687 the first word 4:7-9). As the sleeping king relished the sight of such a prominent tree, behold, a messenger from Heaven came running, shouting in a shrill voice: “Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave in the earth its stump and roots, fettered with iron and bronze the grass of the field; let him be bathed with the dew of [H]eaven; and let his lot be amongwild beasts till seven years pass over him” (Dan 4:20) [NAB]. Nebuchadnezzar, terrified at such a sudden and ominous destruction of this stately and beautiful tree, jumped out of bed. He ordered Daniel to be brought to him, whom he knewwell to be the most experienced interpreter of dreams. The prophet arrived and explained what had already been revealed to him by God. He explained that the tree symbolized the king himself and that his transformation into a wild animal signified that he would be removed from the company of people and eat hay like the ox in the open air among all the beasts. He would remain in that state for seven full years, until he would recover his senses and acknowledge that, “the Most High God rules the kingdom of men” (Dan5:21). SinceDaniel lovedNebuchadnezzar dearly, he advised the king to placate the wrath of God through alms, so as to release him from this very harsh and humiliating punishment. If God would not repeal His most just decision, He might at least mitigate the sentence that had been already passed. Daniel told the king: “Break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed” (Dan 4:27). This tree, representing a very prideful Persian monarch, is also an image of every sinner. Consequently, each one of them should also apply to themselves the advice uttered by Daniel: “Break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed.” However, not everyone has such a spirit of generosity, although he abounds in sin just as in wealth. On the other hand, someone might greatly desire to atone for his offenses with generous alms, but cannot give away what he does not have,since he himself is in need, as the extreme circumstances of his own home nearly force him to beg for his own necessities.
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