Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Daniel » Chapter 5 » Verse 1-30

Daniel 5:1-30 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Belshazzar H1113 the king H4430 made H5648 a great H7229 feast H3900 to a thousand H506 of his lords, H7261 and drank H8355 wine H2562 before H6903 the thousand. H506

2 Belshazzar, H1113 whiles he tasted H2942 the wine, H2562 commanded H560 to bring H858 the golden H1722 and silver H3702 vessels H3984 which his father H2 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 had taken H5312 out of H4481 the temple H1965 which was in Jerusalem; H3390 that the king, H4430 and his princes, H7261 his wives, H7695 and his concubines, H3904 might drink H8355 therein.

3 Then H116 they brought H858 the golden H1722 vessels H3984 that were taken H5312 out of H4481 the temple H1965 of the house H1005 of God H426 which was at Jerusalem; H3390 and the king, H4430 and his princes, H7261 his wives, H7695 and his concubines, H3904 drank H8355 in them.

4 They drank H8355 wine, H2562 and praised H7624 the gods H426 of gold, H1722 and of silver, H3702 of brass, H5174 of iron, H6523 of wood, H636 and of stone. H69

5 In the same hour H8160 came forth H5312 fingers H677 of a man's H606 hand, H3028 and wrote H3790 over against H6903 the candlestick H5043 upon H5922 the plaister H1528 of the wall H3797 of the king's H4430 palace: H1965 and the king H4430 saw H2370 the part H6447 of the hand H3028 that wrote. H3790

6 Then H116 the king's H4430 countenance H2122 was changed, H8133 and his thoughts H7476 troubled H927 him, so that the joints H7001 of his loins H2783 were loosed, H8271 and his knees H755 smote H5368 one H1668 against another. H1668

7 The king H4430 cried H7123 aloud H2429 to bring H5954 in the astrologers, H826 the Chaldeans, H3779 and the soothsayers. H1505 And the king H4430 spake, H6032 and said H560 to the wise H2445 men of Babylon, H895 Whosoever H606 H3606 shall read H7123 this H1836 writing, H3792 and shew H2324 me the interpretation H6591 thereof, shall be clothed H3848 with scarlet, H711 and have a chain H2002 of gold H1722 about H5922 his neck, H6676 and shall be the third H8523 ruler H7981 in the kingdom. H4437

8 Then H116 came H5954 in all H3606 the king's H4430 wise H2445 men: but they could H3546 not H3809 read H7123 the writing, H3792 nor make known H3046 to the king H4430 the interpretation H6591 thereof.

9 Then H116 was king H4430 Belshazzar H1113 greatly H7690 troubled, H927 and his countenance H2122 was changed H8133 in him, H5922 and his lords H7261 were astonied. H7672

10 Now the queen, H4433 by reason H6903 of the words H4406 of the king H4430 and his lords, H7261 came H5954 into the banquet H4961 house: H1005 and the queen H4433 spake H6032 and said, H560 O king, H4430 live H2418 for ever: H5957 let not H409 thy thoughts H7476 trouble H927 thee, nor let thy countenance H2122 be changed: H8133

11 There is H383 a man H1400 in thy kingdom, H4437 in whom is the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods; H426 and in the days H3118 of thy father H2 light H5094 and understanding H7924 and wisdom, H2452 like the wisdom H2452 of the gods, H426 was found H7912 in him; whom the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 thy father, H2 the king, H4430 I say, thy father, H2 made H6966 master H7229 of the magicians, H2749 astrologers, H826 Chaldeans, H3779 and soothsayers; H1505

12 Forasmuch as H6903 H3606 an excellent H3493 spirit, H7308 and knowledge, H4486 and understanding, H7924 interpreting H6590 of dreams, H2493 and shewing H263 of hard sentences, H280 and dissolving H8271 of doubts, H7001 were found H7912 in the same Daniel, H1841 whom the king H4430 named H7761 H8036 Belteshazzar: H1096 now H3705 let Daniel H1841 be called, H7123 and he will shew H2324 the interpretation. H6591

13 Then H116 was Daniel H1841 brought in H5954 before H6925 the king. H4430 And the king H4430 spake H6032 and said H560 unto Daniel, H1841 Art thou H607 that Daniel, H1841 which art of H4481 the children H1123 of the captivity H1547 of Judah, H3061 whom the king H4430 my father H2 brought H858 out of H4481 Jewry? H3061

14 I have even heard H8086 of thee, that the spirit H7308 of the gods H426 is in thee, H5922 and that light H5094 and understanding H7924 and excellent H3493 wisdom H2452 is found H7912 in thee.

15 And now H3705 the wise H2445 men, the astrologers, H826 have been brought H5954 in before H6925 me, that they should read H7123 this H1836 writing, H3792 and make known H3046 unto me the interpretation H6591 thereof: but they could H3546 not H3809 shew H2324 the interpretation H6591 of the thing: H4406

16 And I H576 have heard H8086 of thee, H5922 that thou canst H3202 make H6590 interpretations, H6591 and dissolve H8271 doubts: H7001 now H3705 if H2006 thou canst H3202 read H7123 the writing, H3792 and make known H3046 to me the interpretation H6591 thereof, thou shalt be clothed H3848 with scarlet, H711 and have a chain H2002 of gold H1722 about H5922 thy neck, H6676 and shalt be the third H8531 ruler H7981 in the kingdom. H4437

17 Then H116 Daniel H1841 answered H6032 and said H560 before H6925 the king, H4430 Let thy gifts H4978 be H1934 to thyself, and give H3052 thy rewards H5023 to another; H321 yet H1297 I will read H7123 the writing H3792 unto the king, H4430 and make known H3046 to him the interpretation. H6591

18 O thou H607 king, H4430 the most high H5943 God H426 gave H3052 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 thy father H2 a kingdom, H4437 and majesty, H7238 and glory, H3367 and honour: H1923

19 And for H4481 the majesty H7238 that he gave H3052 him, all H3606 people, H5972 nations, H524 and languages, H3961 trembled H1934 H2112 and feared H1763 before H4481 him: H6925 whom he would H1934 H6634 he slew; H1934 H6992 and whom he would H1934 H6634 he kept alive; H1934 H2418 and whom he would H1934 H6634 he set up; H1934 H7313 and whom he would H1934 H6634 he put down. H1934 H8214

20 But when his heart H3825 was lifted up, H7313 and his mind H7308 hardened H8631 in pride, H2103 he was deposed H5182 from H4481 his kingly H4437 throne, H3764 and they took H5709 his glory H3367 from him: H4481

21 And he was driven H2957 from H4481 the sons H1123 of men; H606 and his heart H3825 was made H7739 like H5974 the beasts, H2423 and his dwelling H4070 was with the wild asses: H6167 they fed H2939 him with grass H6211 like oxen, H8450 and his body H1655 was wet H6647 with the dew H2920 of heaven; H8065 till H5705 he knew H3046 that the most high H5943 God H426 ruled H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men, H606 and that he appointeth H6966 over H5922 it whomsoever H4479 he will. H6634

22 And thou H607 his son, H1247 O Belshazzar, H1113 hast not H3809 humbled H8214 thine heart, H3825 though H6903 thou knewest H3046 all H3606 this; H1836

23 But hast lifted up H7313 thyself against H5922 the Lord H4756 of heaven; H8065 and they have brought H858 the vessels H3984 of his house H1005 before H6925 thee, and thou, H607 and thy lords, H7261 thy wives, H7695 and thy concubines, H3904 have drunk H8355 wine H2562 in them; and thou hast praised H7624 the gods H426 of silver, H3702 and gold, H1722 of brass, H5174 iron, H6523 wood, H636 and stone, H69 which see H2370 not, H3809 nor H3809 hear, H8086 nor H3809 know: H3046 and the God H426 in whose hand H3028 thy breath H5396 is, and whose are all H3606 thy ways, H735 hast thou not H3809 glorified: H1922

24 Then H116 was the part H6447 of the hand H3028 sent H7972 from H4481 him; H6925 and this H1836 writing H3792 was written. H7560

25 And this H1836 is the writing H3792 that was written, H7560 MENE, H4484 MENE, H4484 TEKEL, H8625 UPHARSIN. H6537

26 This H1836 is the interpretation H6591 of the thing: H4406 MENE; H4484 God H426 hath numbered H4483 thy kingdom, H4437 and finished H8000 it.

27 TEKEL; H8625 Thou art weighed H8625 in the balances, H3977 and art found H7912 wanting. H2627

28 PERES; H6537 Thy kingdom H4437 is divided, H6537 and given H3052 to the Medes H4076 and Persians. H6540

29 Then H116 commanded H560 Belshazzar, H1113 and they clothed H3848 Daniel H1841 with scarlet, H711 and put a chain H2002 of gold H1722 about H5922 his neck, H6676 and made a proclamation H3745 concerning H5922 him, that he should be H1934 the third H8531 ruler H7990 in the kingdom. H4437

30 In that night H3916 was Belshazzar H1113 the king H4430 of the Chaldeans H3779 slain. H6992

Commentary on Daniel 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 5

Da 5:1-31. Belshazzar's Impious Feast; the Handwriting on the Wall Interpreted by Daniel of the Doom of Babylon and Its King.

1. Belshazzar—Rawlinson, from the Assyrian inscriptions, has explained the seeming discrepancy between Daniel and the heathen historians of Babylon, Berosus and Abydenus, who say the last king (Nabonidus) surrendered in Borsippa, after Babylon was taken, and had an honorable abode in Caramania assigned to him. Belshazzar was joint king with his father (called Minus in the inscriptions), but subordinate to him; hence the Babylonian account suppresses the facts which cast discredit on Babylon, namely, that Belshazzar shut himself up in that city and fell at its capture; while it records the surrender of the principal king in Borsippa (see my Introduction to Daniel). The heathen Xenophon's description of Belshazzar accords with Daniel's; he calls him "impious," and illustrates his cruelty by mentioning that he killed one of his nobles, merely because, in hunting, the noble struck down the game before him; and unmanned a courtier, Gadates, at a banquet, because one of the king's concubines praised him as handsome. Daniel shows none of the sympathy for him which he had for Nebuchadnezzar. Xenophon confirms Daniel as to Belshazzar's end. Winer explains the "shazzar" in the name as meaning "fire."

made … feast—heaven-sent infatuation when his city was at the time being besieged by Cyrus. The fortifications and abundant provisions in the city made the king despise the besiegers. It was a festival day among the Babylonians [Xenophon].

drank … before the thousand—The king, on this extraordinary occasion, departed from his usual way of feasting apart from his nobles (compare Es 1:3).

2. whiles he tasted the wine—While under the effects of wine, men will do what they dare not do when sober.

his father Nebuchadnezzar—that is, his forefather. So "Jesus … the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Mt 1:1). Daniel does not say that the other kings mentioned in other writers did not reign between Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar, namely, Evil-merodach (Jer 52:31), Neriglissar, his brother-in-law, and Laborasoarchod (nine months). Berosus makes Nabonidus, the last king, to have been one of the people, raised to the throne by an insurrection. As the inscriptions show that Belshazzar was distinct from, and joint king with, him, this is not at variance with Daniel, whose statement that Belshazzar was son (grandson) of Nebuchadnezzar is corroborated by Jeremiah (Jer 27:7). Their joint, yet independent, testimony, as contemporaries, and having the best means of information, is more trustworthy than any of the heathen historians, if there were a discrepancy. Evil-merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar (according to Berosus), reigned but a short time (one or two years), having, in consequence of his bad government, been dethroned by a plot of Neriglissar, his sister's husband; hence Daniel does not mention him. At the elevation of Nabonidus as supreme king, Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, was doubtless suffered to be subordinate king and successor, in order to conciliate the legitimate party. Thus the seeming discrepancy becomes a confirmation of genuineness when cleared up, for the real harmony must have been undesigned.

wives … concubines—not usually present at feasts in the East, where women of the harem are kept in strict seclusion. Hence Vashti's refusal to appear at Ahasuerus' feast (Es 1:9-12). But the Babylonian court, in its reckless excesses, seems not to have been so strict as the Persian. Xenophon [Cyropædia, 5.2,28] confirms Daniel, representing a feast of Belshazzar where the concubines are present. At the beginning "the lords" (Da 5:1), for whom the feast was made, alone seem to have been present; but as the revelry advanced, the women were introduced. Two classes of them are mentioned, those to whom belonged the privileges of "wives," and those strictly concubines (2Sa 5:13; 1Ki 11:3; So 6:8).

3. This act was not one of necessity, or for honor's sake, but in reckless profanity.

4. praised—sang and shouted praises to "gods," which being of gold, "are their own witnesses" (Isa 44:9), confuting the folly of those who fancy such to be gods.

5. In the same hour—that the cause of God's visitation might be palpable, namely, the profanation of His vessels and His holy name.

fingers of … hand—God admonishes him, not by a dream (as Nebuchadnezzar had been warned), or by a voice, but by "fingers coming forth," the invisibility of Him who moved them heightening the awful impressiveness of the scene, the hand of the Unseen One attesting his doom before the eyes of himself and his guilty fellow revellers.

against the candlestick—the candelabra; where the mystic characters would be best seen. Barnes makes it the candlestick taken from the temple of Jerusalem, the nearness of the writing to it intimating that the rebuke was directed against the sacrilege.

upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace—Written in cuneiform letters on slabs on the walls, and on the very bricks, are found the perpetually recurring recital of titles, victories, and exploits, to remind the spectator at every point of the regal greatness. It is significant, that on the same wall on which the king was accustomed to read the flattering legends of his own magnificence, he beholds the mysterious inscription which foretells his fall (compare Pr 16:18; Ac 12:21-23).

part of the hand—the anterior part, namely, the fingers.

6. countenance—literally, "brightness," that is, his bright look.

joints of his loins—"the vertebræ of his back" [Gesenius].

7. He calls for the magicians, who more than once had been detected in imposture. He neglects God, and Daniel, whose fame as an interpreter was then well-established. The world wishes to be deceived and shuts its eyes against the light [Calvin]. The Hebrews think the words were Chaldee, but in the old Hebrew character (like that now in the Samaritan Pentateuch).

third ruler—The first place was given to the king; the second, to the son of the king, or of the queen; the third, to the chief of the satraps.

8. The words were in such a character as to be illegible to the Chaldees, God reserving this honor to Daniel.

10. queen—the queen mother, or grandmother, Nitocris, had not been present till now. She was wife either of Nebuchadnezzar or of Evil merodach; hence her acquaintance with the services of Daniel. She completed the great works which the former had begun. Hence Herodotus attributes them to her alone. This accounts for the deference paid to her by Belshazzar. (See on Da 4:36). Compare similar rank given to the queen mother among the Hebrews (1Ki 15:13).

11. spirit of the holy gods—She remembers and repeats Nebuchadnezzar's language (Da 4:8, 9, 18). As Daniel was probably, according to Oriental custom, deprived of the office to which Nebuchadnezzar had promoted him, as "master of the magicians" (Da 4:9), at the king's death, Belshazzar might easily be ignorant of his services.

the king … thy father the king … thy father—The repetition marks with emphatic gravity both the excellencies of Daniel, and the fact that Nebuchadnezzar, whom Belshazzar is bound to reverence as his father, had sought counsel from him in similar circumstances.

13. the captivity of Judah—the captive Jews residing in Babylon.

17. Not inconsistent with Da 5:29. For here he declares his interpretation of the words is not from the desire of reward. The honors in Da 5:29 were doubtless urged on him, without his wish, in such a way that he could not with propriety refuse them. Had he refused them after announcing the doom of the kingdom, he might have been suspected of cowardice or treason.

18. God gave—It was not his own birth or talents which gave him the vast empire, as he thought. To make him unlearn his proud thought was the object of God's visitation on him.

majesty—in the eyes of his subjects.

glory—from his victories.

honour—from the enlargement and decoration of the city.

19. A purely absolute monarchy (Jer 27:7).

21. heart was made like … beasts—literally, "he made his heart like the beasts," that is, he desired to dwell with them.

22. Thou hast erred not through ignorance, but through deliberate contempt of God, notwithstanding that thou hadst before thine eyes the striking warning given in thy grandfather's case.

23. whose are all thy ways—(Jer 10:23).

24. Then—When thou liftedst up thyself against the Lord.

the part of the hand—the fore part, the fingers.

was … sent from him—that is, from God.

25. Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin—literally, "numbered, weighed, and dividers."

26. God hath fixed the number of years of thine empire, and that number is now complete.

27. weighed in the balances—The Egyptians thought that Osiris weighed the actions of the dead in a literal balance. The Babylonians may have had the same notion, which would give a peculiar appropriateness to the image here used.

found wanting—too light before God, the weigher of actions (1Sa 2:3; Ps 62:9). Like spurious gold or silver (Jer 6:30).

28. Peres—the explanation of "dividers" (Da 5:25), the active participle plural there being used for the passive participle singular, "dividers" for "divided." The word "Peres" alludes to the similar word "Persia."

divided—namely, among the Medes and Persians [Maurer]; or, "severed" from thee [Grotius].

29. Belshazzar … clothed Daniel with scarlet—To come from the presence of a prince in a dress presented to the wearer as a distinction is still held a great honor in the East. Daniel was thus restored to a similar rank to what he had held under Nebuchadnezzar (Da 2:48). Godly fidelity which might be expected to bring down vengeance, as in this case, is often rewarded even in this life. The king, having promised, was ashamed before his courtiers to break his word. He perhaps also affected to despise the prophecy of his doom, as an idle threat. As to Daniel's reasons for now accepting what at first he had declined, compare Note, see on Da 5:17. The insignia of honor would be witnesses for God's glory to the world of his having by God's aid interpreted the mystic characters. The cause of his elevation too would secure the favor of the new dynasty (Da 6:2) for both himself and his captive countrymen. As the capture of the city by Cyrus was not till near daylight, there was no want of time in that eventful night for accomplishing all that is here recorded. The capture of the city so immediately after the prophecy of it (following Belshazzar's sacrilege), marked most emphatically to the whole world the connection between Babylon's sin and its punishment.

30. Herodotus and Xenophon confirm Daniel as to the suddenness of the event. Cyrus diverted the Euphrates into a new channel and, guided by two deserters, marched by the dry bed into the city, while the Babylonians were carousing at an annual feast to the gods. See also Isa 21:5; 44:27; Jer 50:38, 39; 51:36. As to Belshazzar's being slain, compare Isa 14:18-20; 21:2-9; Jer 50:29-35; 51:57.

31. Darius the Median—that is, Cyaxares II, the son and successor of Astyages, 569-536 B.C. Though Koresh, or Cyrus, was leader of the assault, yet all was done in the name of Darius; therefore, he alone is mentioned here; but Da 6:28 shows Daniel was not ignorant of Cyrus' share in the capture of Babylon. Isa 13:17; 21:2, confirm Daniel in making the Medes the leading nation in destroying Babylon. So also Jer 51:11, 28. Herodotus, on the other hand, omits mentioning Darius, as that king, being weak and sensual, gave up all the authority to his energetic nephew, Cyrus [Xenophon, Cyropædia, 1.5; 8.7].

threescore and two years old—This agrees with Xenophon [Cyropædia, 8.5,19], as to Cyaxares II.