What is the meaning of "Lach Metzabe'in"?
Rashi: [Shamayim] will immerse you in dew.
Will he truly become an animal?
Ibn Ezra (28): No. It says only that he will dwell with Chayos and eat grass like them, and his Neshamah's Da'as will depart. His heart will be like an animal 1 . At the end, he lifted his eyes to Shamayim, and his Da'as returned to him (31).
Malbim (21): He will be like an animal.
Malbim (30, citing Mahari): Some say that he truly became an ox. If so, how did he lift his eyes to Shamayim (31)? He cannot be a person and animal together! Also, how did his kingship last? Why did his servants not rebel against him, saying that he died or was captured? Rather, it is like Daniel said - he had such melancholy that he despised people, and fled to the Midbar. His appearance darkened, and his hair and fingernails grew greatly. His wise heart departed, and he was drawn after animal desires. However, all saw him, so he was not forgotten; his kingship endured. His son conducted the kingdom in place of him 2 .
Ibn Ezra citing a colleague: A Nochri went crazy and dwelled many years with Ayalim (wild goats). He walked on his hands and legs like them. A king captured him among many Ayalim. His fathers recognized him and talked to him; he did not answer. They gave to him Lechem and wine, but he did not want them; he ate only grass. In the middle of the night, he fled to the Ayalim.
If his son merely conducted the kingdom in place of him, why did Nebuchadnetzar incarcerate him (Rashi Yeshayah 14:19, from Vayikra Rabah 18:2) or kill him (Redak Melachim II, 25:27) when he returned? He acted rashly amidst anger, e.g. he hastily decreed death on all Chachmei Bavel. (PF)
What is the significance of being like an animal for seven years?
Rashi: This is a punishment for destroying the Beis ha'Mikdash, which was built in seven years (see Vayikra Rabah 12:5).
What is the meaning of "Ad Di Sinda Di Shalit Ila'a b'Malchus Anasha"?
Malbim: In the seventh period you will come to this recognition, for in each period he attributed it 1 to one of the seven Kochevei Lechet (the sun, moon and five closest plants). After seven periods, he returned to his intellect, and realized that everything is from the supreme G-d.
How could he do so? He had the Da'as of an animal! (PF)
