Studies in Daniel: A Dream Interpreted (Dan. 4:20-26).

 

Daniel interprets the King’s dream (4:20-26).

Cross-reference our prior comments on 4:10-17; most of the interpretive material has been covered in our analysis of these verses.

 

o   Daniel carefully, precisely, and impactfully recounts and repeats the full details of the King’s dream.

 

 v. 20: "The tree that you saw…” is in interpreted as “you, O king” (v. 22).

o   An important emphasis: this is a specific rebuke directed towards a specific individual. Daniel, in love, does not mute the impact of his message by couching it in broad general terms, as some sort of untargeted and non-specific denunciation of human pride (cf., Nathan’s confrontation with David, 2 Sam. 12:7: “Thou art the man!”).

 

o   Daniel as the model counselor. Despite his concern and empathy for the King, Daniel speaks the truth with great clarity and abruptness. Question: “Do we love people enough to confront them with the truth?”

 

o   In that we are called as believers within the context of our local assemblies to “bear one another's burdens” (Gal. 6:2) with regard to our struggles with sin and temptation, Daniel’s example of care, counsel, and concern is well worthy of our attention!

 

v. 21: “whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant…”  

o   Daniel recounts the King’s prosperity and dominion—for which he had failed to either credit or bring praise unto God!  

 

vv. 23-24: “an angelic watcher, a holy one…” “the decree of the Most High…”

o   A solemn reminder that the King is under the judgment of Heaven.

 

v. 25a: “and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field…”

o   The fearful sentence pronounced (cf., vv. 15-16, 23).

 

v. 25b: “and seven periods of time will pass over you…”

o   The above terminology (Aramaic, ‛iddân)—which alludes to seven indefinite periods of time—most likely refers here to seven literal years. While this is questioned by a variety of distinguished commentators (who suggest either a symbolic application, or recommend an understanding that embraces a diversity of shorter “seasons,” or time-units), there are various contextual reasons for interpreting these periods as being indicative of literal years.

 

o   In Daniel 7:25, the very same term, translated times, clearly means years.

 

o   The bizarre, profound, and grotesque physical changes to Nebuchadnezzar’s person (v. 33) seem more consistent with years (as opposed to shorter time units, like days and weeks, and perhaps even months).

 

o   Years is more agreeable to the typology suggested by a like-comparison to the seven-year reign of the deranged and irrational Antichrist Beast (Dan. 9:27).