Daniel 4:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the Earth. Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has wrought toward me. How great are his signs! And how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion is from generation to generation. 

Daniel 4:4-6 I Nebuchadnezzar-II was at rest in mine house and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream.(chapter 2).which made me afraid and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

After Nebuchadrezzar defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish, in B.C.E. 604 he founded the Babylonian empire and strongly fortified Babylon and adorned it with palaces and other buildings. His son, Evil-merodach, who succeeded him in B.C.E. 561 was murdered after a reign of two years. The last monarch of the Babylonian empire was Nabonidus (Nabu-nahid), B.C.E. 555 whose eldest son, Belshazzar (Bilu-sar-uzur), is mentioned in several inscriptions. Babylon was captured by Cyrus, B.C.E. 538 and though it revolted more than once in later years, it never succeeded in maintaining its independence.

Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians.(Daniel 1:20), the astrologers, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers. And I told the dream before them, but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

Daniel 4:8-12 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar.(not to be confused with the king named 'Belshazzar'; different spelling), according to the name of my God and in whom is the spirit of the holy Gods. And before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy Gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen and the interpretation thereof. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed. I saw and behold, a tree in the midst of the Earth and the height thereof was great. The tree grew and was strong and the height thereof reached unto heaven and the sight thereof to the end of all the Earth. The leaves thereof were fair and the fruit thereof much and in it was meat for all. The beasts of the field had shadow under it and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof and all flesh was fed of it.

Daniel 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed and behold, a watcher and an holy one.(original for 'a watcher and an holy one' is 'a watcher, even a holy one', referring to one being who was this watcher? 'holy one' refers to one of the true God in heaven's good angels).came down from heaven.

Daniel 4:14-16 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. 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. Let his heart be changed from man's and let a beast's heart be given unto him and let seven times.(seven years).pass over him.

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 rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will and sets up over it the basest of men..(?)

Daniel 4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar-II have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation. But you are able, for the spirit of the holy Gods is in you.

Daniel 4:19-24 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that you saw, 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 you, O king, that are grown and become strong. For your greatness is grown and reaches unto heaven and your dominion to the end of the Earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher.(verses 13,17 above).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. This is the interpretation, O king and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king.

Daniel 4:25 That they shall drive you from men and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven and seven times.(years).shall pass over thee till you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will.

Daniel 4:26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, your kingdom shall be sure unto you, after that you have known that the heavens do rule.

Daniel 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto you and break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities.(original is 'perversity' {*}).by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be.(original for phrase 'it may be' is 'and see it come to pass').a lengthening of your tranquility.

Daniel 4:28 All this.(this that follows beginning in this verse down to verse 34).came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar-II.

Daniel 4:29-31 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty.(too much of the wrong kind of pride)? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

Daniel 4:32 And you'll be driven from men and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you.(you'll have to eat as do the beasts).to eat grass as oxen and seven times.(years).shall pass over thee, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will.

Daniel 4:33,34 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar. And he was driven from men and did eat grass as oxen and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven and my comprehension returned unto me and I blessed the most High and I praised and honoured him that lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

Mikhail Lomonosov (see an encyclopedia), January 19, 1761."Not only do I not play the fool at the table of eminent.nobility, nor any rulers on Earth, but even for the Lord God Himself, Who granted me my mind, lest He take it away from me."....from the Arcady Petrov book Creation of the Universe, book 1 of a trilogy comprising Save Yourself, book 2 Save the World Within You and book 3 Save the World Around You.

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing.(in comparison with God's greatness; Job 9:12; Romans 9:20). And he does according to his will in the army of heaven.(re 'army of heaven' 1, 2).and among the inhabitants of the Earth. And none can stay his hand or say unto him, What are you doing?

Daniel 4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me and for the glory of my kingdom mine honour and brightness returned unto me and my counselors and my lords sought unto me and I was established in my kingdom and excellent majesty was added unto me.

Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar-II.(what brought this world ruling king to this way of thinking?).praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth and his ways judgment. And those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Nebuchadnezzar finally came to know God.

....continues to Chapter 5

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