Studies in Daniel, chapter 4: “…and behold, there was a TREE…”

6. The substance of the Dream related by the King unto Daniel (4:10-17).

 

v. 10a: “Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed…”

 

o   The King relates the disturbing dream—a portent of evil and calamity.

 

o   Whether it be through the means of the occult arts or through the natural sciences, men are ceaseless in their attempts to gain knowledge of—and mastery over—the future. However, it is in fact a great blessing that God generally conceals the future from us! Note the observation of Adam Clarke upon this point:

 

“What a mercy it is that God has hidden futurity from us! Were He to show every man the lot that is before him, the misery of the human race would be complete.”

 

v. 10b: “…and behold, there was a tree…”

 

o   Trees are often employed in the Scriptures for symbolic purposes, as seen in the illustrative fables of Judges 9:8-15 & 2 Kings 14:9, as well as in the similes of Ps. 1:3, 37:35, 52:8, 92:12 & Hosea 14:5-7, the metaphors of Matt. 7:15-20 & Rev. 11:4, and in the extended parable of Ezek. 17. The imagery of Dan. 4 clearly parallels the symbolism of Ezek. 31, in which Egyptian and Assyrian Empires are pictured as great, flourishing cedars that are ultimately cut down, due to their pride and arrogance.

 

o   The figure of the Great Tree (vv. 10-12) ideally symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar himself (v. 22), who presided over the world’s great superpower, Babylon.

 

o   Characteristics of the Tree:

 

v. 10: “…in the midst of the earth;” “…its height was great;”

v. 11: “…large;”  “…strong;” “…its height reached to the sky…”

v. 12: “Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant…”

“…all living creatures fed themselves from it.”

 

In brief, the Great Tree is emblematic of an all-powerful, serene and securely-established, universally renowned monarch who stands conspicuous at the center of the world stage, preeminent in international influence and presiding over a vast and flourishing multinational empire whose subjects enjoy peace and prosperity under his care, guidance, and protection.

 

Renald Showers (The Most High God: Commentary on the Book of Daniel):

 

“…in several of his inscriptions Nebuchadnezzar had boasted about the peaceful shelter and abundance of food that he had provided for his subjects through Babylon. Indeed, in these boasts he used language descriptive of a tree when referring to his rule through Babylon. In one inscription he said, ‘The produce of the lands, the product of the mountains, the bountiful wealth of the sea within her I received. Under her everlasting shadow I gathered all men in peace. Vast heaps of grain beyond measure I stored up within her.’ In another inscription he declared, ‘Under her everlasting shadow I gathered all men in peace. A reign of abundance, years of plenty I caused to be in my land.’”

 

Perhaps this represents a further indication that Nebuchadnezzar would have already recognized himself as the Great Tree in the eerie and disquieting dream even before Daniel related his inspired interpretation
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