Nebuchadnezzar Tells Daniel Of His Dream (3): Daniel 4 v 13 - 17

Daniel 4:13 "I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;"

This watcher was an angel, a servant of God, who controlled a nation’s rise or fall. Angels often have roles administering God’s judgment as shown also in Genesis 18, Isaiah 37 and Rev. 16.

Daniel 4:14 "He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:"

This speaks of God looking down on Nebuchadnezzar, and judging him. It is God who elevates a man up to be king. It is, also, God who judges him, and brings him down.

Daniel 4:15 "Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots 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 in the grass of the earth:"

This speaks of judgment without total destruction. "Brass" always symbolizes judgment. "Iron" is speaking of worldly strength.

The nucleus of the kingdom, still in existence in v.26, will later sprout as in nature (Job 14:7-9) The band is a guarantee that God will protect what remains intact and preserve the king’s rule, v.26.

This is speaking of a time, when Nebuchadnezzar will be no more than an animal. He will eat grass, and drink of the dew that falls.

Daniel 4:16 "Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him."

This is really speaking of a man who has lost his power to reason. Perhaps, it is speaking of a mental collapse. There is a form of the disease called Lycanthropy, in which a person thinks he is an animal and lives wildly, that causes him to eat grass, have thick dirty nails, shaggy hair and behave inhumanly. (Lycanthropy is a psychosis in which the patient has delusions of being a wild animal (usually a wolf).)

This illness that brings this about is a judgment from God {it drops like dew from heaven}.

Daniel 4:17 "This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men."

This is somewhat interpreted by Nebuchadnezzar. He is aware of the judgment of God. He is, also, aware that God is proving that it is He that elevates a man to be a king. It is, also, God who brings a man down.

God was with Nebuchadnezzar, when he attacked Judah. The attack was actually a judgment of God. He went too far in his attack. He did things God had not told him to do. Now, it is his turn to be judged.