And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, (l) till seven times pass over him;
(l) By which he means a long space, as seven years. Some interpret seven months, and others seven weeks, but it seems he means seven years.