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Daniel 4:1 open_in_new
Nebuohadnezzar. What follows is evidently. proclamation. Given probably in 454 B.C., the last of the seven years of his "madness"(461-454 B.C.), the same year as the decree of Astyages, Daniel being then fifty-nine.
people. the peoples.
nations. races.
languages. tongues.
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Daniel 4:2 open_in_new
thought. have thought.
wonders. astonishing things.
HIGH. most HIGH.
God. Chaldee. 'elaha' (emphatic). App-4.
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Daniel 4:3 open_in_new
How great, &c. Compare Daniel 4:34; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:17.
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Daniel 4:5 open_in_new
dream. One of twenty recorded dreams. See note on Genesis 20:3.
visions of my head, &c. Compare Daniel 4:10, and Daniel 2:28.
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Daniel 4:6 open_in_new
to bring in all the wise men, &c. Probably done from motives of state policy, or acting on Daniel's own advice.. writer clever enough to be. forger would be wise enough not to leave the loophole alleged.
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Daniel 4:7 open_in_new
magicians, &c. See note on Daniel 1:2.
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Daniel 4:8 open_in_new
Belteshazzar. See note on Daniel 1:7.
god. Chaldee. 'elah. App-4.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.
gods. Chaldee. 'elahin (plural) App-4.
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Daniel 4:9 open_in_new
master of the magicians. Daniel still held the position given him in Daniel 2:48.
secret. Chaldee. raz. Same word as in Daniel 2: (except Daniel 2:22). See notes on Daniel 2:18; Daniel 2:22.
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Daniel 4:10 open_in_new
I saw. I was gazing.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
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Daniel 4:13 open_in_new
a watcher and an holy one. Figure of speech Hendiadys (App-6). an holy angel.
watcher. A Chaldee name ('ir) for an angelic being, watching over the affairs of men. Compare: Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:23. Not the same root as in Daniel 9:14.
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Daniel 4:15 open_in_new
the stump of his roots. his root-trunk.
tender grass. herbage.
wet. drenched.
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Daniel 4:16 open_in_new
Let his heart, &c. The figure here changes from. tree to that of. beast, mentioned in Daniel 4:15.
man's. Chaldee. 'anasha'. App-14.
seven times. The inscriptions state that there were several years in which Nebuchadnezzar did nothing,
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Daniel 4:17 open_in_new
demand. mandate.
ruleth. hath dominion.
basest. lowest.
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Daniel 4:19 open_in_new
astonied. astonished.
one hour. Chaldee. sha. ah. a moment, as Daniel 4:33; Daniel 3:6; Daniel 3:15; Daniel 5:5.
The king spake. Note the change of speakers.
answered and said. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41.
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Daniel 4:25 open_in_new
drive thee, &c. The mental disease of Nebuchadnezzar is rare. It is called Lycanthropy (from Greek, lukos. a wolf, and anthropos =. man), because the man imagines himself to be. wolf, or some other animal.
men. Chaldee plural of. anash. App-14.
make. suffer.
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Daniel 4:26 open_in_new
the heavens. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for God Who dwells there. Compare Luke 15:18.
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Daniel 4:27 open_in_new
counsel. advice. Not the same word as in Daniel 3:24; Daniel 3:27; Daniel 4:36; Daniel 6:7.
break off. This is rendered in the Vulgate (the Authorized version of the Church of Rome) by "redeem"; but the Chaldee perak. break off. First occurs in Hebrew (parak) Genesis 27:40; Exodus 32:2; Exodus 32:3; Exodus 32:24, &c. See note on Psalms 136:24.
sins: chatai. Same as App-44.
righteousness. This is rendered as "almsgiving" in the Vulgate. But Chaldee. tzidkah (Hebrew. tzedakah) = righteousness never signifies alms or almsgiving.
iniquities. Chaldee. 'ivya'. Same as App-44.
poor. wretched, miserable. Chaldee. 'anah. See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11. Here referring doubtless to the Jewish captives.
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Daniel 4:28 open_in_new
All this came. Here the change is to the historical narration.
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Daniel 4:30 open_in_new
spake. answered.
great Babylon. The German Orient Society's excavations during recent years have shown how "great" it was. See Records of the Past, vol. i, p, &c.
that. have built. Everywhere this is repeated by Nebuchadnezzar on bricks, pavements, walls, &c.
house of the kingdom. the royal palace.
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Daniel 4:34 open_in_new
I Nebuchadnezzar, &c. Here the king again speaks. This corresponds with the Proclamation (verses: Daniel 4:1-3), and is the ground of its being made.
the Most High. Compare verses: Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:32.
I praised, &c. Modern critics are stumbled because Nebuchadnezzar should do this while he was an idolater. But surely it is the token that. great change had taken place. This occurred in 454, just after Astyages (the great king. Artaxerxes) had issued his decree for the rebuilding of Jerusalem; and it was imperative that Nebuchadnezzar should now issue this imperial decree. See App-58. This year, 454 B. C, is specially marked by the issue of these two momentous proclamations. When Nebuchadnezzar's madness began, Daniel was fifty-two, and when it ended, he was fifty-nine years old.
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Daniel 4:35 open_in_new
all, &c. Compare Job 34:14; Job 34:15; Job 34:19-24.Isaiah 40:15-17; Isaiah 40:22-24.
and He, &c. Compare 1 Samuel 3:18; Job 23:13.Psalms 33:9-11; Psalms 115:3; Psalms 135:6; Isaiah 14:24-27; Isaiah 46:10; Isaiah 46:11.
the inhabitants, &c. Psalms 33:8; Psalms 33:14; Psalms 49:1.Isaiah 26:9.
none, &c. Compare Job 9:4; Job 9:13; Job 34:29; Job 40:9-12; Job 42:2.Acts 5:39; Acts 9:5; Acts 11:17, &c.
What, &c. Compare Job 9:12; Job 33:12; Job 33:13; Job 40:2.Isaiah 45:9-11.
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Daniel 4:36 open_in_new
counsellers. See note on Daniel 3:24.
lords. See note on Daniel 5:1, and "princes", Daniel 5:2.
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Daniel 4:37 open_in_new
I Nebuchadnezzar, &c. This corresponds with verses: Daniel 4:1-3. See the Structure, p. 1185.