Daniel 4:25

“That they shall drive thee from men, etc.] From conversation with men, as unfit for it; from his court and palace, from his nobles and princes. Saadiah interprets this of the angels: it may be rendered impersonally or passively, as in (<270433>Daniel 4:33), “thou shalt be driven from men”f160; not by his family, his wife and children; or by his nobles, who are afterwards said to seek him; but by the most high God, and to show his power over him; and it may be by means of his ministering angels; or he was driven by his own fancy and imagination, which was suffered of God to prevail over him, judging himself not a man, but a beast; and so it was most agreeable to him to live with beasts, and…”

“they shall drive thee--a Chaldee idiom for "thou shalt be driven." Hypochondriacal madness was his malady, which "drove" him under the fancy that he was a beast, to "dwell with the beasts"; Dan 4:34 proves this, "mine understanding returned." The regency would leave him to roam in the large beast-abounding parks attached to the palace. eat grass--that is, vegetables, or herbs in general (Gen 3:18). they shall wet thee--that is, thou shalt be wet. till thou know, &c.-- (Psa 83:17-18; Jer 27:5).”

“That they shall drive thee from men - That is, thou shalt be driven from the habitations of men; from the place which thou hast occupied among men. The prophet does not say “who” would do this, but he says that it “would” be done. The language is such as would be used of one who should become a maniac, and be thrust out of the ordinary society in which he had moved. The Greek of Theodotion here is: καὶ σὲ ἐκδιώξουσιν kai se ekdiōxousin. The Codex Chisianus has, “And the Most High and his angels shall run upon thee - κατατρἑχουσιν katatrechousin - leading thee into prison,” or into detention - εἰς φυλακὴν eis phulakēn - “and shall thrust thee into a desert place.” The general sense…”

“They shall drive thee - This was such a thundering peal, that it was wonderful the king could endure to hear it without fury boiling in his heart, yet the Lord with - held him. Seven times - Seven years. 'Till thou know - How hard is it for lofty princes to learn this lesson. Daniel 4:26”

“4:25-26 until you learn that the Most High rules: God’s goal was proper recognition of God’s rule.”

“drive: Dan 4:32, Dan 4:33, Dan 5:21-31; Job 30:3-8; Mar 5:3, Mar 5:4 and thy dwelling: All the circumstances of Nebuchadnezzar's case, says Dr. Mead, agree so well with a hypochondriasis, that to me it appears evident the Almighty God brought this dreadful distemper upon him, and under its influence he ran wild into the fields. then fancying himself transformed into an ox, he fed on grass, after the manner of cattle; and, through neglect of himself, his hair and nails grew to an excessive length, so that the latter became thick and crooked, resembling bird's claws. to eat: Psa 106:20 till: Dan 4:17, Dan 4:32, Dan 4:34, Dan 4:35, Dan 2:21, Dan 5:21; Psa 75:7, Psa 83:18; Jer 27:5 Daniel 4:26”