Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 4:12
The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
12. meat ] in the old sense of the word (see on Amo 5:22; and cf. Gen 1:29-30), food in general, not what we now call ‘meat.’ So Dan 4:21. The Aram. word occurs in Syr. and the Targums; and twice in the Heb. of the O.T., Gen 45:23 (A.V. ‘meat,’ R.V. ‘victual’), 2Ch 11:23 (A.V., R.V. ‘victual’).
had shadow dwelt was fed of it ] Better, were sheltering , dwelling , was being fed from it. The tenses of the original denote what was habitual, and therefore might be observed as taking place continuously at the time of the dream. Cf. for the thought Eze 31:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The leaves thereof were fair – Were beautiful. That is, they were abundant, and green, and there were no signs of decay. Everything indicated a vigorous and healthy growth – a tree in its full beauty and majesty – a striking emblem of a monarch in his glory.
And the fruit thereof much – It was loaded with fruit – showing that the tree was in its full vigour.
And in it was meat for all – Food for all, for so the word meat was formerly used. This would indicate the dependence of the multitudes on him whom the tree represented, and would also denote that he was a liberal dispenser of his favors.
The beasts of the field had shadow under it – Found a grateful shade under it in the burning heat of noon – a striking emblem of the blessings of a monarchy affording protection, and giving peace to all under it.
And the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof – The fowls of the air. They built their nests and reared their young there undisturbed, another striking emblem of the protection afforded under the great monarchy designed to be represented.
And all flesh was fed of it – All animals; all that lived. It furnished protection, a home, and food for all. Bertholdt renders this, all men. In the Greek Codex Chisianus there is the following version or paraphrase given of this passage: Its vision was great, its top reached to the heaven, and its breadth ( kutos) to the clouds – they filled the things ( ta) under the heaven – there was a sun and moon, they dwelt in it, and enlightened all the earth.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The fruit thereof much: this notes the public good and benefit of magistracy; so that it is better living under tyranny than anarchy, as Calvin saith.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. beasts . . . shadow underitimplying that God’s purpose in establishing empires in theworld is that they may be as trees affording men “fruits”for “meat,” and a “shadow” for “rest”(compare La 4:20). But theworld powers abuse their trust for self; therefore Messiah comes toplant the tree of His gospel kingdom, which alone shall realize God’spurpose (Eze 17:23; Mat 13:32).HERODOTUS [7.19] mentionsa dream (probably suggested by the tradition of this dream ofNebuchadnezzar in Daniel) which Xerxes had; namely, that he wascrowned with olive, and that the branches of the olive filled thewhole earth, but that afterwards the crown vanished from his head:signifying his universal dominion soon to come to an end.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The leaves thereof were fair,…. Or “branches” i, as some; and design either the provinces belonging to his empire, which were very large and flourishing; or the governors of them under him, as Saadiah, who made no small and contemptible figure; his princes were altogether kings:
and the fruit thereof much; great revenues from all parts of the empire were brought to him:
and in it was meat for all; the produce of the several countries, and the trade carried on in them, brought in a sufficient livelihood to all the inhabitants:
the beasts of the field had shadow under it; the inhabitants of the several Heathenish nations under him, and even those that were most savage, were protected in their lives and properties by him; so princes should be a screen, a protection to their subjects:
and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof; which Saadiah interprets of the Israelites, in opposition to the foreign nations, comparable to the beasts of the field:
and all flesh was fed of it; all his subjects shared in the good things his victorious arms brought into his empire; all enriched, or however made comfortable, and had a sufficiency of food and raiment; so that there was no reason to complain of him as oppressive to his subjects.
i “ramus ejus”, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus; “ramos ejus”, Junius Tremellius “rami ejus”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4:9)
At the same time the tree abounded with leaves and fruit, so that birds and beasts found shadow, protection, and nourishment from it. , neither great nor many, but powerful, expressing the quantity and the greatness of the fruit. The the Masoretes have rightly connected with , to which it is joined by Maqqeph. The meaning is not: food was in it, the tree had food for all (Hv., Maur., and others), but: (it had) food for all in it, i.e., dwelling within its district (Kran., Klief.). The words, besides, do not form an independent sentence, but are only a further view of the (Kran.), and return in the end of the verse into further expansion, while the first and the second clauses of the second hemistich give the further expansion of the first clause in the verse. , umbram captavit , enjoyed the shadow; in Targg. The Aphel has for the most part the meaning obumbravit . The Kethiv is not to be changed, since the is gen. comm. The Keri is conform to Dan 4:18, where the word is construed as fem. The expression all flesh comprehends the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven, but is chosen with reference to men represented under this image. For the tree, mighty, reaching even to the heavens, and visible over the whole earth, is an easily recognised symbol of a world-ruler whose power stretches itself over the whole earth. The description of the growth and of the greatness of the tree reminds us of the delineation of Pharaoh and his power under the figure of a mighty cedar of Lebanon, cf. Eze 31:3., also Eze 17:22., Eze 19:10. The comparison of the growth of men to the growth of the trees is every frequent in biblical and other writings.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
It is now added, its height was great; then, it grew till it reached even to heaven, and its aspect extended itself to the furthest bounds of the land. This is restricted to the Babylonian monarchy, for there were then other empires in the world, but they were either powerless or but slightly important. The Chaldeans, also, were then so powerful that no prince could approach to such majesty and power. Since, therefore, King Nebuchadnezzar was so pre-eminent, the loftiness of the tree here described is not surprising, though it reached to heaven; while the altitude rendered it visible throughout the whole land. Some of the rabbis place Babylon in the middle of the earth, because it was under the same line or parallel with Jerusalem — which is very foolish. Those also who place Jerusalem in the center of the earth are equally childish; although Jerome, Origen, and other ancient authors, treat Jerusalem as in the center of the world. In this conjecture of theirs they deserve the laughter of the Cynic who, when asked to point out the middle of the earth:, touched the ground with his staff immediately under his feet! Then when the questioner objected to this determination of the center of the earth, he said,” Then do you measure the earth!” As far as concerns Jerusalem, their conjectures are not worth mentioning. That proud Barbinel [Abarbanel] wished to seem a philosopher, but nothing is more insipid than the Jews where they depart from their own rules of grammar; and the Lord so blinded them and delivered them up to a reprobate sense, when he wished them to be spectacles of horrible blindness and prodigious stupidity, — and in a small and minute matter that silly fellow shews his absurdity.
He now says, Its boughs were beautiful, and its fruit copious This must be referred to the common opinion of the vulgar; for we know men’s eyes to be dazzled by the splendor of princes. For if any one excels others in power, all men adore him and are seized with admiration, and are incapable of judging correctly. When the majesty of a general or a king comes before them, they are all astonished and perceive nothing, and they do not think it lawful for them to inquire strictly into the conduct of princes. Since, then, the power and wealth of King Nebuchadnezzar were so great, no wonder the Prophet says, His branches were beautiful, and their fruit copious But meanwhile we must remember what I lately said, namely, God’s blessing shines forth in princes, even if they materially neglect their duty, because God does not suffer all his grace in them to be extinguished; and hence they are compelled to bring forth some fruit. It is much better, therefore, to preserve the existence of some kind of dominion than to have all men’s condition equal, when each attracts the, eyes of his neighbors. And this is the meaning of what I have said — there was food and provision for all, as I have lately explained it.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) The fruit thereof much.By this is implied the great quantity of fruit as well as the largeness of it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 4:12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
Ver. 12. The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit. ] But because pride harboured under these leaves and poisoned these fair fruits, they were broken down and trod under foot.
The beasts of the field had shadow under it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the beasts: Jer 27:6, Jer 27:7, Eze 17:23, Eze 31:6
shadow: Lam 4:20
the fowls: Mar 13:32, Luk 13:19
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:15 – shadow Eze 31:3 – of an high Eze 31:12 – gone Eze 31:17 – dwelt Dan 4:14 – let Mat 13:32 – so that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 4:12. This verse gives a descrip-tion of a fruit tree which, if taken literally, would present one that is beautiful to the sight, affords shelter from the heat by its shadow, a resting place In its boughs for the birds, a gathering place for the beasts, and food for all living creatures. We shall learn, however, that it is a figurative description of something else.