Daniel 4:14
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
He cried aloud,.... Or, with strengths; {l} 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.
{l} lyxb "in virtute", Montanus; "cum robore", Gejerus; "fortier", Cocceius, Michaelis; "strenue", Junius & Tremellius, Broughtonus.