Nebuchadnezzar turned into a beast

[DarkestRose]

In Daniel 4: 30 it is said that king Nebuchadnezzar was turned into a beast or an animal. Is one to understand that he was literally physically changed into a creature? Or it is symbolic in that he was, perhaps, mad and like a beast?

 

[DesertSister62]

DarkestRose said:
DANIEL 4:30 The Scriptures quoted here come from the Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version put out by St. Benedict Press.

“and the king said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty? While the words were still in the kings’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Immediately the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men, and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagle’s feathers, and his nails were like bird’s claws.”

**If you read the scriptures carefully, it doesn’t actually say that the king became a “beast, “ or animal. If you read the whole chapter you see that the king had lost his “reason” so he was driven out of the city and he actually ate grass, his hair grew very long and his fingernails became like claws from no cutting or clipping.

But then in verse 34 it has this to say**:
;
Verse 34
“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar lifted my eyes to heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever.”

Verse 36-37
“At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.”

**What God actually did was to “abase” the king in the eyes of his people until he finally realized that he didn’t have all power, but rather that God did. His experiences point to the fact that the Lord allows things to cme into our lives to teach us to be better children and to help us be better teachers to those we have the opportunity to speak to.

_________________________________________.**

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here is a footnote from the Aquinas Study Bible

4:25-30 The episode of Nabuchodonosor’s temporary insanity(boanthropy) does seem strange. Yet we notice that the Babylonian records carry no entries of military activity on his part between 582 and 575. Boanthropy was a mental disease comparable to the better known lycanthropy. The victim being
constantly in the open in the difficult climate (range from 110 or 120 down to below freezing in winter, with high humidity) would develop coarser skin. His hair never being cut would be matted and coarse and his nails would grow long. (Fr. William Most)