Ver. 1. Nebuchadnezzar the king.] This bare title seemed sufficient to him who came now newly out of the furnace of sharp affliction, whereby he was tamed and taken a link lower, as we say. Unto all people, nations, and languages.] This epistolary narrative or proclamation was sent abroad a year or two before his death. And here observe, saith one, an omission of twenty-seven years’ history, wherein the Church in Babylon had her halcyons; the emperor being exercised in foreign wars, and the nobles disheartened from attempting anything against those four worthies, as having had formerly such ill success. That dwell in all the earth.] Thus this great king is made a catholic preacher of humility and moderation of mind. Peace be multiplied unto you.] Courtesy and kind language in great ones draweth all hearts unto them, as fair flowers do the eyes of beholders in the springtide. Mr Huet.
Ver. 2. I thought it good.] Chald., It was meet (or seemly) before me; It was my duty, so Junius. To show the signs and wonders.] “Signs” they were, because evident testimonies of God’s wisdom, justice, power; “wonders,” because worthy to be wondered at.
Ver. 3. How great are his sons!] Mark how he is enlarged here; so should we. If David had had the thing in hand, he would have cried out also, “For his mercy endureth for ever.” But Nebuchadnezzar celebrateth his kingdom only; and that also he had learned of Daniel. (Daniel 2:46,47)
Ver. 4. I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house.] Having subdued all mine enemies round about. But in the year of my triumph, behold a vision of my downfall. Suspecta nobis debet esse tranquillitas. And flourishing in my palace.] But flourishing estates free not the mind of burdensome cares. (Ecclesiastes 5:12)
Ver. 5. I saw a dream, which made me afraid.] It is seldom seen that God alloweth unto the greatest darlings of the world a perfect contentment; something they must complain of that shall give an unsavoury verdure to their sweetest morsels, and make their very felicity miserable.
Ver. 6. Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon.] Whom yet he had formerly found to be no better than braggarts and impostors. Was this man truly converted?
Ver. 7. Then came in the magicians.] As if they would do the deed. Seducers make up with boldness what they want of true worth. (2 Peter 2:19)
Ver. 8. But at last Daniel came in before me.] And why “at last?” Why was he not sooner sent for? If the soothsayers and sorcerers could have served the turn, Daniel had never been sought to. This is the guise of graceless men; they run not to God till all other refuges fail them. According to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.] Is this the language of a true convert? Should not former sinful practices be looked upon with a lively hatred, and mentioned with utter distaste?
Ver. 9. Because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.] The spirit of divination and prophecy. And no secret troubleth thee.] Chald., Puts thee to business. Now he who had slighted Daniel before, to get what he desired, abaseth himself below the dignity of a king to him.
Ver. 10. Thus were the visions of my head in my bed.] He readily remembereth this dream of his, and roundly relateth it; the more to befool the wise men, since the Scripture, whereof they were ignorant, but Daniel well versed in, revealeth sufficient direction for the interpretation thereof— sc., Ezekiel 31:1-12. The wisdom of this world is not unlike the pains taken by moles, which dig dexterously under ground, but are blind against the sunlight.
Ver. 11. The tree grew, and was strong.] See Ezekiel 17:12,24. Plato compareth a man to a tree inverted, with the root above and the branches below. He also calleth him φυτον ουρανιον, a heavenly plant. Homer calleth great men γεγενημενα εχ Διος ερνη.
Ver. 12. The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit.] But because pride harboured under these leaves and poisoned these fair fruits, they were broken down and trod under foot. The beasts of the field had shadow under it.] Great is the benefit of civil government, and far extending. But most men content themselves with a natural use of it, as beasts of the field do of their food, without improvement of any higher good.
Ver. 13. And, behold, a watcher and an holy one,] i.e., A holy angel, active and watchful to know and do the will and commands of God for the good of the Church. Hence angels are said to be full of eyes, (Ezekiel 1:18) and to stand always beholding the face of God, (Matthew 18:10) as waiting an employment. How ready was that angel here (Daniel 4:31) to interrupt the proud king from heaven, and to tell him his doom! So in the next words.