daniel-4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:27

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee - Daniel was permitted to see not only the fact that this calamity impended over the king, but the cause of it, and as that cause was his proud and sinful heart, he supposed that the judgment might be averted if the king would reform his life. If the “cause” were removed, he inferred, not unreasonably, that there was a hope that the calamity might be avoided. We cannot but admire here the boldness and fidelity of Daniel, who not only... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:28

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar - That is, the threatened judgment came upon him in the form in which it was predicted. He did not repent and reform his life as he was exhorted to, and, having given him sufficient time to show whether he was disposed to follow the counsel of Daniel, God suddenly brought the heavy judgment upon him. Why he did not follow the counsel of Daniel is not stated, and cannot be known. It may have been that he was so addicted to a life of wickedness that he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:29

At the end of twelve months - After the dream, and the interpretation - giving him ample opportunity to repent, and to reform his life, and to avoid the calamity.He walked in the palace - Margin, “upon.” The margin is the more correct rendering. The roofs of houses in the East are made flat, and furnish a common place of promenade, especially in the cool of the evening. See the note at Matthew 9:2. The Codex Chisianus has here, “The king walked upon the walls of the city with all his glory, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:30

The king spake and said - The Chaldee, and the Greek of Theodotion and of the Codex Chisianus here is, “the king answered and said:” perhaps he replied to some remark made by his attendants in regard to the magnitude of the city; or perhaps the word “answered” is used, as it often seems to be in the Scriptures, to denote a reply to something passing in the mind that is not uttered; to some question or inquiry that the mind starts. He might merely have been thinking of the magnitude of this... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:31

While the word was in the king’s mouth - In the very act of speaking - thus showing that there could be no doubt as to the connection between the crime and the punishment.There fell a voice from heaven - There came a voice; or, perhaps, it seemed to fall as a thunderbolt. It was uttered above him, and appeared to come from heaven. There was an important sense in which it did fall from heaven, for it was the voice of God.Saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken - For you it is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:32

And they shall drive thee from men ... - See the note at Daniel 4:25. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:33

The same hour was the thing fulfilled - On the word hour, see the note at Daniel 4:19. The use of the word here would seem to confirm the suggestion there made that it means a brief period of time. The idea is clearly that it was done instantly. The event came suddenly upon him, without any interval, as he was speaking.Till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers - By long neglect and inattention. The Greek version of Theodotion has in this place the word lions instead of eagles: “until his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:34

And at the end of the days - That is, the time designated; to wit, the “seven times” that were to pass over him.I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven - Probably the first thing that indicated returning reason. It would not be unnatural, on the supposition that he was deprived of reason at the very instant that a voice seemed to speak to him from heaven, and that he continued wholly insane or idiotic during the long interval of seven years, that the first indication of returning... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:35

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing - Are regarded as nothing in comparison with him. Compare Isaiah 40:15, note 17, note. Precisely the same sentiment occurs in Isaiah which is expressed here: “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are accounted unto him less than nothing and vanity.”And he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven - In the host of heaven - בחיל bechēyol - Greek, “in the power of heaven,” ἐν τῇ, δυνάμει en tē, dunamei. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:36

At the same time my reason returned unto me - Showing that he regarded himself as having been insane.And for the glory of my kingdom - That is, his restoration to the exercise of his reason contributed to the glory of his kingdom, either by the acts of justice and beneficence which he intended should characterize the remainder of his reign, or by his purpose to reform the abuses which had crept into the government while he was deprived of his reason, or by his determination to complete public... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:27

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:28

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:29

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:30

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:31

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:32

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:33

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:34

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:35

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 4:36

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