Chapter 80

¹ Now all these things befell King Nebuchadnezzar after twelve months.

² For neither did the Scripture lie, nor did Daniel deceive him, but he taught him beforehand these things that were to be accomplished upon him.

³ For the tree that was made great and strong, whose height reached to heaven and whose breadth reached to the end of all the earth—the Scripture indicates that it is the king himself, as Daniel too plainly explained: because the king was exalted and became glorious and ruled over all the earth and gained mastery over the nations afar off.

⁴ And its branches were the consuls and generals and governors and all those appointed under him, put forth like branches from a tree.

⁵ And the leaves of the tree show the decrees made through his words, which he sent into all the earth, commanding and ordaining as he wished.

⁶ And the abundant fruit that the tree had makes plain the great revenue and the tributes brought up to him from each and every nation.

⁷ And its trunk, fixed firm upon the earth, signifies that this is the kingdom, because it happens to be earthly, as one fixed firm upon the earth.

⁸ And its abundant fruit and the nourishment of all that was in it are the wages and the honors and the gifts given by the king to all, which were like nourishment given to men from a tree.

⁹ And the wild beasts dwelling beneath it are signified to be the armies and the forces, which always remained and waited steadfastly upon the king, serving in what was commanded, being like wild beasts ready to wage war and to destroy and to tear men to pieces like beasts.

¹⁰ And the birds nesting in its branches are the obedience of all the nations toward him, which, coming from afar and from a distance, were subject to the rulers appointed under him, who were like branches from a tree.