Daniel 4 is a highly disputed chapter of Daniel do to the seeming lack of corroboration of the events described. Historians criticize it due to the lack of evidence for such a powerful and apparently self-proclaimed event in Nebuchadnezzar’s life. This can be explained by the limited historical evidence for Nebuchadnezzar himself. Very few authors even mention him and those that do only recount his exploits that significantly changed history (the lands he conquered and some his accession to the throne). One of the most noted historians – Josephus – can only recount in his Antiquities of the Jews (Book 10, Chapter 11, Section 1) four authors who wrote about Nebuchadnezzar. Josephus refers to one author who wrote about Nebuchadnezzar and Assyria as well as many of the biblically relevant events such as the flood, Noah and his ancestors – Berosus. His pupil, Abydenus writes an interesting account of Nebuchadnezzar that seems to offer some historical foundation for Daniel.

From Barnes Commentary:

The other author which is referred to is Abydenus. The record which he makes is preserved by Eusebius, praep. Evang. ix. 41, and Chronicon Armenolatinum, I. p. 59, and is in the following words:

μεταταῦτα δε, λε’γεται προς Χαλδαι'ων, ὡς ἀναβας ἐπιτα βασιλη’ι¨α, κατασχεθει’η θεῷ ὁ’τεῳ δη, φθεγξα'μενος δε εἶπεν; οὖτος ἐγωΝαβουκοδρο'σορος, ὦ Βαβυλω'νιοι, την με’λλουσαν ὑμῖν προαγγε\’λλω συμφορην, την ὁ’τε Βῆλος ἐμο’ς προ’γονος, ἡ’ τε βασι’λεια Βῆλτις ἀποτρε’ψαι Μοι’ρας πεῖσαι ἀσθενοῦσιν; ἡ’ξες Πε’ρσης ἡμι’ονος, τοῖσιν ὑμετε’ροισι δαι\’μοσι χρεω’μενος αυμμα’χοισιν; ἐπα’ξει δεδουλοσυ'νην; ου{ δη συναι’τιος ἐ’σται Μη’δης, τοἈσσυ'ριον αὐ'χημα; ὡς εἰ'θε μιν προ'σθεν ἠ' δοῦναι τους πολιη’τας, Χα’ρυβδι’ν τινα, ἠ’ θα’λασσαν εἰσδεξαμε’νην, ἀι¨στῶσαι προ’ῤῥιζον; ἠ’ μιν ἀ’λλας ὁδους στραφε'ντα φε'ρεσθαι δια τῆς ἐρη’μου, ἱ’να οὐ’τε ἀ’στεα, οὐ’τε πα’τος ἀνθρω’πων, θῆρες δενο'μον ἐ'χουσι, και ὀ’ρνιθες πλα’ζονται, ἐ’ν τε πε’τρῃσι καιχαρα'δρῃσι μοῦνον ἁλω'μενον; ἐμε' τε, πριν εἰς νο’ον βαλε’σθαι ταῦτα, τε’λεος ἀμει’νονος κυρῆσαι. Ὁ με`ν θεσπι’σας παραχρῆμα ἠφα’νιστο.

Translated by Prof. Stuart’s work on Daniel, p. 122: “After these things” (his conquests which the writer had before referred to), “as it is said by the Chaldeans, having ascended his palace, he was seized by some god, and speaking aloud, he said: ‘I, Nebuchadnezzar, O Babylonians, foretell your future calamity, which neither Belus, my ancestor, nor queen Beltis, can persuade the destinies to avert. A “Persian mule” will come, employing your own divinities as his auxiliaries; and he will impose servitude (upon you). His coadjutor will be the “Mede,” who is the boast of the Assyrians. Would that, before he places my citizens in such a condition, some Charybdis or gulf might swallow him up with utter destruction! Or that, turned in a different direction, he might roam in the desert (where are neither cities, nor footsteps of man, but wild beasts find pasturage, and the birds wander), being there hemmed in by rocks and ravines! May it be my lot to attain to a better end, before such things come into his mind!’ Having uttered this prediction, he immediately disappeared.”

• What does this reveal about disputes of biblical authenticity based on the lack of corroborating information?  
• What do you see in the character of God and His word amidst this dispute among men?

• How can you apply this to your own life as a Christian?

Dan 4:1-9 NIV King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! (2) It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. (3) How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. (4) I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. (5) I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. (6) So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. (7) When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. (8) Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) (9) I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.

• Who is writing these words?
• What is he writing about and who do you think he is speaking of in verses 2 and 3?
• Do you see a parallel to Daniel 2 from verses 4-7? What does this tell you about God and Nebuchadnezzar?
• What do verses 2, 6 and 8 reveal about Nebuchadnezzar and the impact that God has had on his life?
• Often, chapters in biblical books are not presented in chronological order, when do you think this was written based on verse 9?

Dan 4:10-18 NIV These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. (11) The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. (12) Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. (13) “In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. (14) He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. (15) But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. “‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. (16) Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. (17) “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.’ (18) “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

• How do verses 10-12 relate to Verse 4?
• Who is involved in this dream and what are they doing?
• What is significant about the tree inverses 11-12?
• Would the Jews have known who a messenger and holy one from heaven was? Would Nebuchadnezzar have known this necessarily?
• What changed in the pronoun used to refer to the tree in verses 14-16? What does this tell you about Nebuchadnezzar’s possible interpretation about the tree?
• What is to happen to the tree?
• What is the purpose of this transformation of the tree?

Dan 4:19-27 NIV Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! (20) The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, (21) with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air— (22) you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. (23) “You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying,’Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ (24) “This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: (25) You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. (26) The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. (27) Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

• God gave Nebuchadnezzar a warning and a possible way to avoid suffering (verse 27). What does this reveal about God? (Jon 3:4-10)
• Of what was God accusing Nebuchadnezzar (Verse 25) and what sins were implied in Daniel’s plea (verse 27)?
• How does God differ from men? (Jon 4:1-2)
• Is there injustice that you see in the world? How does this example apply?

Dan 4:28-37 NIV All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. (29) Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, (30) he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (31) The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. (32) You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.” (33) Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. (34) At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. (35) All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?\ (36) At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. (37) Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

• How long did God give Nebuchadnezzar before he carried out His discipline? What does that reveal about God?
• Does it appear that Nebuchadnezzar repented (verse 30)?
• How did God apply his discipline to Nebuchadnezzar to make sure he knew it was God\s doing and that it was just? What does this demonstrate of God’s character?
• How long do you think seven times (verse 32) lasted based on verse 33?
• When was his sanity restored after he spoke or changed his behavior (verse 34)? What what does this reveal about God’s intentions for man?
• How quickly did Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity return – as long as God waited? What does this reveal about God’s character?
• How would you summarize what Nebuchadnezzar admited about God and His relationship to man in his repentance?
• What characteristics of God did Nebuchadnezzar praise?

THEME OF THIS CHAPTER

CHARACTER OF GOD REVEALED IN THIS CHAPTER

APPLICATION TO YOUR LIFE

REFERENCES

Jon 3:4-10 NIV On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” (5) The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. (6) When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. (7) Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. (8) But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. (9) Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (10) When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

Jon 4:1-2 NIV But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. (2) He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.