Dan 4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Dan 4:1-37: 4:1-37 In his pride, King Nebuchadnezzar convinced himself that he had built Babylon (4:30 ; cp. Gen 11:1-9 ). He disregarded the warning of the Most High God (Dan 4:24-27 ). He had still not learned the lesson God was teaching him through these experiences, that the God of Daniel stands outside the world of time and space, and no human is equal to him. So God’s decree of judgment fell upon Nebuchadnezzar (4:17 , 25-26 ; see Prov 16:18 ).

Summary for Dan 4:1-37: 4:1-37 ^a In his pride, King Nebuchadnezzar convinced himself that he had built Babylon (4:30 ^b; cp. Gen 11:1-9 ^c). He disregarded the warning of the Most High God (Dan 4:24-27 ^d). He had still not learned the lesson God was teaching him through these experiences, that the God of Daniel stands outside the world of time and space, and no human is equal to him. So God’s decree of judgment fell upon Nebuchadnezzar (4:17 ^e, 25-26 ^f; see Prov 16:18 ^g).
4:4 ^h God did not allow the king to remain in the comfort and prosperity of his palace; injustice and oppression were in the city (4:27 ⁱ), and the king was full of pride (4:30 ^j).
4:5 ^k Nebuchadnezzar’s dream disrupted the false peace and serenity of the king’s misguided life.
4:7 ^l The professionals could not interpret the dream even though it was told to them this time (cp. 2:1-11 ^m). Their dream manuals failed them (see study note on 2:4).

• astrologers: See also 2:5 ⁿ, 10 ^o; 3:8 ^p; 5:7 ^q, 11 ^r, 30 ^s.
Summary for Dan 4:8-9: 4:8-9 ^t At last: Nebuchadnezzar appealed first to his Babylonian advisers; in spite of his high position, Daniel, an exiled Jew, was a last resort.

• spirit of the holy gods is in him: See 2:47 ^u; cp. 5:11 ^v. Despite his previous experience of the Most High God, Nebuchadnezzar still believed in many gods. In Egypt, Pharaoh had asserted the same thing of Joseph (Gen 41:37-38 ^w). It was the Most High God who assisted Daniel (Dan 4:24 ^x). Nevertheless, for the great king to say that Daniel had the spirit of the holy gods in him showed great respect and helps to explain Daniel’s immunity from harassment (see ch 3 ^y).
4:11 ^z The tree ... reaching high into the heavens possibly alludes to the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9 ^aa).
4:13 ^ab a holy one: The term holy is not widely used in the Semitic languages outside of the Bible. It simply refers to that which is out of the ordinary or nonhuman. Nebuchadnezzar was most probably using it that way here.
Summary for Dan 4:14-17: 4:14-17 ^ac The messenger had full authority as the representative of the Most High to announce God’s decrees and demand that they be fulfilled.
4:16 ^ad Seven periods of time may refer to a seven-year period (cp. 7:25 ^ae; 9:24-25 ^af).

• mind of a wild animal: See 4:31-33 ^ag.
4:17 ^ah the Most High rules: God distributes kingship and kingdoms to whomever he will, even to the lowliest (e.g., Joseph, Gen 41:41-57 ^ai; David, 1 Sam 16—2 Sam 5 ^aj).
4:22 ^ak The tree is a haven of sustenance, rest, and safety for the world (cp. Gen 2:15-17 ^al; Rev 22:14 ^am).

• your greatness reaches up to heaven: Cp. Gen 11:1-9 ^an.
4:23 ^ao Cut down the tree: The tree must be cut down because of Nebuchadnezzar’s pride (4:27-30 ^ap).
Summary for Dan 4:25-26: 4:25-26 ^aq until you learn that the Most High rules: God’s goal was proper recognition of God’s rule.
4:27 ^ar Stop sinning and do what is right: Righteousness and justice exalt a nation and extend the reign of a king; the lack of it dooms a people. Daniel humbly pled with the king to change his ways.

• be merciful to the poor: This was a requirement of God’s law (Exod 23:6-11 ^as; Deut 15:10-11 ^at; Prov 29:14 ^au; 31:9 ^av) as well as Babylon’s. A former great king of Babylon, Hammurabi (about 1792–1750 BC), claimed to have been charged by his god Marduk to shepherd and protect the orphaned, the widowed, and the oppressed.

• Perhaps then: Daniel recognized that God was free to act or not act (cp. Dan 3:16-18 ^aw); because he is a merciful God, he might take pity on the condemned king (cp. Exod 32:30 ^ax; 1 Sam 14:6 ^ay; 2 Sam 12:22 ^az; Joel 2:14 ^ba; Amos 5:15 ^bb; Zeph 2:3 ^bc; 2 Tim 2:25 ^bd).
Summary for Dan 4:28-33: 4:28-33 ^be Because Daniel’s warning went unheeded, the dream became reality.
4:30 ^bf The city of Babylon had magnificent walls covered with royal blue ceramic tile and gold-colored lions and dragons. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were also part of the city’s splendor, as was the dazzling Ishtar Gate. The king recognized all this as a reflection of his own glory and power, not as a gift of the Most High God.
4:32 ^bg The king who took Israel into exile for seventy years experienced his own exile for seven periods of time until he was purified of his pride.
4:33 ^bh This disease, called boanthropy, causes a person to behave like an ox. Several ancient sources lend support to this account, and the king’s annals are notably empty from 582 to 575 BC.
Summary for Dan 4:34-37: 4:34-37 ^bi Nebuchadnezzar now acknowledged and submitted to the higher authority of the Most High, the King of heaven.
4:35 ^bj He does as he pleases: God has absolute power in heaven and on earth.
4:37 ^bk The Most High God is the King of heaven as well as of earth. Human pride has no place before him, even that of the greatest of human kings.