Daniel 4:31 Commentary and Bible Study

‘While the word was in the king's mouth there fell a voice from heaven, telling him that his kingdom was departed from him, and the sentence would fall.’ He had forgotten so soon the warning of the dream. The voice is heard from heaven, the voice of the angel, the watcher of verse 13, who has failed to see any real change in the king. The judgment must proceed, and it will achieve its goal: to teach him ‘that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.’ It is because he has learnt this that he writes the letter to the empire which this chapter records.This great king had his reason taken from him, and became like one of the beasts that even the least of men look down on. He was driven from the company of men, because he was unable to behave as a man. Never mind what he had once been. When God judges his enemies, they retain nothing of the glory they once had, the glory with which they once consoled themselves. We cannot keep anything that God does not want us to keep. Not till it is taken from them will some ever recognise that they have nothing they did not receive. The judgment lasted for some considerable time, long enough for Nebuchadnezzar’s nails to grow long like birds’ claws, and his hair like eagles’ feathers – the word ‘feathers’ is not in the Hebrew. It seems he was left in this state and no one tended to him – perhaps they could not get near him.