ETB Daniel 4:28-37

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Understand the Context

Today’s passage is in part about the second dream of King Nebuchadnezzar which Daniel interprets for him. The first was in Chapter 2 and involved a statue representing the kingdoms of the earth. The dream in the first part of Chapter 4 is about only one kingdom and its king. God shows the ruler of Babylon in both instances future events, the first would take centuries to fulfill but today’s would happen much sooner. Both dreams frightened the king but this time he told his counselors what the dream was but once again only Daniel, by God’s wisdom and special enlightening was able to correctly interpret the dream. The dream however is not as inspiring or encouraging as the first and as Daniel learns what it means his countenance changes and the king notices.

Daniel 4:19–20 (ESV)

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

Daniel warns the king that dream speaks of a time in the near future when he shall lose all that he has for a time. At the end of the interpretation the exiled Israelite makes his plea to the king to repent (Dan 4:27). The prophet’s message is heeded for a year, but then the dream’s proclamation of judgement comes true.

Explore the Text

Daniel 4:28–30 ESV

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

Significant accomplishments or achievements in our lives may tempt us to become proud. Nevertheless, we must remember God has given us our gifts and talents (1 Cor. 4:7). We should be grateful rather than proud. [LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]

Multiple times in our lessons in Daniel we have seen the king’s pride revealed as he demands worship and obedience from his subjects. Today’s passage highlights the apex of his self-indulgent thoughts. God however is longsuffering (Psa 103:8) and waits 12 months before making the dream come to fruition. Different spans of time are mentioned throughout the book of Daniel with some being literal and others more figurative. The word translated here as “months” is specific to a period of time which has a name attached to it (i.e., Nisan, October). It is different that the word used later in Daniel 9 talking about seventy “weeks”. That word is specific to a period of seven intervals being days or years. All of these are different than the “periods of time” later in verse 32.

The king is taking in the sites of the city from atop one of the royal residences when he swells with pride. Interestingly the word for palace is more often translated as “temple” which would increase the king’s hubris, walking around in a place which he built for the worship of himself.

Nebuchadnezzar II was historically a great builder and is accredited with the construction of the Ishtar gate and the Hanging Garden both considered wonders of the ancient world. Wikipedia states that “In addition to his military campaigns, Nebuchadnezzar is remembered as a great builder-king. The prosperity ensured by his wars allowed Nebuchadnezzar to conduct great building projects in Babylon, and elsewhere in Mesopotamia.” But all this recognition created an unhealthy view of himself. In Chapter 4 most of the narrative is from the king’s perspective, in Chapter 5 we hear of the same account being retold to his ancestor through Daniel’s commentary.

Daniel 5:20 ESV

But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

We studied in Ezekiel how the King of Tyre had a similar view of himself, and his realm and it did not end well for him. Thankfully this king did eventually heed the warnings and is restored. We too as believers in Christ serve this same restorative God who do not want “any to perish, but all should come to repentance” (1Peter 3:9).

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament remind us that our boasting should be in God, not in ourselves (Jer. 9:23-24; 1 Cor. 1:31). We dare not take the credit for what God does.

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Notice the reason the king claimed he was able to build such a wonderful city. This “mighty power” was his ultimate claim to godhood. In chapter 2 Daniel and told him that the “power, might, & glory” had come from God (Dan 2:37). Claiming God’s glory for his own is what led to Satan’s fall and all those after him with who he leads down a similar path. We are warned through the prophet Isaiah that God will not “share” His glory (Isa 42:8). The judgement for such pride comes quickly.

Daniel 4:31–32 ESV

While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s wealth and power were not evil in and of themselves; yet, the king’s wealth and power led him to pride, and pride was the problem. God’s judgment came while the words were still in the king’s mouth. The suddenness of the judgment stresses God’s displeasure at Nebuchadnezzar’s pride. It was as if the sound of Nebuchadnezzar’s words still lingered in the air, scarcely having departed his lips.

The words there fell a voice from heaven emphasize the source of the message Babylon’s ruler received. The messenger knew him by name—King Nebuchadnezzar. [LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]

That is encouraging to me to know that even though I may not be acting and thinking the way God wants me to, He still knows my name. However, in this case hearing his name was not a good thing. You know, like when your mom or dad said your “full name” emphasizing - each - one. Sometimes is not good hearing your name like this. But our parents still loved us even though they were disappointed and had to meet out some form of punishment because of our actions. God too was following through on His promise of judgement from a year earlier.

What this king hears if very similar to another rich builder that was proud of himself. Here the voice of God comes down from heaven, in Luke 12:20 it is Jesus speaking through parable to all the proud. Part of the judgement was that the kingdom he was so proud of would be removed from his control. In the ESV we have the word “departed”.

An Aramaic verb meaning to pass away, to pass on. It means to change, to disappear. It is used of times, seasons, and epochs of history coming and going, passing away (Dan. 2:21); of kingship passing from someone (Dan. 4:31[28]; 5:20; 7:26). It is used of changing a document (Dan. 6:8[9], 12[13]); or something/time being extended in other situations (Dan. 7:12). It has the sense of passing on a smell or odor (in context) to something (Dan. 3:27). [The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament]

Another king acted rashly and pridefully and his kingdoms was taken away by God. (1Sam 15:23) Saul however did not truly repent and continued to sin and his kingdom would never be returned to him or his ancestors. Thankfully our king today shows us the pattern that God desires and blesses him for his final heart response even after many failures to get his attention through other miracles. But this king’s heart was not ready just yet and so Jesus’ condemnation in John 4:48 proves true for Nebuchadnezzar as well.

The New Bible Commentary 4:28–37 Humbled and Healed

Having portrayed himself as superhuman (3:1–6; 4:30), he became subhuman; having set up his own statue to be worshipped as the image of a god, he forfeited life as the image of God (Gn. 1:26–27) and the last remnants of true glory (cf. Rom 3:23). Having behaved in bestial fashion he now reaped the harvest of which he had sown the seeds (Gal. 6:7–8)

Another commentator noted that in Dan 7, this king is symbolized as a Beast with a man’s mind and in today’s passage he becomes a man with a beast’s mind.

Without having the sanity to use tools or be able to hunt, the man is reduced to only eating that which can be pulled from the ground or bushes with hands or teeth. Some translations have him “being feed” instead of “eating” but the idea is still the same as he will only be satiating his hunger on a primal instinctive level and not having the cognitive skills to do more than graze. Daniel 5:21 a commentary to the king’s ancestor elaborates a little more on the king’s condition but they both emphasize the man’s mental depravity. Psalm 49:20 seems to have been written with this with this episode as context, “Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”

Just as Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden for wanting to lift themselves up to God’s level (Gen. 3:5), Nebuchadnezzar is exiled from his throne for his pride. [Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.]

Unlike with Saul, the kingdom’s removal would not be permanent with Nebuchadnezzar. Here the bestial mind will only last for seven “periods of time”.

This phase is an Aramaic masculine noun indicating a period of time, a moment of time. It indicates a prolongation of time or some time (Dan. 2:8); a period or length of time (Dan. 7:12). It has the sense of a time, a period when things change, changing circumstances (Dan. 2:9, 21).[The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament]

Because the word for “months” or “weeks” is not used this is generally accepted to be translated as years although with the “changing” connotations it could be “seasons”. This would shorten the total time of the king’s insanity to 3 1/2 years as the Palestine region on has 2 distinct “seasons”. This would not correlate with the other uses of this term used elsewhere in Daniel and there is another word that is more often translated as “seasons”.

The other indicator that the judgement “time” was over would be when God allows the king a moment of clarity so that he would “know that the Most High rules.”

In the one version of the Septuagint this word is translated as ginosko in another it is epiginosko. It is that mature completed knowledge that usually comes through time and only revealed by God. It is not something that man can accomplish on his own. This is the knowledge of God that I often pray for those who do not appear to be walking with Him

Job and Proverbs may have been books that were in the king’s library, possibly brought with Daniel and his friends at their capture. Even if he had read them and heard the warnings like Job 12:18-21 or Prov 8:15-16, his heart was not ready yet to heed their instruction. We can tell from the end of our passage that he had at least heard some of the Old Testament or similarly inspired writings as his final speech is rife with allusion to and near quotes of many Psalms and Proverbs.

However, he would not be dictating this chapter until his period of judgement for his sinful pride was completed. It did not take long for his mental imprisonment to begin.

Daniel 4:33 ESV

Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

This verse starts with the same phrasing we saw last week when he was describing how soon those who would not bow before his statue would be thrown into the furnace. “That same hour”. God did exactly as he said he would. In this verse though the passage of time is indicated by the changes in his bodily appearance.

Interpreters do not agree on exactly what this part of the text means. To the extent the king had any idea what was happening to him, the experience must have been terrifying. He was not the mighty king he once had been. God had taken him from the splendor of Babylon’s palace to a humble place among the animals. God earlier had exalted Nebuchadnezzar, and now God had humbled him. [LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]

Not only is God faithful in His judgement, but He is also merciful in His restoration. God began the time and ended the time just as He said He would.

Daniel 4:34–35 (ESV)

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven

and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

“At the end of the days” or “at the completion of the time appointed”, the king’s mind returned to him. “Lifting my eyes to heaven” could be his act of worship or at least his way of recognizing this God differently than all the others being worshipped in the land at that time. Using the name of God that he was given before seven-year judgment, he now begins a series of praises that acknowledge God’s character and rule over all men.

Back in chapter 2 Daniel had told the king that his dream showed him the “kingdom that shall never be destroyed” and Psa 10:16 also tells us that “The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.”

The Lord would rule the universe long after Nebuchadnezzar ceased ruling the Babylonian empire. The king offered two statements to reaffirm this fact. A long-reigning king might live to rule two generations or maybe three, but God ruled every generation. No one could compare with the vastness of His power, and no one could compare with the length of His reign.[LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]

Nebuchadnezzar starts his praise with personal worship, then acknowledges God’s sovereignty not only over kingdoms but also the inhabitants within them both on the earth and in heaven finally accepting and acknowledging that none on the earth can prevent His will or promises from being fulfilled. Similar recognition can be found throughout both Old and New Testaments (Isa 40:17, Psa 115:3, Isa 14:27, Job 19:12, Rom 9:20).

Not only did God graciously restore the king’s mind but he preserved his place within the kingdom as well.

Daniel 4:36–37 ESV

At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

He not only acknowledges that his sanity was “returned” to him but now accepts that the “power, might, & glory” all come from Him as well and are “gifted” back to him.

This group of “counselors and lords” probably has some of the same people that witnessed the furnace incident in Chapter 3 and may be the parents of the those admonished in Chapter 5. Some suggest that these are also the same people that kept the kingdom running until the “appointed time” was over. This is partially affirmed by the king’s recollection and use of the word “sought”.

Aramaic word found only in Daniel, it connotes the idea to ask, request, or petition. It also conveys the idea of praying to God or seeking out a person (Dan. 2:13) [The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament]

Once the king was in his right mind and the men were able to put him back before the public, he acknowledges that he was “established” not of his own but by God. The word has the connotation of setting something in order or straightening something out and making it firm or sturdier than before. This connotation also comes from the context and how his authority was increased or “more greatness was added.” God had “added” to what He had removed with Job as well (Job 42:12) but sometimes having a grateful attitude lets you see more of the gifts that were already there which you were blinded too in the past.

The first and last verse of the chapter start with a declaration of the author. The chapter also begins and ends with the praise of the God of the Israelites. Verse 37 are some of the final words recorded by King Nebuchadnezzar and they are in contrast to the scolding that Daniel delivers by God’s direction to the future leaders that take his place in the next chapter (Dan 5:23). Not only does the earthly king praise the Heavenly One but as a true sign of his repentant heart, after suffering so greatly, he acknowledges that God had every right to do what He did. God’s ways are always just but sometimes it is difficult to see and accept when we are “in the fire” of the moment.

Another sign of a changed heart is agreeing with God about ourselves. The king says that “those who walk in pride” God can humble. This is the first time that Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges his sin and calls it by the name that God uses. He also accepts God’s just reaction to it and uses God’s name for that as well, not calling it a punishment but seeing it as holy, righteous, discipline. In the first century, James writes the same sentiment as, James 4:6 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (4:36–37)

There seems to be prophetic significance in this incident as well as in the one in chapter 3. Even though God has appointed Gentiles to a place of prominence in His program during the times of the Gentiles, yet most nations and people walk in rebellion against God. This attitude is graphically described in Psalm 2:1-3. God will deal with the nations to humble them and bring them into subjection to Himself. One purpose of the Tribulation, which will immediately precede Christ’s second coming, will be to humble the nations and bring them to the point of subjection to Christ’s authority. At the conclusion of God’s judgments, described in Revelation 6–19, Jesus Christ, the victorious Rider on the white horse, will descend from heaven and smite the nations. Then an angel will announce that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). God’s judgment on Nebuchadnezzar, designed to subject him to God’s authority, seems to prefigure God’s judgment on the nations to subject them to the authority of the One who has been given the right to rule.

God did not give “Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand” without a purpose, and today’s passage may have been or portion of that divine plan. Daniel’s presence insured that Nebuchadnezzar’s life would be recorded through God’s inspiration for all time. Near the end of his life and reign the king was “given” his kingdom back and he finally acknowledged the God of Israel, The Most High himself.

Apply the Text

As I read through Chapter 4 several times this week, I noticed that it read very much like a personal testimony. When I read it summarizing the dream and its interpretation, we have a man declaring how great God is to all his friends and neighbors, telling them about how sinful he was, and then revealing how the Lord changed his heart. I read through Paul’s testimony to King Agrippa in Acts 26 and it had similar elements to it; how “good” he was in the world’s accomplishments, how he was humbled by God while trying to elevate himself in the religious system, and then turning toward God and accepting His pattern for life and work. These final words of the King of Babylon in Chapter 4 give us hope that even the most arrogant and self-deceived people can find truth and redemption through the Lord. In Chapters 2 & 3 he only hand secondhand experiences with Yahweh as He spoke through Daniel about his dream or walked in the fire with the men, but today’s account is his personal experience, and he was forever changed.

It took 20+ years for Nebuchadnezzar to finally accept God’s power and reign in his life. It took about the same amount of time for me. I am also grateful for God’s patient hand and direction in my life and several in my family. He may be taking longer than I want in some cases, but I hold fast to His promises and trust His sovereign will.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.