All things considered in my previous study, it seems that, although King Nebuchadnezzar had admitted that the God of the Jews was the God of gods and Lord of kings (Daniel 2:47), meaning that he is also Nebuchadnezzar’s God, he was having trouble admitting that God actually ruled over him. Even though Nebuchadnezzar, formerly, admitted that Daniel’s God was able to change the king’s words (Daniel 3:28), meaning the God of the Jews did, in fact, rule over kings, Nebuchadnezzar still had trouble fully embracing that thought. Therefore, while Nebuchadnezzar was resting in his home and flourishing in his palace (Daniel 4:4), he dreamed a dream, which troubled him (Daniel 4:5). Therefore, he commanded all the wise men of Babylon to come to him and make known its interpretation (Daniel 4:6).
However, when the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers came, they were unable to interpret the dream for him (Daniel 4:7). Nevertheless, when Daniel[1] had finally come, who had told the king the interpretation of his dream of a great image (see Daniel 2), and whom Nebuchadnezzar describes as one “in whom the Spirit of the Holy God”[2] rests, he told him the dream that troubled him (Daniel 4:8-9).
The king described a tree in his dream, and he told Daniel that its height was great, reaching to the heavens and spreading throughout the earth (Daniel 4:10-11). Moreover, its fruit was good and fed all the beasts of the field, as well as the birds of the air, which also dwelt in its branches (Daniel 4:12).
Nebuchadnezzar went on to describe a watcher in his dream. He was a holy one, who came down from heaven. This one commanded that the tree and its branches be cut down, so that the beasts of the field and the birds of the air could no longer partake of its fruit nor live in the protection of its shade and branches (Daniel 4:13-14). Nevertheless, the stump and its roots were to remain and protected with a band of bronze and iron. It (or he) would be wet with the dew of heaven, because his portion would be with the beast of the field. Moreover, his heart would be changed from that of a man to that of a beast, and he would eat the grass of the field until seven times be fulfilled (Daniel 4:15-17).
Nebuchadnezzar then expressed his confidence in Daniel to interpret the dream, even though all the other wise men of Babylon failed to do so, and the king concluded by saying the Spirit of the Holy God was in Daniel (Daniel 4:18).
___________________________________________________________
[1] According to the consistent renderings of the translators, the text is: according to the name of my god. However, the Aramaic word for god (elah – H426) rendered “my” god, is so translated according to the opinion of the translator. Possession is not implied. The word is often used for the God of the Jews, and does not necessitate the use of “my” in the translations concerning him. The text in Daniel 4:8 simply says: “(according to the) name of (a) god…” parenthesis indicate suggested words not in the Aramaic.
[2] There is no reason to assume that Nebuchadnezzar believed “the spirit of the holy gods” rested in Daniel as most translators suggest (but not all). Nebuchadnezzar had already admitted that Daniel’s God was the God of gods, supreme over the gods of Babylon (Daniel 2:47), and that no one, under the pain of death, was permitted to say anything negative about the God of the Jews (Daniel 3:29). Therefore, why wouldn’t the king claim that it was the Spirit of Daniel’s God that dwelt in Daniel? By what stretch of the imagination would Nebuchadnezzar claim the spirits of the Babylonian gods dwelt in Daniel?
Smoodock's Blog 