“‘The tree
That you saw,
That grew great,
That became strong,
That its top reached
To heaven,
That was visible
To the end
Of the whole earth,
It is you!
O king!
Its leaves were beautiful.
It fruit was abundant.
It provided food for all.
Animals of the field
Lived under it.
Birds of the air
Had nests
In its branches.
It is you!
O king!
You have grown great!
You have become strong!
Your greatness has increased!
Your greatness reaches
To heaven.
Your sovereignty reaches
To the ends of the earth.’”
Belteshazzar or Daniel told the king that he was the tree that he saw in his dream, since a strong man was often equated with a big sturdy tree. After all, the king, like the tree in the dream, had grown great and strong. His greatness had reached to heaven and was visible to the ends of the whole earth, because his kingdom was so great. Daniel described the tree with its abundant beautiful leaves and fruit that provided food for everyone. He used the same remarks as in the dream about the tree being a shady place for field animals and birds to build nests on its branches.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 