Saadiah interprets this of the angels: it may be rendered impersonally or passively, as in ( Daniel 4:33), “thou shalt be driven from men” f160 ; not by his family, his wife and children; or by his nobles, who are afterwards said to seek him; but by the most high God, and to show his power over him; and it may be by means of his ministering angels; or he was driven by his own fancy and imagination, which was suffered of God to prevail over him, judging himself not a man, but a beast; and so it was most agreeable to him to live with beasts, and not men: and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field ; in the open air, or in some den and cavern, instead of being in his court, and among his nobles; a strange change of condition indeed! and in which he was preserved by divine Providence: and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen ; imagining himself to be a beast, he should choose this sort of food, and eat it, and feed upon it with a gust, as if he had really been one; and besides, having no other food, would be obliged to eat this, as well as his degenerate and depraved imagination led him to it: and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven ; strip him of his clothes, and leave him naked; so that he should have nothing to shelter him from the dew and rain, and other inclemencies of the heavens; and this his frenzy might lead him to do of himself: and seven times shall pass over thee ; which some understand of weeks, others of months, others of the seasons of winter and summer; but it is best to interpret it of seven whole years; (see Gill on “ Daniel 4:16”): till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will ; this was done, as for the instruction of men in general, so of Nebuchadnezzar in particular; that his proud heart and haughty spirit might be brought down, and be made to acknowledge that there was a God higher than he, that judgeth in the earth, and that rules and overrules, and disposes of all things in it according to his will and pleasure; (see Daniel 4:17) Ver. 26. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots , etc.] That is the watchers and the Holy Ones; or it was commanded: this was the order given by the most High: thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee ; signifying that another king should not be set up in his place; and though the kingdom and administration of it would depart from, him for a while, yet it would be restored again, and be firm and stable: after that thou shall have known that the heavens do rule ; that is, that God, who is the Maker of the heavens, and dwells there, is known and acknowledged by thee to rule on the earth; from the government of which he was desirous of excluding him, and taking it to himself; (see Luke 15:18).

Dan. 4:1-18 The beginning and end of this chapter lead us to hope, tha Nebuchadnezzar was a monument of the power of Divine grace, and of the riches of Divine mercy. After he was recovered from his madness, he told to distant places, and wrote down for future ages, how God ha justly humbled and graciously restored him. When a sinner comes to himself, he will promote the welfare of others, by making known the wondrous mercy of God. Nebuchadnezzar, before he related the Divin judgments upon him for his pride, told the warnings he had in a drea or vision. The meaning was explained to him. The person signified, wa to be put down from honour, and to be deprived of the use of his reaso seven years. This is surely the sorest of all temporal judgments Whatever outward affliction God is pleased to lay upon us, we have cause to bear it patiently, and to be thankful that he continues the use of our reason, and the peace of our consciences. Yet if the Lor should see fit by such means to keep a sinner from multiplying crimes or a believer from dishonouring his name, even the dreadful preventio would be far preferable to the evil conduct. God has determined it, a a righteous Judge, and the angels in heaven applaud. Not that the grea God needs the counsel or concurrence of the angels, but it denotes the solemnity of this sentence. The demand is by the word of the holy ones God's suffering people: when the oppressed cry to God, he will hear Let us diligently seek blessings which can never be taken from us, an especially beware of pride and forgetfulness of God.

Dan. 4:19-27 Daniel was struck with amazement and terror at so heavy judgment coming upon so great a prince, and gives advice with tenderness and respect. It is necessary, in repentance, that we no only cease to do evil, but learn to do good. Though it might not wholl prevent the judgment, yet the trouble may be longer before it comes, or shorter when it does come. And everlasting misery will be escaped by all who repent and turn to God.

Dan. 4:28-37 Pride and self-conceit are sins that beset great men. The are apt to take that glory to themselves which is due to God only While the proud word was in the king's mouth, the powerful word cam from God. His understanding and his memory were gone, and all the powers of the rational soul were broken. How careful we ought to be not to do any thing which may provoke God to put us out of our senses God resists the proud. Nebuchadnezzar would be more than a man, but God justly makes him less than a man. We may learn to believe concernin God, that the most high God lives for ever, and that his kingdom i like himself, everlasting, and universal. His power cannot be resisted When men are brought to honour God, by confession of sin an acknowledging his sovereignty, then, and not till then, they may expec that God will honour them; not only restore them to the dignity the lost by the sin of the first Adam, but add excellent majesty to them from the righteousness and grace of the Second Adam. Afflictions shal last no longer than till they have done the work for which they wer sent. There can be no reasonable doubt that Nebuchadnezzar was a tru penitent, and an accepted believer. It is thought that he did not liv more than a year after his restoration. Thus the Lord knows how to abase those that walk in pride, but gives grace and consolation to the humble, broken-hearted sinner who calls upon Him __________________________________________________________________

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