Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar Dream: Daniel 4 v 20 - 26

Daniel 4:20-22 "The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;" "Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:" It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth."

This part of the dream will be pleasing to Nebuchadnezzar. He knows that the message is true. He has conquered, and become great in the known world. He was thought of as one of the most powerful kings who had reigned to that time.

There was no more beautiful city anywhere, than Babylon with their hanging gardens. There were people of many nations living in Babylon at this time, with plenty food to sustain all.

Daniel 4:23 "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, till seven times pass over him;"

Nothing escapes God. He knows all that happens in the earth. The tree is Nebuchadnezzar. God has judged him, and found him guilty. He will not die, but will lose his mind, and go to the field as an animal, and eat grass.

The seven times probably means seven years, because the word times refers to years in 7:25, and because seven days or months would not have been long enough for Nebuchadnezzar’s hair to grow to the length of eagle feathers, as mentioned in verse 33.

Daniel 4:24 "This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:"

The decree in this is speaking of the judgment of God. God speaks it, and it will be. It is not the world that judged Nebuchadnezzar, or even Daniel; it is God.

Daniel 4:25 "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."

The purpose in this is that Nebuchadnezzar will recognize God for who He really is. He must learn that a man is king, because God made him king, and for no other reason.

Grass and water is to be his menu. The word "times" is sometimes used to mean a year. A very good example of that is time, times, and half a time; later on in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 4:26 "And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule."

Nebuchadnezzar will not be killed. God will just humble him. He will not even lose the kingdom. He is not banished. He must learn that God rules everything on the earth, as well as in heaven. When he learns his lesson, he will be sound of mind again.