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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 5:1-9

We have here Belshazzar the king very gay, but all of a sudden very gloomy, and in straits in the fulness of his sufficiency. See how he affronts God, and God affrights him; and wait what will be the issue of this contest; and whether he that hardened his heart against God prospered. I. See how the king affronted God, and put contempt upon him. He made a great feast, or banquet of wine; probably it was some anniversary solemnity, in honour off his birth-day or coronation-day, or in honour of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:7

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers ,.... Or, "with strength" F14 בחיל "cum virtute", Vatablus; "in virtute", Montanus; "fortiter", Cocceius; "cum robore", Michaelis. ; with a strong voice, as loud as he could; which is expressive of the fright he was in, and of his eagerness and impatience of information; laying aside all decency, and forgetting his royal majesty, like a man out of his senses, quite distracted, as it were: of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:8

Then came in all the king's wise men ,.... The whole college of them, the persons before described; over whom, in Nebuchadnezzar's time, Daniel was the chief of the governors, Daniel 2:48 , these came in readily, in hope of getting both riches and honour: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof ; for if they could not do the former, it must be impossible to do the latter; of the reason of which, various are the conjectures F16 Vid.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:9

Then was King Belshazzar greatly troubled ,.... A second time, and perhaps more than before; since he had conceived some hope that his wise men would have informed him what this writing was, and the meaning of it; but finding that they were nonplussed by it, it gave him still greater uneasiness: and his countenance was changed in him ; again; very likely, upon the coming in of the wise men, he had a little recovered himself, and became more composed and serene; which appeared in his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:7

Whosoever shall read this writing - He knew it must be some awful portent, and wished to know what. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:8

They could not read the writing - Because it was in the pure Hebrew, not the Chaldean character. See below. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:7

Verse 7 The Prophet narrates how King Belshazzar sought a remedy for his anxiety; hence we gather how his mind was so immediately wounded, and how he felt he could not escape God’s hand, otherwise he would not have called the wise men so suddenly in the midst of the banquet. Again, when the Prophet says, He cried out loudly, he was clearly so astonished as to forget his being king, for to cry out at table was not consistent with his dignity. But God expelled all pride from him, by compelling... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:8

Verse 8 Here Daniel relates how deceived the king was in his opinion, in hoping for any interpretation of the writing from either the magi or the astrologers, the Chaldeans or the soothsayers; for none of them could read it. Hence he pays here the punishment of his ingratitude in passing over God’s Prophet, while he knew he had predicted truth to his grandfather just as it had happened, as well as Daniel’s general excellence in wisdom, Hence the proofs of his calling were sufficiently numerous... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:9

Verse 9 Now, with regard to the writing itself, God could not be a free agent unless he possessed the power of addressing one man at one time, and a number of men at another. He wished King Belshazzar to be conscious of this writing, while the magi were all as unable to read it as if they were blind. And then, with reference to the interpretation, their perplexity need not surprise us. For God spoke enigmatically, when he said Mene, Mene, and then Tekel, that is weighed, and Peres, divided. If... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:1-9

Blasted merriment. All merriment is not forbidden. Banqueting is not in itself a sin. Jesus Christ himself honoured with his presence a marriage festival, and contributed, by miracle, the wine for the occasion. On the restoration of the prodigal son, a banquet was prepared, while music and dancing were the fitting exponents of the father's joy. God is not a foe to rational pleasure. He gives both the capacity and the occasion for joyful hilarity. But when excess of wine inflames the carnal... read more

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