The parable of the great tree in Nevukhadnetzar’s dream and his predicted fall is compared to the fall of previous empires of Assyria and Egypt. There are several ways of understanding Nevukhadnetzar’s punishment to live with the beasts: losing his mind and acting like a beast; a storm wind carried him far away from humanity and he lived with the beasts; he started to act like an animal and was cast out of his palace; he was imprisoned by his wife who took over his kingdom; he developed a terrible illness for several years.
