The Strand Study Bible

DANIEL 4:31

DANIEL 5:6

1338

house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying , O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing 1 fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feath- ers , and his nails like birds’ claws . PF Religious Note - The religion of Buddhism began c. 500 BC when Gautama Buddha (born c. 563 BC), con- sidered the father of Buddhism, was discontented with Hinduism ( Jn 4:24b ) and began meditating as the way of enlightenment. Though he himself left no writings, his teachings were compiled and put into written form by various groups. The goal of Buddhism is the attainment of Nirvana, which is the same idea as Karma (works). Nirvana is a condition or state of mind of supposed complete peace. Buddhism, unlike Hinduism, takes reincarnation to a new level… Buddhism believes you are reincarnated until you are totally annihilated. King Nebuchadnezzar humbles himself and is saved (Note - This event took place in the 43rd year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign) Date - c. 562 BC/AM 3438 34 And at the end of the days I Ne- buchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured 2 HIM that 3 liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and 4 HIS KINGDOM is from generation to generation: P 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, 5 What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, 6 and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the KING of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judg- ment: 7 and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. READ NEXT - Daniel 4:1-3 Daniel 5 Prince Belshazzar defiles the Temple vessels (Note - This event took place in the 12th year of Prince Belshazzar’s co-reign with Nabonidus, his father) Date - 539 BC/AM 3461 1 8 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his 9 father Nebuchadnezzar 10 had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princ- es, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. Historical Note - Medo-Persian history continued c. 539 BC with the New Kingdom Period in which Cyrus II (562-560 BC) assumed Persia’s throne. With lightning- like rapidity Cyrus II extended his conquests, defeating Croesus of Lydia (c. 546 BC) and Babylon (539 BC), thus establishing the mighty Persian empire. Cyrus II was a remarkably humane leader (See - Isa 45:1-4). It was he who issued the decree restoring the Jews to their home- land (See - II Chro 36:22-23 & Ezra 1:2-3). Cyrus II holds an important position both in Biblical prophecy (See- Isa 41:25 & 44:28 & 45:1-13) and in secular history. Cyrus II was killed in battle in 529 BC. His body was returned to Persepolis where he was buried in a tomb, which is still extant. The historian Plutarch (c. AD 46-120) says the in- scription on Cyrus II’s tomb ran thus: “O man, whosoev- er thou art and whensoever thou comest, for I know that thou wilt come, I am Cyrus and I won for the Persians their empire. Do not therefore, begrudge me this little earth which covers my body.” The handwriting on the wall 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

1. See -

Dan 4:25 2. I Tim 6:16 & Rev 5:12-13 3. Jn 12:34 4. Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6 (Christ’s Kingdom)

5. Rom 9:20 6. Prov 22:4

7. Prov 16:18 & 29:23 8. or, “Belshazzar the prince” Note - Belshazzar co-reigned with his father Nabonidus from 553-539 BC. 9. or, “grandfather” 10. II Ki 25:13-17