John Gill Commentary


John Gill Commentary
"He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches." — Daniel 4:14 (ASV)
He cried aloud
Or, with strengths; F12 being a mighty angel, and that he might be heard far and near: and said thus, hew down the tree ;
remove this mighty monarch from his throne; take away his government from him: this is said to fellow angels employed in the affairs of Providence, and the execution of them, to bring about an event so momentous:
and cut off his branches ;
take away his provinces, each of the parts of his dominion, from him:
shake off his leaves :
cause his deputy governors to shake off their allegiance to him: and scatter his fruit ;
the revenues of his vast empire, and let others take them:
let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches ;
those that have either voluntarily betook themselves to him for protection; or have been carried captive by him, and have lived under his shadow, whether of the more barbarous nations, or more civilized, as the Jews; let them take the opportunity of withdrawing from him, and returning to their own lands; see (Jeremiah 51:9) .