Daniel 4 - Nebuchadnezzar

[Charlie744]

In the book of Daniel the only chapter not written by Daniel is chapter 4. This was entirely written by Nebuchadnezzar.

Does anyone have a theory on why this is so? 

[luigi]

Nebuchadnezzar had conquered most of the known world at the time. He was the king of kings of all the kingdoms that he conquered and ruled over, which he thought he did through his own abilities. The Lord then informed Nebuchadnezzar that the kingdoms he conquered were not through his own abilities, but allowed to be, so that God could destroy and subject all the worse wrong doing nations of the time, including Israel. So it has been throughout history, where the Lord allows the less worse doing (and more enlightened) nations to conquer and rule over the more wrong doing peoples of the world. 

[AdHoc]

On 10/31/2023 at 12:51 AM, Charlie744 said:

In the book of Daniel the only chapter not written by Daniel is chapter 4. This was entirely written by Nebuchadnezzar.

Does anyone have a theory on why this is so? 

God raised up Nebuchadnezzar to chastise Israel. In Jeremiah 27:6 God calls Nebuchadnezzar " servant". He also raised up Nebuchadnezzar to display a type of government that God would one day exercise on earth - Autocracy. He designated this reign as "gold". But man is deeply conceited. Nebuchadnezzar, no doubt provoked by his master Satan, got beyond himself and attributed his achievements to his own prowess. Thus, he must learn that it is God who gives all authority. And so, helpless to maintain his throne, Nebuchadnezzar must spend the appropriate time among the Beasts. At His recovery he admits the Truth in that telling Chapter. It was not the first time an enemy of God was inspired to tell the truth. Remember Balaam's encounter with God (Nu.22).

Our Lord did it again at His death. THREE ENEMIES testified of His innocence; (i) Judas Iscariot, (2) Pontius Pilate, and (iii) the malefactor on the cross next to Him.

A last point is that Nebuchadnezzar Typifies The Beast to come. Both rule the known world, both exercise autocracy, both are designated "Beasts". But in the end, Nebuchadnezzar admits that God is God. Not so the Beast. He claims deity unabated for himself  

[Dennis1209]

On 11/2/2023 at 8:55 AM, AdHoc said:

God raised up Nebuchadnezzar to chastise Israel. In Jeremiah 27:6 God calls Nebuchadnezzar " servant". He also raised up Nebuchadnezzar to display a type of government that God would one day exercise on earth - Autocracy. He designated this reign as "gold". But man is deeply conceited. Nebuchadnezzar, no doubt provoked by his master Satan, got beyond himself and attributed his achievements to his own prowess. Thus, he must learn that it is God who gives all authority. And so, helpless to maintain his throne, Nebuchadnezzar must spend the appropriate time among the Beasts. At His recovery he admits the Truth in that telling Chapter. It was not the first time an enemy of God was inspired to tell the truth. Remember Balaam's encounter with God (Nu.22).

Our Lord did it again at His death. THREE ENEMIES testified of His innocence; (i) Judas Iscariot, (2) Pontius Pilate, and (iii) the malefactor on the cross next to Him.

A last point is that Nebuchadnezzar Typifies The Beast to come. Both rule the known world, both exercise autocracy, both are designated "Beasts". But in the end, Nebuchadnezzar admits that God is God. Not so the Beast. He claims deity unabated for himself  

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Daniel 4:17 in itself a very interesting study.

I have wondered if we will see King Nebuchadnezzar in heaven. He admits and testifies to the truth of a superior God. The standard for Salvation has always been faith, belief, trust, and repentance.

Back then, they praised, extolled, and honored multiple gods. Did Nebuchadnezzar add another one to the top of the list?

Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

If memory serves, Abraham was a gentile and started off polytheistic. What do you think? Did ole Neb have saving faith? Was his confession counted to him as righteousness as Abraham’s?

It seems Nebuchadnezzar and King Cyrus the Great had things in common, God used them both, and others, for His timing, plan, and purposes for Israel.

[AdHoc]

19 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Daniel 4:17 in itself a very interesting study.

I have wondered if we will see King Nebuchadnezzar in heaven. He admits and testifies to the truth of a superior God. The standard for Salvation has always been faith, belief, trust, and repentance.

Back then, they praised, extolled, and honored multiple gods. Did Nebuchadnezzar add another one to the top of the list?

Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

If memory serves, Abraham was a gentile and started off polytheistic. What do you think? Did ole Neb have saving faith? Was his confession counted to him as righteousness as Abraham’s?

It seems Nebuchadnezzar and King Cyrus the Great had things in common, God used them both, and others, for His timing, plan, and purposes for Israel.

I judge that Nebuchadnezzar's report was simply the result of Daniel's capability and Daniel's subsequent testimony, and his experience first hand of the hand of God. Much like a deposed world champion boxer. He must admit his opponent greater than he. Various prophets prophesy against Babylon because they went too far in their torture of Israel and did not act with mercy. You can't do that to a seed of Abraham and get away with it. God has a Covenant to uphold - and is He good at that ...

[Dennis1209]

4 hours ago, AdHoc said:

I judge that Nebuchadnezzar's report was simply the result of Daniel's capability and Daniel's subsequent testimony, and his experience first hand of the hand of God. Much like a deposed world champion boxer. He must admit his opponent greater than he. Various prophets prophesy against Babylon because they went too far in their torture of Israel and did not act with mercy. You can't do that to a seed of Abraham and get away with it. God has a Covenant to uphold - and is He good at that ...

Interestingly, Nebuchadnezzar is the only Gentile permitted to write a chapter in the Bible. One could draw a comparison between Nebuchadnezzar persecuting the Jews and Saul persecuting the church. Both were humbled.  

[Charlie744]

1 hour ago, Dennis1209 said:

Interestingly, Nebuchadnezzar is the only Gentile permitted to write a chapter in the Bible. One could draw a comparison between Nebuchadnezzar persecuting the Jews and Saul persecuting the church. Both were humbled.  

God had identified Nebuchadnezzar as the “head of gold” in the chapter 2 metal man image. Thus, he would experience, rule and conduct his life through the 4 senses above his neck; his eyes, mind, ears and tongue. 
 

In chapter 1, he would “hear” the wisdom coming out Daniel due to his God given abilities. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar would witness the power of Daniel’s God through God’s ability to reveal his dream and the interpretations of the dream - he would show him his power of telling him what was happening in his “mind” and the power to see the future. 

In chapter 3, God would personally visit Nebuchadnezzar in the fiery furnace and Nebuchadnezzar would literally “see” Daniel’s God face to face. 
 

In all 3 attempts to establish a personal relationship with Daniel’s God through each of the first 3 of 4 senses that Nebuchadnezzar relied on each and every day, he still refused to accept Daniel’s God as his God or even attempt to get to know more about this amazing God who could do all of these things.

God had only 1 remaining sense to attempt to get Nebuchadnezzar to accept Him as God (his  God), through the tongue or his mouth. 
 

Consequently, God would insist that Nebuchadnezzar personally record or write down his own thoughts and he would be forced to declare with “his own mouth” whether God was his God or not. 
 

But for Nebuchadnezzar to succeed, God would have to change his heart and then Nebuchadnezzar would realize that Daniel’s God was his God. 
 

 

[AdHoc]

3 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Interestingly, Nebuchadnezzar is the only Gentile permitted to write a chapter in the Bible. One could draw a comparison between Nebuchadnezzar persecuting the Jews and Saul persecuting the church. Both were humbled.  

 

1 hour ago, Charlie744 said:

God had identified Nebuchadnezzar as the “head of gold” in the chapter 2 metal man image. Thus, he would experience, rule and conduct his life through the 4 senses above his neck; his eyes, mind, ears and tongue. 
 

In chapter 1, he would “hear” the wisdom coming out Daniel due to his God given abilities. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar would witness the power of Daniel’s God through God’s ability to reveal his dream and the interpretations of the dream - he would show him his power of telling him what was happening in his “mind” and the power to see the future. 

In chapter 3, God would personally visit Nebuchadnezzar in the fiery furnace and Nebuchadnezzar would literally “see” Daniel’s God face to face. 
 

In all 3 attempts to establish a personal relationship with Daniel’s God through each of the first 3 of 4 senses that Nebuchadnezzar relied on each and every day, he still refused to accept Daniel’s God as his God or even attempt to get to know more about this amazing God who could do all of these things.

God had only 1 remaining sense to attempt to get Nebuchadnezzar to accept Him as God (his  God), through the tongue or his mouth. 
 

Consequently, God would insist that Nebuchadnezzar personally record or write down his own thoughts and he would be forced to declare with “his own mouth” whether God was his God or not. 
 

But for Nebuchadnezzar to succeed, God would have to change his heart and then Nebuchadnezzar would realize that Daniel’s God was his God. 
 

 

You gentlemen show some interesting perspectives. My view is foremost that Nebuchadnezzar was a terror to God's people. He is the Gentile who destroyed God's temple and deported the nobles of Israel. He is the king who ordered his soothsayers to be killed for not knowing his dream. He is the forerunner of the Beast. He is the Head of Gold, but it must be "GIVEN" him;

37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (Da 2:37–38)

God raised up David invincible and Solomon in glory, but their kingdoms were never anything like Nebuchadnezzar's. The borders of Israel under David were extensive, but not "all the world". How sad for our God that this Gentile could be a head of gold and God's House lay in ruins. And the Beast that is to come will not demolish God's House, but sit in it as God (2nd Thess.2). By 95 AD the Churches lay in ruins. One of seven is commended. God does not seek a glorious company of men who are light and salt, but "Overcomers" - a small remnant.

But, I'm pleased to report, when our Lord Jesus comes, it is not only the Son of David, but the greater Solomon. Then, He Who should have sat between the Cherubim, will sit "on the throne of HIS glory" over the whole earth (Matt.25:31, Rom.4:13).

[luigi]

On 11/1/2023 at 10:32 AM, luigi said:

Nebuchadnezzar had conquered most of the known world at the time. He was the king of kings of all the kingdoms that he conquered and ruled over, which he thought he did through his own abilities. The Lord then informed Nebuchadnezzar that the kingdoms he conquered were not through his own abilities, but allowed to be, so that God could destroy and subject all the worse wrong doing nations of the time, including Israel. So it has been throughout history, where the Lord allows the less worse doing (and more enlightened) nations to conquer and rule over the more wrong doing peoples of the world. 

Another interesting comparison is that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon whom the Lord allowed to conquer and subject the Middle East including Israel, has its modern day counterpart described in Daniel 11, the Northern kingdom, whom the Lord shall allow to conquer and subject the Middle East in these latter days.

Edited November 5, 2023 by luigi