The judgment's immediate execution: Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society; he ate grass like the oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails became like birds' claws. The narrative provides vivid details of the king's degradation: he loses human appearance and consciousness, his hair grows long and uncut, his nails become talons. The description of physical deterioration emphasizes the complete loss of human dignity and royal status. The phrase his body was wet with the dew of heaven indicates that he dwelt outdoors in the elements, exposed to weather. The timeline of the judgment's severity suggests that years pass during which Nebuchadnezzar experiences animal existence, homeless and unrecognized. Yet the narrative includes no report of the king's suffering or complaint; the text matter-of-factly describes his condition without dwelling on its horrors. This restraint allows readers to focus on the theological lesson rather than on sensationalism.

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