Daniel5
English Standard Version
1 a for a of his and of the .
2 , when he the , that the of and of that his had of the in be , that the and his , his , and his might from them.
3 they the that had of the , the of in , and the and his , his , and his from them.
4They and the of and , , , , and .
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6 the , and his him; his , and his .
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8 the men came , but they the or to the the .
9 was , and his , and his were .
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11There a in your in is the of the . In the of your , and and like the of the were in him, and , your —your the — him of the , , , and ,
12 an , , and to , , and were in this , the . let be , and he will the .
13 was the . The and to , are that , the of , the my .
14I have that the of the is you, and that and and are in you.
15 the men, the , have been me to and to me its , but they the of the .
16 have that you and . you the and to me its , you shall with and have a of your and shall in the .
17 and the , Let your for yourself, and your to . , I will the to the and to him the .
18 , the your and and and .
19 of the that he him, , , and and . , he , , he ; whom , he , and whom , he .
20 his was and his was so that he , he was his , and his was him.
21He was among the of , and his was that of a , and his was with the . He was like an , and his was with the of , he that the the of and .
22And his , , have your , you ,
23but you have yourself the of . And the of his have been you, and and your , your , and your have from them. And you have the of and , of , , , and , do , but the in whose is your , and are your , you have .
24 his the was , and was .
25And is the that was : , , , and .
26 is the of the :, has the days of your and brought it to an ;
27, you have in the and ;
28, your is and to the and .
29 gave the , and was with , a of was his , and a him, that he should in the .
30That very the was .
31And the the , being about .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Daniel 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Belshazzar's impious feast; the hand-writing on the wall. (1-9). Daniel is sent for to interpret it. (10-17). Daniel warns the king of his destruction. (18-31).
vv1-9
Belshazzar bade defiance to the judgments of God. Most historians consider that Cyrus then besieged Babylon. Security and sensuality are sad proofs of approaching ruin. That mirth is sinful indeed, which profanes sacred things; and what are many of the songs used at modern feasts better than the praises sung by the heathens to their gods! See how God struck terror upon Belshazzar and his lords. God's written word is enough to put the proudest, boldest sinner in a fright. What we see of God, the part of the hand that writes in the book of the creatures, and in the book of the Scriptures, should fill us with awful thoughts concerning that part which we do not see. If this be the finger of God, what is his arm when made bare? And what is He? The king's guilty conscience told him that he had no reason to expect any good news from heaven. God can, in a moment, make the heart of the stoutest sinner to tremble; and there needs no more than to let loose his own thoughts upon him; they will give him trouble enough. No bodily pain can equal the inward agony which sometimes seizes the sinner in the midst of mirth, carnal pleasures, and worldly pomp. Sometimes terrors cause a man to flee to Christ for pardon and peace; but many cry out for fear of wrath, who are not humbled for their sins, and who seek relief by lying vanities. The ignorance and uncertainty concerning the Holy Scriptures, shown by many who call themselves wise, only tend to drive sinners to despair, as the ignorance of these wise men did.
vv10-17
Daniel was forgotten at court; he lived privately, and was then ninety years of age. Many consult servants of God on curious questions, or to explain difficult subjects, but without asking the way of salvation, or the path of duty. Daniel slighted the offer of reward. He spoke to Belshazzar as to a condemned criminal. We should despise all the gifts and rewards this world can give, did we see, as we may by faith, its end hastening on; but let us do our duty in the world, and do it all the real service we can.
vv18-31
Daniel reads Belshazzar's doom. He had not taken warning by the judgments upon Nebuchadnezzar. And he had insulted God. Sinners are pleased with gods that neither see, nor hear, nor know; but they will be judged by One to whom all things are open. Daniel reads the sentence written on the wall. All this may well be applied to the doom of every sinner. At death, the sinner's days are numbered and finished; after death is the judgment, when he will be weighed in the balance, and found wanting; and after judgment the sinner will be cut asunder, and given as a prey to the devil and his angels. While these things were passing in the palace, it is considered that the army of Cyrus entered the city; and when Belshazzar was slain, a general submission followed. Soon will every impenitent sinner find the writing of God's word brought to pass upon him, whether he is weighed in the balance of the law as a self-righteous Pharisee, or in that of the gospel as a painted hypocrite.
Key Words
מֶלֶךְ: a king
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר: {Belshatstsar, a Babylonian king}
עֲבַד: to do, make, prepare, keep, etc.
רַב: {abundant}
לְחֶם: {(for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)}
אֲלַף: {hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand}
רַבְרְבָן: a magnate
שְׁתָה: {to imbibe (literally or figuratively)}
חֲמַר: wine
קְבֵל: (adverbially) in front of; usually (with other particles) on account of, so as, since, hence
Cross References
Daniel 5Prophetic description of the sudden terror and physical trembling of Babylon's king during a feast.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Jeremiah foretells that nations would serve Nebuchadnezzar, his son, and his grandson (Belshazzar).
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Establishes the origin of the temple vessels that Belshazzar sacrilegiously abuses.
Supported by John Calvin
Prophetic rebuke of Babylon's secure, careless pleasure-seeking and false sense of safety.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Prophecy that Babylon's princes and rulers would be made drunk and sleep a perpetual sleep.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Traces the ultimate return of these same temple vessels back to Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophecy that God would loose the loins of kings before Cyrus, fulfilled in Belshazzar's terror.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical precedent of a divine voice removing the kingdom from proud Nebuchadnezzar.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Exposes the folly of praising lifeless idols of wood and stone over the living God.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Daniel's status and previous service under Belshazzar's predecessor.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Nebuchadnezzar's warning that God is able to abase those who walk in pride.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Wisdom principle linking pride directly to destruction and a haughty spirit to a fall.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The exact judgment predicted and fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar that Belshazzar ignored.
Supported by John Calvin
Daniel explicitly bases Belshazzar's guilt on his failure to learn from his father's history.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast between Nebuchadnezzar's ultimate acknowledgment of God and Belshazzar's defiance.
Supported by John Calvin