דניאל, פרק ד׳, פסוק כ״ט

A mighty ruler can fall from the heights of power to the lowest depths, losing his very humanity to live a basic, animalistic existence. Such a harsh fate is designed to completely uproot a leader's pride and teach a profound lesson about how God governs the world. The primary approach among commentators is that the king faces total expulsion and isolation from human society [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Driven away from the dwellings of men, his new home is among the wild beasts of the field. This deep humiliation extends even to his food, as he is forced to eat grass in the exact same manner as oxen and cattle [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא].

The ultimate goal of this degrading experience is to bring the king to a clear, undeniable realization. It is meant to shatter his illusion of self-made power. Although he believed he built Babylon through his own strength and for his own personal glory, he must learn that the Supreme God is the true ruler over human kingdoms, granting power only to whomever He desires [יוסף אבן יחיא].

This punishment is decreed to last for seven years [מצודת דוד]. One might wonder why such a long period is necessary, as the king could simply acknowledge the rule of God immediately, beg for mercy, and end his suffering. However, true understanding is not acquired through mere lip service. God knows that even if the king were to instantly declare his faith and sing praises, the lesson would not truly penetrate his bones unless he endured the full severity of the decree.

These seven years purposefully correspond to the seven planets, which traditional thought views as the forces that judge and govern human destiny. The king must suffer under the influence of every single one of them to realize that no natural or systemic savior can rescue him. Only after exhausting all worldly hope is he forced to lift his eyes to heaven, to God alone, finally achieving complete and genuine knowledge [אלשיך].