanthropy is a form of mental illness that causes such behavior. With it a person imagines himself or herself to be an animal. Perhaps this is what God used to afflict Nebuchadnezzar.149Another possibility is that the king suffered from boanthropy. With this illness a person thinks himself or herself to be an ox (cf. 5:21). His or her outer behavior is irrational, but the inner consciousness remains virtually unchanged.150This may account for the statement that at the end of his affliction Nebuchadnezzar "raised his eyes toward heaven"(i.e., repented, v. 34).
4:24-26 This condition, whatever it was, would continue for seven periods of time (cf. v. 16) until the king had learned that the Most High is sovereign. Then Nebuchadnezzar would receive back both his senses and his throne. Heaven ruling (v. 26) is a figure of speech for God ruling since God lives in heaven.151
4:27 Daniel concluded with a bold exhortation for the king. What God had revealed would happen unless Nebuchadnezzar turned from his sins, practiced righteousness, and showed mercy to the poor. Clearly Nebuchadnezzar ruled with a heavy hand as well as with a proud heart.
"This points out the principle that any announced judgment may be averted if there is repentance (cf. the Book of Jonah)."152
