That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Ver. 25. That they shall drive thee.] He saith not who, whether angels or men, nor whither, for avoiding of envy and displeasure. This was a high point of heavenly wisdom, which adviseth to observe,
“ Quis, quid, ubi, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando. ”
Nebuchadnezzar, who had driven so many before him out of their countries, is now, by a just judgment of God, himself driven out from company, lest, being mad, he should do much mischief: for his brutish conditions, he had now the brutes for his companions. He was wont to be fed with dainty fare; he now eateth grass as an ox. For his purple robe, horrido pilo totus obtegitur, he is all covered with hair; and for his precious ointments he is wet with the dew of heaven, ferinae vitae damnatus. a His disease, say some, was the lycanthropy; not a frenzy only, as that of Ericus, King of Sweden, who, being expelled his kingdom, for grief fell mad; b for, besides the brutish change of his mind, his body was much changed in feeding and living among wild beasts. Deformed he was, not transformed, so that the beasts took him for a beast, as going upon all four, and feeding as they did, although in shape differing from them, as a monster among them. But when all is said that can be said, sure it is that this change was supernatural, as appeareth by the occasion, manner, degree, time, &c., every circumstance seeming a new creation. c
And seven times shall pass over thee.] For the glory of God's justice in his expulsion, and of his mercy in his restoration. See Daniel 4:16 .
Till thou know.] God will be sure to tame his rebels, for is it fit that he should lay down the bucklers first?
a Oecolampadius; Diod.
b Willet.
c Mr Huet.