0. Welcome
Opening Question: Let's review traits that are desirable in a leader and, conversely, traits that should be absent in a leader.
1. Plan for this Lesson
2. Introduction
3. Questions to Consider
4. Our Text - Chapter 4
5. Discussion and Commentaries
6. Summary and Looking Ahead to Chapter 5
2. Introduction to Chapter 4
2a. Letters in Tanach
2b. Nebuchadnezzar and Nabonidus
2c. The story of the madness of Nabonidus
2a. Letters in Tanach
(יז) פִּתְגָמָ֞א שְׁלַ֣ח מַלְכָּ֗א עַל־רְח֤וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵם֙ וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥י יָתְבִ֖ין בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁלָ֖ם וּכְעֶֽת׃ {פ} (יח) נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א דִּ֥י שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן עֲלֶ֑ינָא מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י קׇדָמָֽי׃
(17) The king [Artaxerxes] sent back the following message: “To Rehum the commissioner and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues, who dwell in Samaria and in the rest of the province of Beyond the River, greetings. Now (18) the letter that you wrote me has been read to me in translation [NJPS Note: I.e., from Aramaic to Persian.].
(ז) פִּתְגָמָ֖א שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֑וֹהִי וְכִדְנָה֙ כְּתִ֣יב בְּגַוֵּ֔הּ לְדָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א שְׁלָמָ֥א כֹֽלָּא׃ {ס}
(7) They sent a message to him and this is what was written in it: “To King Darius, greetings, and so forth.
(כו) המלך דימיטריוס לעם יהודה שלום.
(26) King Demetrius unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
(יב) וַיִּקָּרְאוּ֩ סֹפְרֵ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֣ר יוֹם֮ בּוֹ֒ וַיִּכָּתֵ֣ב כְּֽכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה הָמָ֡ן אֶ֣ל אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵֽי־הַ֠מֶּ֠לֶךְ וְֽאֶל־הַפַּח֞וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ עַל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה וְאֶל־שָׂ֤רֵי עַם֙ וָעָ֔ם מְדִינָ֤ה וּמְדִינָה֙ כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ וְעַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ בְּשֵׁ֨ם הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙ נִכְתָּ֔ב וְנֶחְתָּ֖ם בְּטַבַּ֥עַת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
(12) On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s scribes were summoned and a decree was issued, as Haman directed, to the king’s satraps, to the governors of every province, and to the officials of every people, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language. The orders were issued in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet.
(לא) נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א לְֽכׇל־עַֽמְמַיָּ֞א אֻמַּיָּ֧א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛א דִּֽי־[דָיְרִ֥ין] (דארין) בְּכׇל־אַרְעָ֖א שְׁלָמְכ֥וֹן יִשְׂגֵּֽא׃
(31) “King Nebuchadnezzar to all people and nations of every language that inhabit the whole earth: May your well-being abound!
2b. Nebuchadnezzar and Nabonidus
Nebuchadnezzar II ... Nabû-kudurri-uṣur,[6][7][c]meaning "Nabu, watch over my heir"; Biblical Hebrew: נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר ... was the second king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ruling from the death of his father Nabopolassar in 605 BC to his own death in 562 BC. Historically known as Nebuchadnezzar the Great, he is typically regarded as the empire's greatest king.[8][11][12] Nebuchadnezzar remains famous for his military campaigns in the Levant, for his construction projects in his capital, Babylon, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and for the role he plays in Jewish history. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II
Hanging Gardens - This copy of a bas relief from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal (669–631 BC) at Nineveh shows a luxurious garden watered by an aqueduct. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=468990
Nabonidus (... Nabû-naʾid, meaning "May Nabu be exalted" or "Nabu is praised") was the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ruling from 556 BC to the fall of Babylon to the Achaemenian Empire under Cyrus the Great in 539 BC.
- Nabonidus was the last native ruler of ancient Mesopotamia, the end of his reign marking the end of thousands of years of Sumero-Akkadian states, kingdoms and empires. He was also the last independent king of Babylon.
- Regarded as one of the most vibrant and individualistic rulers of his time, Nabonidus is characterised by some scholars as an unorthodox religious reformer and as the first archaeologist. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabonidus
- Stayed at Tayma (Teima), northern Arabia, 552-543 BCE.
- 'his son and heir Belshazzar was put in charge of ruling in Babylon as regent. It is possible that the prolonged stay in Tayma was the result of a political struggle with a faction, possibly led by his own son Belshazzar, opposing Nabonidus's reformist religious stance, and an agreement was reached to go into self-imposed exile while Belshazzar ruled as regent in Babylon. In his own inscriptions, Nabonidus attributes his stay at Tayma [=Teima] to the "impiety of the Babylonians".' - Wikipedia, "Nabonidus"
- a devotee of the moon god Sîn.
The Harran Stela, depicting Nabonidus as praying to the moon (i.e. Sîn), the sun and Venus
By Jona lendering (Own work), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2629946
2c. The Story of the Madness of Nabonidus
"After the fall of Babylon, a legend of Nabonidus having been mad, on account of his religious policies, gradually formed, which would eventually find its way into Hellenistic and Jewish tradition." - Wikipedia, "Nabonidus"
3. Questions to Consider for Chapter 4
- Who is Nebuchadnezzar addressing in this chapter?
- Contrast Nebuchadnezzar's search for a(nother) dream interpretation to his manner in Chapter 2 (the dream of the image).
- Who are the speakers in this chapter? Who or what is spoken about?
4. Our Text: Daniel 3:31 - 4:34
(לא) נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א לְֽכׇל־עַֽמְמַיָּ֞א אֻמַּיָּ֧א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛א דִּֽי־[דָיְרִ֥ין] (דארין) בְּכׇל־אַרְעָ֖א שְׁלָמְכ֥וֹן יִשְׂגֵּֽא׃ (לב) אָֽתַיָּא֙ וְתִמְהַיָּ֔א דִּ֚י עֲבַ֣ד עִמִּ֔י אֱלָהָ֖א (עליא) [עִלָּאָ֑ה] שְׁפַ֥ר קׇֽדָמַ֖י לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃ (לג) אָת֙וֹהִי֙ כְּמָ֣ה רַבְרְבִ֔ין וְתִמְה֖וֹהִי כְּמָ֣ה תַקִּיפִ֑ין מַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ מַלְכ֣וּת עָלַ֔ם וְשׇׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ עִם־דָּ֥ר וְדָֽר׃
The opening of Nebuchadnezzar's letter
(31) “King Nebuchadnezzar to all people and nations of every language that inhabit the whole earth: May your well-being abound! (32) The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to relate. (33) How great are His signs; how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion endures throughout the generations.”
(א) אֲנָ֣ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר שְׁלֵ֤ה הֲוֵית֙ בְּבֵיתִ֔י וְרַעְנַ֖ן בְּהֵיכְלִֽי׃ (ב) חֵ֥לֶם חֲזֵ֖ית וִֽידַחֲלִנַּ֑נִי וְהַרְהֹרִין֙ עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבִ֔י וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י יְבַהֲלֻנַּֽנִי׃ (ג) וּמִנִּי֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְהַנְעָלָ֣ה קׇֽדָמַ֔י לְכֹ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֑ל דִּֽי־פְשַׁ֥ר חֶלְמָ֖א יְהֽוֹדְעֻנַּֽנִי׃ (ד) בֵּאדַ֣יִן (עללין) [עׇלִּ֗ין] חַרְטֻמַּיָּא֙ אָֽשְׁפַיָּ֔א (כשדיא) [כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י] וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א וְחֶלְמָ֗א אָמַ֤ר אֲנָה֙ קֳדָ֣מֵיה֔וֹן וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ לָא־מְהוֹדְעִ֥ין לִֽי׃ (ה) וְעַ֣ד אׇחֳרֵ֡ין עַל֩ קׇֽדָמַ֨י דָּנִיֵּ֜אל דִּֽי־שְׁמֵ֤הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ כְּשֻׁ֣ם אֱלָקִ֔י וְדִ֛י רֽוּחַ־אֱלָקִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בֵּ֑הּ וְחֶלְמָ֖א קׇֽדָמ֥וֹהִי אַמְרֵֽת׃ (ו) בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֮ רַ֣ב חַרְטֻמַּיָּא֒ דִּ֣י ׀ אֲנָ֣ה יִדְעֵ֗ת דִּ֠י ר֣וּחַ אֱלָקִ֤ין קַדִּישִׁין֙ בָּ֔ךְ וְכׇל־רָ֖ז לָא־אָנֵ֣ס לָ֑ךְ חֶזְוֵ֨י חֶלְמִ֧י דִֽי־חֲזֵ֛ית וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ אֱמַֽר׃
The body of Nebuchadnezzar's letter begins
(1) I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living serenely in my house, flourishing in my palace. (2) I had a dream that frightened me, and my thoughts in bed and the vision of my mind alarmed me. (3) I gave an order to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me to let me know the meaning of the dream. (4) The magicians, exorcists, Chaldeans, and diviners came, and I related the dream to them, but they could not make its meaning known to me. (5) Finally, Daniel, called Belteshazzar [=balatsu-usur/"Guard his life!"] after the name of my god, in whom the spirit of the holy gods was, came to me, and I related the dream to him, [saying], (6) “Belteshazzar, chief magician, in whom I know the spirit of the holy gods to be, and whom no mystery baffles, tell me the meaning of my dream vision that I have seen.
Informal upright style of bonsai on a juniper tree
By Ragesoss - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2555317
(ז) וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית וַאֲל֥וּ אִילָ֛ן בְּג֥וֹא אַרְעָ֖א וְרוּמֵ֥הּ שַׂגִּֽיא׃ (ח) רְבָ֥ה אִֽילָנָ֖א וּתְקִ֑ף וְרוּמֵהּ֙ יִמְטֵ֣א לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ לְס֥וֹף כׇּל־אַרְעָֽא׃ (ט) עׇפְיֵ֤הּ שַׁפִּיר֙ וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ שַׂגִּ֔יא וּמָז֨וֹן לְכֹ֖לָּא־בֵ֑הּ תְּחֹת֜וֹהִי תַּטְלֵ֣ל ׀ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֗א וּבְעַנְפ֙וֹהִי֙ (ידרון) [יְדוּרָן֙] צִפְּרֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א וּמִנֵּ֖הּ יִתְּזִ֥ין כׇּל־בִּשְׂרָֽא׃ (י) חָזֵ֥ה הֲוֵ֛ית בְּחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י וַאֲלוּ֙ עִ֣יר וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ מִן־שְׁמַיָּ֖א נָחִֽת׃ (יא) קָרֵ֨א בְחַ֜יִל וְכֵ֣ן אָמַ֗ר גֹּ֤דּוּ אִֽילָנָא֙ וְקַצִּ֣צוּ עַנְפ֔וֹהִי אַתַּ֥רוּ עׇפְיֵ֖הּ וּבַדַּ֣רוּ אִנְבֵּ֑הּ תְּנֻ֤ד חֵֽיוְתָא֙ מִן־תַּחְתּ֔וֹהִי וְצִפְּרַיָּ֖א מִן־עַנְפֽוֹהִי׃ (יב) בְּרַ֨ם עִקַּ֤ר שׇׁרְשׁ֙וֹהִי֙ בְּאַרְעָ֣א שְׁבֻ֔קוּ וּבֶֽאֱסוּר֙ דִּֽי־פַרְזֶ֣ל וּנְחָ֔שׁ בְּדִתְאָ֖א דִּ֣י בָרָ֑א וּבְטַ֤ל שְׁמַיָּא֙ יִצְטַבַּ֔ע וְעִם־חֵיוְתָ֥א חֲלָקֵ֖הּ בַּעֲשַׂ֥ב אַרְעָֽא׃ (יג) לִבְבֵהּ֙ מִן־[אֲנָשָׁ֣א] (אנושא) יְשַׁנּ֔וֹן וּלְבַ֥ב חֵיוָ֖ה יִתְיְהִ֣ב לֵ֑הּ וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֥וּן עֲלֽוֹהִי׃ (יד) בִּגְזֵרַ֤ת עִירִין֙ פִּתְגָמָ֔א וּמֵאמַ֥ר קַדִּישִׁ֖ין שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑א עַד־דִּבְרַ֡ת דִּ֣י יִנְדְּע֣וּן חַ֠יַּיָּ֠א דִּֽי־שַׁלִּ֨יט (עליא) [עִלָּאָ֜ה] בְּמַלְכ֣וּת (אנושא) [אֲנָשָׁ֗א] וּלְמַן־דִּ֤י יִצְבֵּא֙ יִתְּנִנַּ֔הּ וּשְׁפַ֥ל אֲנָשִׁ֖ים יְקִ֥ים (עליה) [עֲלַֽהּ]׃
The king describes his second dream
(7) In the visions of my mind in bed
I saw a tree of great height in the midst of the earth; (8) The tree grew and became mighty;
Its top reached heaven,
And it was visible to the ends of the earth. (9) Its foliage was beautiful
And its fruit abundant;
There was food for all in it.
Beneath it the beasts of the field found shade,
And the birds of the sky dwelt on its branches;
All creatures fed on it. (10) In the vision of my mind in bed, I looked and saw a holy Watcher coming down from heaven. (11) He called loudly and said:
‘Hew down the tree, lop off its branches,
Strip off its foliage, scatter its fruit.
Let the beasts of the field flee from beneath it
And the birds from its branches, (12) But leave the stump with its roots in the ground.
In fetters of iron and bronze
In the grass of the field,
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
And share earth’s verdure with the beasts. (13) Let his mind be altered from that of a man,
And let him be given the mind of a beast,
And let seven seasons pass over him. (14) This sentence is decreed by the Watchers;
This verdict is commanded by the Holy Ones
So that all creatures may know
That the Most High is sovereign over the realm of man,
And He gives it to whom He wishes
And He may set over it even the lowest of men.’
(טו) דְּנָה֙ חֶלְמָ֣א חֲזֵ֔ית אֲנָ֖ה מַלְכָּ֣א נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֑ר (ואנתה) [וְאַ֨נְתְּ] בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֜ר פִּשְׁרֵ֣א ׀ אֱמַ֗ר כׇּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּ֣י ׀ כׇּל־חַכִּימֵ֣י מַלְכוּתִ֗י לָֽא־יָכְלִ֤ין פִּשְׁרָא֙ לְהוֹדָ֣עוּתַ֔נִי (ואנתה) [וְאַ֣נְתְּ] כָּהֵ֔ל דִּ֛י רֽוּחַ־אֱלָקִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בָּֽךְ׃ (טז) אֱדַ֨יִן דָּֽנִיֵּ֜אל דִּֽי־שְׁמֵ֣הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר אֶשְׁתּוֹמַם֙ כְּשָׁעָ֣ה חֲדָ֔ה וְרַעְיֹנֹ֖הִי יְבַהֲלֻנֵּ֑הּ עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֗ר בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ חֶלְמָ֤א וּפִשְׁרֵא֙ אַֽל־יְבַהֲלָ֔ךְ עָנֵ֤ה בֵלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ וְאָמַ֔ר מָרִ֕אי חֶלְמָ֥א (לשנאיך) [לְשָֽׂנְאָ֖ךְ] וּפִשְׁרֵ֥הּ (לעריך) [לְעָרָֽךְ]׃
(יז) אִֽילָנָא֙ דִּ֣י חֲזַ֔יְתָ דִּ֥י רְבָ֖ה וּתְקִ֑ף וְרוּמֵהּ֙ יִמְטֵ֣א לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ לְכׇל־אַרְעָֽא׃ (יח) וְעׇפְיֵ֤הּ שַׁפִּיר֙ וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ שַׂגִּ֔יא וּמָז֨וֹן לְכֹ֖לָּא־בֵ֑הּ תְּחֹת֗וֹהִי תְּדוּר֙ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֔א וּבְעַנְפ֕וֹהִי יִשְׁכְּנָ֖ן צִפְּרֵ֥י שְׁמַיָּֽא׃ (יט) (אנתה) [אַנְתְּ־]ה֣וּא מַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֥י (רבית) [רְבַ֖ת] וּתְקֵ֑פְתְּ וּרְבוּתָ֤ךְ רְבָת֙ וּמְטָ֣ת לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וְשׇׁלְטָנָ֖ךְ לְס֥וֹף אַרְעָֽא׃ (כ) וְדִ֣י חֲזָ֣ה מַלְכָּ֡א עִ֣יר וְקַדִּ֣ישׁ נָחִ֣ת ׀ מִן־שְׁמַיָּ֡א וְאָמַר֩ גֹּ֨דּוּ אִֽילָנָ֜א וְחַבְּל֗וּהִי בְּרַ֨ם עִקַּ֤ר שׇׁרְשׁ֙וֹהִי֙ בְּאַרְעָ֣א שְׁבֻ֔קוּ וּבֶאֱסוּר֙ דִּֽי־פַרְזֶ֣ל וּנְחָ֔שׁ בְּדִתְאָ֖א דִּ֣י בָרָ֑א וּבְטַ֧ל שְׁמַיָּ֣א יִצְטַבַּ֗ע וְעִם־חֵיוַ֤ת בָּרָא֙ חֲלָקֵ֔הּ עַ֛ד דִּֽי־שִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֥וּן עֲלֽוֹהִי׃
Daniel begins interpreting the second dream
(15) “I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had this dream; now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make its meaning known to me, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” (16) Then Daniel, called Belteshazzar, was perplexed for a while, and alarmed by his thoughts. The king addressed him, “Let the dream and its meaning not alarm you.” Belteshazzar replied, “My lord, would that the dream were for your enemy and its meaning for your foe!
(17) The tree that you saw grow and become mighty, whose top reached heaven, which was visible throughout the earth, (18) whose foliage was beautiful, whose fruit was so abundant that there was food for all in it, beneath which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the sky lodged— (19) it is you, O king, you who have grown and become mighty, whose greatness has grown to reach heaven, and whose dominion is to the end of the earth. (20) The holy Watcher whom the king saw descend from heaven and say,
Hew down the tree and destroy it,
But leave the stump with its roots in the ground.
In fetters of iron and bronze
In the grass of the field,
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
And share the lot of the beasts of the field
Until seven seasons pass over him—
(כא) דְּנָ֥ה פִשְׁרָ֖א מַלְכָּ֑א וּגְזֵרַ֤ת (עליא) [עִלָּאָה֙] הִ֔יא דִּ֥י מְטָ֖ת עַל־מָרִ֥אי מַלְכָּֽא׃ (כב) וְלָ֣ךְ טָֽרְדִ֣ין מִן־אֲנָשָׁ֡א וְעִם־חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָא֩ לֶהֱוֵ֨ה מְדֹרָ֜ךְ וְעִשְׂבָּ֥א כְתוֹרִ֣ין ׀ לָ֣ךְ יְטַֽעֲמ֗וּן וּמִטַּ֤ל שְׁמַיָּא֙ לָ֣ךְ מְצַבְּעִ֔ין וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֣וּן (עליך) [עֲלָ֑ךְ] עַ֣ד דִּֽי־תִנְדַּ֗ע דִּֽי־שַׁלִּ֤יט (עליא) [עִלָּאָה֙] בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א וּלְמַן־דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖א יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃ (כג) וְדִ֣י אֲמַ֗רוּ לְמִשְׁבַּ֞ק עִקַּ֤ר שׇׁרְשׁ֙וֹהִי֙ דִּ֣י אִֽילָנָ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֖ךְ לָ֣ךְ קַיָּמָ֑א מִן־דִּ֣י תִנְדַּ֔ע דִּ֥י שַׁלִּטִ֖ן שְׁמַיָּֽא׃ (כד) לָהֵ֣ן מַלְכָּ֗א מִלְכִּי֙ יִשְׁפַּ֣ר (עליך) [עֲלָ֔ךְ] (וחטיך) [וַחֲטָאָךְ֙] בְּצִדְקָ֣ה פְרֻ֔ק וַעֲוָיָתָ֖ךְ בְּמִחַ֣ן עֲנָ֑יִן הֵ֛ן תֶּהֱוֵ֥ה אַרְכָ֖ה לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ׃
Daniel completes his interpretation
(21) this is its meaning, O king; it is the decree of the Most High which has overtaken my lord the king. (22) You will be driven away from men and have your habitation with the beasts of the field. You will be fed grass like cattle, and be drenched with the dew of heaven; seven seasons will pass over you until you come to know that the Most High is sovereign over the realm of man, and He gives it to whom He wishes. (23) And the meaning of the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots is that the kingdom will remain yours from the time you come to know that Heaven is sovereign. (24) Therefore, O king, may my advice be acceptable to you: Redeem your sins by beneficence and your iniquities by generosity to the poor; then your serenity may be extended.”
(כה) כֹּ֣לָּא מְּטָ֔א עַל־נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר מַלְכָּֽא׃ {פ} (כו) לִקְצָ֥ת יַרְחִ֖ין תְּרֵֽי־עֲשַׂ֑ר עַל־הֵיכַ֧ל מַלְכוּתָ֛א דִּ֥י בָבֶ֖ל מְהַלֵּ֥ךְ הֲוָֽה׃ (כז) עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֔ר הֲלָ֥א דָא־הִ֖יא בָּבֶ֣ל רַבְּתָ֑א דִּֽי־אֲנָ֤ה בֱנַיְתַהּ֙ לְבֵ֣ית מַלְכ֔וּ בִּתְקָ֥ף חִסְנִ֖י וְלִיקָ֥ר הַדְרִֽי׃ (כח) ע֗וֹד מִלְּתָא֙ בְּפֻ֣ם מַלְכָּ֔א קָ֖ל מִן־שְׁמַיָּ֣א נְפַ֑ל לָ֤ךְ אָֽמְרִין֙ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֖א עֲדָ֥ת מִנָּֽךְ׃ (כט) וּמִן־אֲנָשָׁא֩ לָ֨ךְ טָֽרְדִ֜ין וְֽעִם־חֵיוַ֧ת בָּרָ֣א מְדֹרָ֗ךְ עִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתוֹרִין֙ לָ֣ךְ יְטַעֲמ֔וּן וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֣וּן (עליך) [עֲלָ֑ךְ] עַ֣ד דִּֽי־תִנְדַּ֗ע דִּֽי־שַׁלִּ֤יט (עליא) [עִלָּאָה֙] בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א וּלְמַן־דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖א יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃ (ל) בַּהּ־שַׁעֲתָ֗א מִלְּתָא֮ סָ֣פַת עַל־נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר֒ וּמִן־אֲנָשָׁ֣א טְרִ֔יד וְעִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתוֹרִין֙ יֵאכֻ֔ל וּמִטַּ֥ל שְׁמַיָּ֖א גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ יִצְטַבַּ֑ע עַ֣ד דִּ֥י שַׂעְרֵ֛הּ כְּנִשְׁרִ֥ין רְבָ֖ה וְטִפְר֥וֹהִי כְצִפְּרִֽין׃
The dream is fulfilled
(25) All this befell King Nebuchadnezzar. (26) Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace at Babylon, (27) the king exclaimed, “There is great Babylon, which I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence for the glory of my majesty!” (28) The words were still on the king’s lips, when a voice fell from heaven, “It has been decreed for you, O King Nebuchadnezzar: The kingdom has passed out of your hands. (29) You are being driven away from men, and your habitation is to be with the beasts of the field. You are to be fed grass like cattle, and seven seasons will pass over you until you come to know that the Most High is sovereign over the realm of man and He gives it to whom He wishes.” (30) There and then the sentence was carried out upon Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from men, he ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like eagle’s [feathers] and his nails like [the talons of] birds.
(לא) וְלִקְצָ֣ת יֽוֹמַיָּא֩ אֲנָ֨ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֜ר עַיְנַ֣י ׀ לִשְׁמַיָּ֣א נִטְלֵ֗ת וּמַנְדְּעִי֙ עֲלַ֣י יְת֔וּב (ולעליא) [וּלְעִלָּאָה֙] בָּרְכֵ֔ת וּלְחַ֥י עָלְמָ֖א שַׁבְּחֵ֣ת וְהַדְּרֵ֑ת דִּ֤י שׇׁלְטָנֵהּ֙ שׇׁלְטָ֣ן עָלַ֔ם וּמַלְכוּתֵ֖הּ עִם־דָּ֥ר וְדָֽר׃ (לב) וְכׇל־[דָּיְרֵ֤י] (דארי) אַרְעָא֙ כְּלָ֣ה חֲשִׁיבִ֔ין וּֽכְמִצְבְּיֵ֗הּ עָבֵד֙ בְּחֵ֣יל שְׁמַיָּ֔א (ודארי) [וְדָיְרֵ֖י] אַרְעָ֑א וְלָ֤א אִיתַי֙ דִּֽי־יְמַחֵ֣א בִידֵ֔הּ וְיֵ֥אמַר לֵ֖הּ מָ֥ה עֲבַֽדְתְּ׃
(לג) בֵּהּ־זִמְנָ֞א מַנְדְּעִ֣י ׀ יְת֣וּב עֲלַ֗י וְלִיקַ֨ר מַלְכוּתִ֜י הַדְרִ֤י וְזִיוִי֙ יְת֣וּב עֲלַ֔י וְלִ֕י הַדָּֽבְרַ֥י וְרַבְרְבָנַ֖י יְבַע֑וֹן וְעַל־מַלְכוּתִ֣י הׇתְקְנַ֔ת וּרְב֥וּ יַתִּירָ֖ה ה֥וּסְפַת לִֽי׃ (לד) כְּעַ֞ן אֲנָ֣ה נְבֻכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר מְשַׁבַּ֨ח וּמְרוֹמֵ֤ם וּמְהַדַּר֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ שְׁמַיָּ֔א דִּ֤י כׇל־מַעֲבָד֙וֹהִי֙ קְשֹׁ֔ט וְאֹרְחָתֵ֖הּ דִּ֑ין וְדִי֙ מַהְלְכִ֣ין בְּגֵוָ֔ה יָכִ֖ל לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃ {פ}
The king regains his sanity and reflects on what has happened to him.
(31) “When the time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason was restored to me. I blessed the Most High, and praised and glorified the Ever-Living One,
Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion
And whose kingdom endures throughout the generations. (32) All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account.
He does as He wishes with the host of heaven,
And with the inhabitants of the earth.
There is none to stay His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
(33) There and then my reason was restored to me, and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My companions and nobles sought me out, and I was reestablished over my kingdom, and added greatness was given me. (34) So now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of Heaven, all of whose works are just and whose ways are right, and who is able to humble those who behave arrogantly.”
5. Discussion and Commentaries
The World Tree - Nebuchadnezzar - Pharaoh - King David
(7) In the visions of my mind in bed
I saw a tree of great height in the midst of the earth; (8) The tree grew and became mighty;
Its top reached heaven,
And it was visible to the ends of the earth. (9) Its foliage was beautiful
And its fruit abundant;
There was food for all in it.
Beneath it the beasts of the field found shade,
And the birds of the sky dwelt on its branches;
All creatures fed on it.
(א) וַיְהִ֗י בְּאַחַ֤ת עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־ה׳ אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ב) בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם אֱמֹ֛ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֥ה מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְאֶל־הֲמוֹנ֑וֹ אֶל־מִ֖י דָּמִ֥יתָ בְגׇדְלֶֽךָ׃ (ג) הִנֵּ֨ה אַשּׁ֜וּר אֶ֣רֶז בַּלְּבָנ֗וֹן יְפֵ֥ה עָנָ֛ף וְחֹ֥רֶשׁ מֵצַ֖ל וּגְבַ֣הּ קוֹמָ֑ה וּבֵ֣ין עֲבֹתִ֔ים הָיְתָ֖ה צַמַּרְתּֽוֹ׃ (ד) מַ֣יִם גִּדְּל֔וּהוּ תְּה֖וֹם רֹמְמָ֑תְהוּ אֶת־נַהֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ הֹלֵךְ֙ סְבִיב֣וֹת מַטָּעָ֔הּ וְאֶת־תְּעָלֹתֶ֣יהָ שִׁלְחָ֔ה אֶ֖ל כׇּל־עֲצֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (ה) עַל־כֵּן֙ גָּבְהָ֣א קֹמָת֔וֹ מִכֹּ֖ל עֲצֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַתִּרְבֶּ֨ינָה סַֽרְעַפֹּתָ֜יו וַתֶּאֱרַ֧כְנָה פֹארֹתָ֛ו מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּ֖ים בְּשַׁלְּחֽוֹ׃ (ו) בִּסְעַפֹּתָ֤יו קִֽנְנוּ֙ כׇּל־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְתַ֤חַת פֹּֽארֹתָיו֙ יָֽלְד֔וּ כֹּ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּבְצִלּוֹ֙ יֵֽשְׁב֔וּ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיִ֥ם רַבִּֽים׃ (ז) וַיְּיִ֣ף בְּגׇדְל֔וֹ בְּאֹ֖רֶךְ דָּלִיּוֹתָ֑יו כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה שׇׁרְשׁ֖וֹ אֶל־מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃ (ח) אֲרָזִ֣ים לֹֽא־עֲמָמֻ֘הוּ֮ בְּגַן־אֱלֹקִים֒ בְּרוֹשִׁ֗ים לֹ֤א דָמוּ֙ אֶל־סְעַפֹּתָ֔יו וְעַרְמֹנִ֥ים לֹא־הָי֖וּ כְּפֹרֹאתָ֑יו כׇּל־עֵץ֙ בְּגַן־אֱלֹקִ֔ים לֹא־דָמָ֥ה אֵלָ֖יו בְּיׇפְיֽוֹ׃ (ט) יָפֶ֣ה עֲשִׂיתִ֔יו בְּרֹ֖ב דָּלִיּוֹתָ֑יו וַיְקַנְאֻ֙הוּ֙ כׇּל־עֲצֵי־עֵ֔דֶן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּגַ֥ן הָאֱלֹקִֽים׃ {פ}
(י) לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אדושם ה׳ יַ֕עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּבַ֖הְתָּ בְּקוֹמָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֤ן צַמַּרְתּוֹ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ין עֲבוֹתִ֔ים וְרָ֥ם לְבָב֖וֹ בְּגׇבְהֽוֹ׃ (יא) וְאֶ֨תְּנֵ֔הוּ בְּיַ֖ד אֵ֣יל גּוֹיִ֑ם עָשׂ֤וֹ יַֽעֲשֶׂה֙ ל֔וֹ כְּרִשְׁע֖וֹ גֵּרַשְׁתִּֽהוּ׃ (יב) וַיִּכְרְתֻ֧הוּ זָרִ֛ים עָרִיצֵ֥י גוֹיִ֖ם וַֽיִּטְּשֻׁ֑הוּ אֶל־הֶ֠הָרִ֠ים וּבְכׇל־גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹת נָפְל֣וּ דָלִיּוֹתָ֗יו וַתִּשָּׁבַ֤רְנָה פֹֽרֹאתָיו֙ בְּכֹל֙ אֲפִיקֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֵּרְד֧וּ מִצִּלּ֛וֹ כׇּל־עַמֵּ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ וַֽיִּטְּשֻֽׁהוּ׃
(1) In the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month, the word of GOD came to me: (2) O mortal, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his hordes:
Who was comparable to you in greatness? (3) Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon
With beautiful branches and shady thickets,
Of lofty stature,
With its top among leafy trees [Septuagint: clouds]. (4) Waters nourished it,
The deep made it grow tall,
Washing with its streams
The place where it was planted,
Making its channels well up
To all the trees of the field. (5) Therefore it exceeded in stature
All the trees of the field;
Its branches multiplied and its boughs grew long
Because of the abundant water
That welled up for it. (6) In its branches nested
All the birds of the sky;
All the beasts of the field
Bore their young under its boughs,
And in its shadow lived
All the great nations. (7) It was beautiful in its height,
In the length of its branches,
Because its stock stood
By abundant waters. (8) Cedars in the garden of God
Could not compare with it;
Cypresses could not match its boughs,
And plane trees could not vie with its branches;
No tree in the garden of God
Was its peer in beauty. (9) I made it beautiful
In the profusion of its branches;
And all the trees of Eden envied it
In the garden of God.
(10) Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because it towered high in stature, and thrust its top up among the leafy trees, and it was arrogant in its height, (11) I delivered it into the hands of the mightiest of nations. They treated it as befitted its wickedness. I banished it. (12) Strangers, the most ruthless of nations, cut it down and abandoned it; its branches fell on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs were splintered in every watercourse of the earth; and all the peoples of the earth departed from its shade and abandoned it.
(13) “But while a tenth part yet remains in it, it shall repent. It shall be ravaged like the terebinth and the oak, of which stumps are left even when they are felled: its stump shall be a holy seed.”
(1) But a shoot shall grow out of the stump of Jesse,
A twig shall sprout from his stock.
Angels/Host of Heaven in Daniel 4
(10) In the vision of my mind in bed, I looked and saw a holy Watcher coming down from heaven.
(14) This sentence is decreed by the Watchers; / This verdict is commanded by the Holy Ones...
(32)....He does as He wishes with the host of heaven, / And with the inhabitants of the earth.
Zechariah 4:10. Does anyone scorn a day of small beginnings? When they see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, they shall rejoice. / “Those seven are the eyes of GOD, ranging over the whole earth.”
Louis F. Hartman, Anchor Bible: Daniel
[In verses 10 and following,] The angelic sentinel addresses his companions - Comment to 4:11
(19) But [Micaiah] said, “I call upon you to hear the word of GOD! I saw GOD seated upon a throne, with all the host of heaven standing in attendance to the right and to the left. (20) GOD asked, ‘Who will entice Ahab so that he will march and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ Then one said thus and another said thus, (21) until a certain spirit came forward and stood before GOD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘...
The Madness of King Who?
Elias Bickerman
‘Daniel 4 has preserved a Babylonian propaganda tale against Nabonidus…’ (last king of Babylonia) - Four Strange Books of the Bible, p. 74.
‘In Jewish tradition the mad king of the Babylonian legend became identified with Nebuchadnezzar; the conqueror of Jerusalem, who burned the Temple, was a prototype of arrogance.’ Ibid., p. 77.
In the eyes of the artist: William Blake
Daniel 4:30 There and then the sentence was carried out upon Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from men, he ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like eagle’s [feathers] and his nails like [the talons of] birds.
Nebuchadnezzar (1795) by William Blake (1757-1827) - 1. Blake Archive (Originally uploaded to en:Wikipedia (log) November 2008 by Ceoil (talk) and April 2009 by Petropoxy (Lithoderm Proxy) (talk).). 2. Tate Britain, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7736503
Ancient Texts about Nabonidus
Nabonidus Chronicle
"According to this document,Nabonidus stayed, in several years of his realm and for many months at a time, in Tema, an oasis town in Arabia, and he thus failed to carry out his religious functions in the New Year festivals at Babylon." - Louis F. Hartman, Anchor Bible: Daniel, p. 178
The Verse Account of Nabonidus
"Nabonidus and the Clergy of Babylon," ed. Sidney Smith, in Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, p. 315, col. 2
"This document, which is a biased account written by the priests of Babylon to justify the action of the gods in handing over Nabonidus' realm to the Persian King Cyrus, so vilifies the Babylonian king and accuses him of such ignorance and blasphemy that popular opinion could easily have regarded Nabonidus as a 'mad king'" -Louis F. Hartman, Anchor Bible: Daniel, p. 178
(Yet) he (continues to) mix up the rites, he confuses the (hepatoscopic) oracles [ ... ].
To the most important ritual observances he makes (lit.: orders) an end;
As to the (sacred) representations in Esagila-representations which Ea-Mummu (himself) had fashioned—
He looks at the representations and utters blasphemies,
When he saw the u, s a r-symbol of Esagila he makes a ... gesture
He assembled the (priestly) scholars, he expounded to them (as follows) :
"Is not this the sign (of ownership indicating) for whom the temple was built?
If it belong (really) to Bel, it would have been marked with the spade,
(Therefore) Sin (himself) has marked (already) his (own) temple with his U4.sar -symbol!"
The Prayer of Nabonidus
From Cave 4 at Qumran (4Q242). Written in the second half of the first century BCE; probably a copy of an older document
Quoted from Anchor Bible: Daniel, pp. 178-179
"The words of the prayer that Nabonidus, the king of A[ssyria and Ba]bylon, the [great] king, prayed [when he was smitten] with a bad inflammation by the decree of the [Most High God] in [the city of] Tema. ["With a bad inflammation] I was smitten for seven years and from (men] I was put away. But when I confessed my sins and my faults, He (God) allowed me (to have) a soothsayer. This was a Jewish [man of the exiles in Babylon. He] explained (it) and wrote (me) to render honor and g[reat glor]y to the name of the [Most High God. Thus he wrote: "When] you were smitten with a bad] inflammation in [the city of] Tema [by the decree of the Most High God] for seven years, [you we]re praying to gods of silver and gold, [of bronze,] iron, wood, stone, (and) clay ... that th[ese] gods..." ' "
Why is Nebuchadnezzar the mad king in Daniel 4?
(22) You will be driven away from men and have your habitation with the beasts of the field. You will be fed grass like cattle, and be drenched with the dew of heaven; seven seasons will pass over you until you come to know that the Most High is sovereign over the realm of man, and He gives it to whom He wishes.
Elias Bickerman
‘In Jewish tradition the mad king of the Babylonian legend became identified with Nebuchadnezzar; the conqueror of Jerusalem, who burned the Temple, was a prototype of arrogance.’ Four Stranges Books of the Bible, p. 77
6. Summary and Next Class
"The king first acknowledges God's sovereignty and greatness and prospers, then asserts his own sovereignty and greatness and is brought low as predicted, only to accept God's sovereignty again and have his own greatness restored by God." - Pamela J. Milne, revised by John J. Collins, Harper Collins Study Bible, Daniel, introductory comment to chapter 4.
Next Class: The Writing on the Wall (Chapter 5)