Dan 4:34-37 | JFB | STEP | 34. lifted up mine eyes unto heaven-- whence the "voice" had issued ( ) at the beginning of his visitation. Sudden mental derangement often has the effect of annihilating the whole interval, so that, when reason returns, the patient remembers only the event that immediately preceded his insanity. Nebuchadnezzar's looking up towards heaven was the first symptom of his "understanding" having "returned." Before, like the beasts, his eyes had been downward to the earth. Now, like Jonah's ( , 2, 4) out of the fish's belly, they are lifted up to heaven in prayer. He turns to Him that smiteth him ( ), with the faint glimmer of reason left to him, and owns God's justice in punishing him. praised ... him-- Praise is a sure sign of a soul spiritually healed ( , ; , 18, 19). I ... honoured him-- implying that the cause of his chastisement was that he had before robbed God of His honor. everlasting dominion-- not temporary or mutable, as a human king's dominion.

‏ Daniel 4:34-37

34. lifted up mine eyes unto heaven--whence the "voice" had issued (Da 4:31) at the beginning of his visitation. Sudden mental derangement often has the effect of annihilating the whole interval, so that, when reason returns, the patient remembers only the event that immediately preceded his insanity. Nebuchadnezzar's looking up towards heaven was the first symptom of his "understanding" having "returned." Before, like the beasts, his eyes had been downward to the earth. Now, like Jonah's (Jon 2:1, 2, 4) out of the fish's belly, they are lifted up to heaven in prayer. He turns to Him that smiteth him (Is 9:13), with the faint glimmer of reason left to him, and owns God's justice in punishing him.

praised ... him--Praise is a sure sign of a soul spiritually healed (Psa 116:12, 14; Mr 5:15, 18, 19).

I ... honoured him--implying that the cause of his chastisement was that he had before robbed God of His honor.

everlasting dominion--not temporary or mutable, as a human king's dominion.

35. all ... as nothing--(Is 40:15, 17).

according to his will in ... heaven--(Psa 115:3; 135:6; Mt 6:10; Ep 1:11).

army--the heavenly hosts, angels and starry orbs (compare Is 24:21).

none ... stay his hand--literally, "strike His hand." Image from striking the hand of another, to check him in doing anything (Is 43:13; 45:9).

What doest thou--(Job 9:12; Ro 9:20).

36. An inscription in the East India Company's Museum is read as describing the period of Nebuchadnezzar's insanity [G. V. Smith]. In the so-called standard inscription read by Sir H. Rawlinson, Nebuchadnezzar relates that during four (?) years he ceased to lay out buildings, or to furnish with victims Merodach's altar, or to clear out the canals for irrigation. No other instance in the cuneiform inscriptions occurs of a king recording his own inaction.

my counsellors ... sought unto me--desired to have me, as formerly, to be their head, wearied with the anarchy which prevailed in my absence (compare Note, see on Da 4:33); the likelihood of a conspiracy of the nobles is confirmed by this verse.

majesty was added--My authority was greater than ever before (Job 42:12; Pr 22:4; "added," Mt 6:33).

37. praise ... extol ... honour--He heaps word on word, as if he cannot say enough in praise of God.

all whose works ... truth ... judgment--that is, are true and just (Re 15:3; 16:7). God has not dealt unjustly or too severely with me; whatever I have suffered, I deserved it all. It is a mark of true contrition to condemn one's self, and justify God (Psa 51:4).

those that walk in pride ... abase--exemplified in me. He condemns himself before the whole world, in order to glorify God.