It is difficult to assess the timing of Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, according to the record in the Book of Daniel. Did Nebuchadnezzar dream this dream after he had conquered and destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple during the 19th year of his reign as the King of Babylon (2Kings 25:8-10), or was this second dream closer to the timing of the first dream, which was in the second year of his reign (Daniel 2:1)? If we can agree that the dream occurred after the king had destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of God, then we have a context for Nebuchadnezzar’s doubt about the supremacy of the Lord God of the Jews (cp. Daniel 4:30). In the context of ancient warfare, the victor always took the idols (gods) of conquered king and paraded them before the victor’s people and put them in the temple of his god(s), wherein the conquered god(s) were considered subservient to the victor’s god(s). After all, why assume the conquered nation, who was protected by its god(s), would have a stronger god than those of the victorious king?
Assuming the above is true, then we may also consider the possibility that Nebuchadnezzar had expressed outward signs of his arrogance, while he toyed with the idea that he, and not Daniel’s God, was responsible for the king’s victory over Jerusalem. If not, why didn’t Daniel’s God deliver Jerusalem out of his hands? Was he, in fact, unable to do so? Hence, the reason for the dream (Daniel 4:25-26), which, when he heard it, caused Daniel to be both astonished and afraid, perhaps for his life, if he told the king its interpretation, as Nebuchadnezzar expected (Daniel 4:19).
After he was set at ease by Nebuchadnezzar, telling him not to be afraid of telling him the dream’s interpretation, Daniel began explaining what the dream meant. He told the king that the dream wasn’t for his good, but for the good of his enemies (Daniel 4:19). The tree in the dream represented the king, in that he had grown exceedingly strong, and his greatness reached even to the heavens, and his dominion was spread over the entire civilized world (Daniel 4:20-22). Moreover, the fact that the king saw a watcher or holy one come down from heaven to command the tree, which represented Nebuchadnezzar, be cut down, this means the command has come from the Most High God, and he had decreed what was to come upon the king (Daniel 4:23-24).
The decree was to drive the king from normal society and cause him to become like an animal, even to the point of being nourished with the grass of the field, until seven times (years ?) were fulfilled, after which the king would regain his senses, indicated by the protection of the stump of the tree. At that time, the king will understand without doubt the it is the Most High God, who rules in the kingdoms of men, and he gives their governance to whomsoever he wills (Daniel 4:25-26).
Daniel understood the ways of the Lord and knew that the Lord didn’t have to do as he decreed to do in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He, therefore, advised Nebuchadnezzar, asking him to be merciful to the poor, perhaps in reference to Daniel’s brethren, the Jews, who had been recently captured and brought to Babylon. Daniel told the king that it may be that deeds of righteousness would hide his sins of cruelty and break the hold revenge had upon him. If he repented of his sins, he might escape the Lord’s judgment and by works of righteousness and mercy he might gain safety in his days (Daniel 4:27).
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