Daniel 4.17-The Decree And Command Is From The Holy Watchmen In Order That The Living Would Know The Most High Is Sovereign Over Mankind
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday September 20, 2012
Daniel: Daniel 4:17-The Decree and Command Is By The Holy Watchmen In Order That The Living Would Know The Most High Is Sovereign Over Mankind
Lesson # 123
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 4:17.
Daniel 4:17 “This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men.” (NASB95)
“This sentence” is the masculine singular noun piṯ∙ḡām (פִּתְגָם) (pith-gawm´), which denotes that the Holy Watcher pronounced judgment handed down from the Holy Watchers against the man symbolized by the tree (Nebuchadnezzar) and specified the punishment to be inflicted upon him.
“By the decree of the angelic watchers” is composed of the preposition b- (בְּ־) (beh) “by” and its object is the feminine singular construct form of the noun gezē∙rā(h) (גְּזֵרָה) (ghez-ay-raw´), “the decree of” which is followed by the masculine plural noun ʿîr (עִיר) (eer), “the watchers” which is followed by the masculine singular noun piṯ∙ḡām (פִּתְגָם) (pith-gawm´), “sentence.”
The noun gezē∙rā(h) means “decree” or “order” and describes this sentence against Nebuchadnezzar as an authoritative judicial decision of the Holy Watchers and is modified by the masculine plural noun ʿîr, which means “watchers” or “watchmen.”
This word first appeared in the book of Daniel in Daniel 4:13 where it was in the singular and meant “watchman” and was used to describe the individual descending from heaven in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision who we identified as being the preincarnate Christ rather than an elect angel as most commentators interpret it.
In Daniel 4:17, we have the statements piṯ·ḡā·mā(ʾ) bi ḡezē·rǎṯ ʿî·rîn û šeʾē·leṯā(ʾ) mē(ʾ)·mǎr qǎd·dî·šîn (בִּגְזֵרַ֤ת עִירִין֙ פִּתְגָמָ֔א וּמֵאמַ֥ר קַדִּישִׁ֖ין), which is literally reads “the sentence, by the decree of the watchers, yes, the command of the holy ones.”
Notice the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar is by the decree of the watchers, yes, by the command of the holy ones.
It would conflict with the rest of Scripture and would not reflect what the text is saying if we interpret this verse as saying that the sentence against the king was by the decree of the elect angels, yes by the command of the holy ones.
The Scriptures teach that elect angels do not issue decrees of judgment against human beings or nations but only God does this.
Elect angels carry out God’s judgments at times and announce them at times as well.
This sentence against Nebuchadnezzar is not by the decree of the council of elect angels but rather by the decree of the councils of the Trinity, by the command of the Trinity, which is supported by Daniel’s statement in Daniel 4:24 that the decree is from the Most High.
Daniel 4:17 does not say that the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was by means of the announcement of the watchers, the holy ones which both the NET Bible and NIV interpret the verse as saying.
Rather the text says that the sentence was by the decree of the watchers, yes, by the command of the holy ones.
The NIV and NET are interpreting these holy watchers as angels thus in order to agree with the rest of Scripture they interpret the text as saying that the announcement was by the decree of the watchers but there is no word in the text which means “announcement.”
All this would indicate that the “watchers, holy ones” in Daniel 4:17 is a reference to the Trinity rather than elect angels since the Scriptures teach that a judicial sentence against any of God’s moral rational creatures whether men or angels is always from the Trinity.
Elect angels are often used to execute judgment and announce it but never to render the decision themselves.
Also, related to this, if this were an elect angel speaking in Daniel 4:13-17, it would be rather strange and conflict with the teaching of the Scriptures for the angel to announce the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar and then say it was by the decree or command of the elect angels.
This would mean that he is speaking on behalf of his fellow elect angels.
It would be more in line with Scripture if he was speaking on behalf of the Trinity rather than the elect angels.
Also, nowhere in Scripture do elect angels describe themselves as holy.
The Scriptures also teach that God watches or observes mankind (Job 13:27; 33:11; Psalm 66:7; Proverbs 15:3).
In Job 7:20, Job describes God as a “watcher of men.” (cf. Job 29:2; 33:11; Psalm 66:7; Proverbs 5:21).
“And the decision is a command of the holy ones” describes in a different manner the previous statement that the sentence with regards to the man symbolized by the tree in the king’s dream is by the decree of the Watchmen.
“The decision” is the feminine singular noun šeʾē∙lā(h) (שְׁאֵלָה) (sheh-ay-law´), which means “decision, verdict” in the sense of a determination of a matter after careful deliberation and consideration.
Here it too is used to describe the Holy Watcher’s proclamation in Daniel 4:10-17 as determined after careful deliberation and consideration by the Holy Ones.
“Command” is the masculine singular construct form of the noun mē(ʾ)∙mǎr (מֵאמַר) (may-mar´), which means “command, order” and refers to the exercise of the Holy Ones’ authority over Nebuchadnezzar.
“The holy ones” is the masculine plural adjective the masculine singular adjective qǎd∙dîš (קַדִּישׁ) (kad-deesh´), which is used as a substantive and in the plural meaning “holy ones” referring to the Trinity and not the elect angels since nowhere in Scripture do angels describe themselves as holy.
This substantive use of this adjective describes these watchmen as holy in the sense that they are uniquely pure and sinless.
This adjective qǎd∙dîš is a genitive of source indicating that this command regarding the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar was “from” the Holy Ones, i.e. the Trinity as a source.
“In order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind” presents the purpose of the decision and sentence issued by the Holy Watcher regarding the man symbolized by the tree, who is Nebuchadnezzar.
This indicates that the purpose of the Trinity punishing Nebuchadnezzar was that the human race would admit that the Most High has authority over the kingdoms of this earth and bestows it on whom He desires and sets over it the lowliest of men.
This was manifested when Nebuchadnezzar was deposed from and restored to power after seven years in fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy.
Nebuchadnezzar issued a proclamation which is recorded here in Daniel chapter four which tells the subjects in his kingdom that God is sovereign over him and all the kingdoms of the earth.
This purpose clause reveals God’s concern for the entire human race in that He wants them to put themselves and their lives in perspective, namely, they are under His authority and are accountable to him.
So God deposed Nebuchadnezzar from power in order to demonstrate to the entire human race that He is sovereign and not Nebuchadnezzar.
“And bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men” presents the result of the Most High being sovereign over the realm of mankind.
“And sets over it the lowliest of men” expresses the shock that God would bestow the realm of mankind upon the lowliest of men and denotes that this is out of the ordinary or not what we would expect God to do.
We would expect Him to put in power someone who is not lowly or poor or uneducated or one not from nobility or royalty.
“The lowliest of men” is composed of the masculine singular adjective šep̄ǎl (שְׁפַל) (shef-al´), “the lowliest of” and then we have the masculine plural form of the noun ʾěnāš (אֱנָשׁ) (en-awsh´), “men.”
The adjective šep̄ǎl is modifying the masculine plural form of the noun ʾěnāš, “men” and describes a person who is ordinary in the sense that they are not from nobility or royalty implying they belong to a class of people who lack resources needed to assume power.
Daniel 4:17 ‘This sentence is by the Watchmen’s decree yes this decision is a command from the Holy Ones in order that the human race would admit that the Most High is the sovereign authority over mankind’s realm. Therefore, He can give it to whomever He desires. He can even establish ordinary men over it.’ (My translation)
Daniel 4:17 completes the Holy Watchman’s announcement of the judgment of the man symbolized by the enormous tree, which appeared in a vision to Nebuchadnezzar and which tree Daniel interprets as being the king.
The Holy Watchman’s statements here in Daniel 4:17 would make clear to Nebuchadnezzar that his punishment was from the throne of God and was a judgment which originated with the Trinity.
The purpose of the decision and sentence issued by the Holy Watcher against Nebuchadnezzar was so that the human race would admit that the Most High is the sovereign authority over the realm of mankind.
This was manifested when Nebuchadnezzar was deposed from and restored to power after seven years in fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy.
Nebuchadnezzar issued a proclamation which is recorded here in Daniel chapter four which tells the subjects in his kingdom that God is sovereign over him and all the kingdoms of the earth.
This purpose reveals God’s concern for the entire human race in that He wants them to put themselves and their lives in perspective, namely, they are under His authority and are accountable to him.
So God deposed Nebuchadnezzar from power in order to demonstrate to the entire human race that He is sovereign and not Nebuchadnezzar.