다니엘 4:7의 미드라쉬

(Gen. 41:8:) < AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE MORNING > THAT HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED (rt.: P'M), in that it was beating against him like a gong (rt.: P'M). Another interpretation (of Gen. 41:8): THAT HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED. It is written of Nebuchadnezzar (in Dan. 2:1): HIS SPIRIT WAS DEEPLY TROUBLED; and it is written of Pharaoh (in Gen. 41:8): THAT HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED.¹³Tanh., Gen. 10:2; Gen. R. 89:5. Why? Pharaoh knew the dream but did not know its interpretation; therefore, he was confused by one confusion. But Nebuchadnezzar knew neither the dream nor its interpretation; therefore, < he was confused > by two confusions. Thus it is stated (in Dan. 2:1): NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMED DREAMS. R. Hiyya said: He dreamed one dream. Then why does it say: DREAMS (in the plural)? Because he had forgotten the dream. R. Jannay says: He dreamed two dreams, one of an image (in Dan. 2:31-35) and one of a tree (in Dan. 4:7-14).

You find this to be so in the case of Nebuchadnezzar, concerning whom it is written when he beheld the dream: And behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great (Dan. 4:7). And so he said: Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruits; let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches (ibid., v. 11). Daniel went to him, trembling, as is said: Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while, and his thoughts affrighted him. The king spoke and said: “Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, affright thee” (ibid., v. 16). Belteshazzar answered and said: “My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries” (ibid.).²The verse seems to suggest that Daniel is cursing Israel, when in fact he is threatening Nebuchadnezzar. Who was Nebuchadnezzar’s hater? Israel. Why? He had killed (some of) them, destroyed the Temple, and exiled (the rest of) them. Then Daniel raised his eyes heavenward and said: “My Master, My Lord, let the dream and its explanation be fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar, your enemy and your adversary.” When Nebuchadnezzar beheld the dream and heard the explanation, he inquired of Daniel: “What do you advise me to do?” He replied: “The unhappy ones whom you have exiled from your land are starving, thirsty, and naked. Open your storehouses and feed them if you would counteract the dream,” as is said: Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; that there may be a lengthening of thy prosperity (ibid., v. 24).