Daniel 5

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:5

The writing on the wall. We have here a declaration of judgment, the circumstances, form, and effects of which are full of significance. I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DECLARATION OF JUDGMENT . 1 . It was in the king ' s palace. The guards who may keep off the human intruder cannot shut out the Divine messenger. Judgment may find a man in his own home ( Isaiah 37:38 ; Daniel 4:29 ; Luke 12:16 ). 2 . It was at a time of pleasure. The intoxication of pleasure... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:5-17

The crisis of awaking. "Then was Daniel brought in before the king" (verse 13). In introducing the present subject the following features and incidents of the history need vivid and powerful setting: suddenness of the apparition—only fingers writing—in ancient Hebrew characters (same as those of the two Sinaitic tables)—on the plain plaster over against the candlestick—seen by its light—the effect upon the king, pale, trembling, sobered (he will not die drunk)—a great cry for help—why... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:6

Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. The Septuagint differs in a somewhat important degree from the Massoretic text, "And his countenance was changed, and fears and thoughts troubled him." In this clause not improbably φόβοι and ὑπόνοιαι are double renderings of רעין . "And the king hasted and rose up, and looked at that writing, and his companions round about... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:7

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. The Septuagint here also differs from the Massoretic text, "And the king cried out with a great cry to call in the enchanters ( ἐπαοιδοὐς ) and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:8

Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. As we have already said, the Septuagint here repeats the list of wise men. and omits "the Chaldeans." If the word "Chaldean" had been in the text originally, the fact that astrologers were frequently called Chaldeans would render it unlikely that the word should be omitted. Whereas from this very ground it was a word specially apt to be added on the margin,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:9

Then was King Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied . This verse presents signs also of being a repetition. The last clause appears to be the original form of the mysterious clause at the end of the sixth verse according to the Septuagint; the word mishtabsheen , which occurs here, seems to have been read mishtabhareen , from שַׁבְהַר ( shab'har ), "to be glorious," in the ittaphel; this becomes "to boast one's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:10-12

Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet-house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: there is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the King Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:10-16

Good counsel in perplexity. One had abstained from that scene of insane revelry, and she alone in the royal household was competent to take the helm amid the consternation and panic. Possibly the king had declined to invite her to the carousal; he did not, however, decline to receive her judicious coon * el. This queen (or queen-mother) was by far the worthier sovereign, and now used the regal power with regal skill. I. TRUE WISDOM TREASURES UP THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:11-12

The representative of God. "There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods" ( Daniel 5:11 ). I. SOME OF HIS CHARACTERISTICS . 1 . Intelligence. "Light, understanding, wisdom" ( Daniel 5:11 ). 2 . Excellence of spirit. ( Daniel 5:12 .) 3 . Faculty. ( Daniel 5:12 .) 4 . Experience. Some achievement ( Daniel 5:12 ). 5 . The indwelling of the Divine Spirit. ( Daniel 5:11 .) II. A POSSIBLE POSITION . 1 . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:13-16

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation... read more

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