Daniel 5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:30

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain - On the taking of Babylon, and the consequences, see the notes at Isaiah 13:17-22; Isaiah 45:1-2. The account which Xenophon (“Cyrop.” vii. s.) gives of the taking of Babylon. and of the death of the king - though without mentioning his name, agrees so well with the statement here, that it may be regarded as a strong confirmation of its correctness. After describing the preparation made to take the city by draining off the waters of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:31

And Darius the Median took the kingdom - The city and kingdom were actually taken by Cyrus, though acting in the name and by the authority of Darius, or Cyaxares, who was his uncle. For a full explanation of the conquests of Cyrus, and of the reason why the city is said to have been taken by Darius, see the notes at Isaiah 41:2. In regard to the question who Darius the Median was, see the Introduction to Daniel 6:0, section II. The name Darius - דריושׁ dâreyâvêsh, is the name under which the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5

A.M. 3466. B.C. 538. In this chapter we have an account, (1,) Of Belshazzar’s profane feast, and of his polluting the sacred vessels taken from the temple of God, Daniel 5:1-4 . (2,) Of the handwriting on the wall, denouncing his consequent punishment, Daniel 5:5-9 . (3,) The interpretation of that handwriting by Daniel, Daniel 5:10-29 . (4,) The accomplishment of it in the death of the king, and the transferring of the kingdom to another people, Daniel 5:30 , Daniel 5:31 . read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:1

Daniel 5:1. Belshazzar The son of Evil-merodach, and grandson of Nebuchadnezzar; made a great feast to a thousand of his lords To the principal officers and great men of his court, and was himself present at it. This feast was made at a time of public rejoicing, being an annual festival, when the whole night was spent in revelling; of which season Cyrus took the advantage to make himself master of the city, as Herodotus and Xenophon relate, and as was foretold by Jeremiah 50:24; Jeremiah... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:2-4

Daniel 5:2-4. Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine When he grew warm with wine, Houb. Commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels, &c. Triumphing thereby over God and his people. They drank wine Made themselves merry with wine. And praised the gods of gold, &c. Praised, as gods, senseless images of gold, silver, brass, iron, &c.; thus insulting the great God of heaven and earth, as if these images were more powerful than he, and had enabled them to prevail against him... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:5-6

Daniel 5:5-6. In the same hour At the very time; came forth fingers of a man’s hand The likeness of a man’s hand; and wrote over against the candlestick The angel Gabriel, say the rabbins, directing this hand, and writing by it. Belshazzar seems to have filled up the measure of his iniquity, by this act of gross impiety and dishonour done to the true God. And the king saw It seems, first saw; the part of the hand that wrote It is probable this candlestick was a hanging sconce, near... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:7

Daniel 5:7. The king cried aloud Manifesting at once great fear and great impatience; to bring in the astrologers, &c. In this he imitated Nebuchadnezzar his grandfather: it seems indeed to have been the general practice of these heathen kings, in all unexpected emergencies, to apply to these their wise men for help. But the ill success of Nebuchadnezzar, in such applications, might have taught Belshazzar a better lesson. The king said, Whosoever shall read this writing, &c. To... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:8-9

Daniel 5:8-9. Then came in all the king’s wise men Ambitious of the honour, and desirous to gratify the king. But they could not read the writing Because, says Houbigant, it was written in the ancient Samaritan characters, which were very unlike the Chaldean letters. Or perhaps only the initial letters, M.T.P. were written. But God, for his own glory, reserved the honour of reading and interpreting it for his servant Daniel. Mr. Wintle renders the clause, “They were unable to read the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:10-12

Daniel 5:10-12. Now the queen, &c. The king’s wives and concubines sat with him at the feast, Daniel 5:2; therefore the person here called the queen, and said to come into the banqueting-house on this solemn occasion, must have been the queen-mother, the widow of Evil-merodach, named Nitocris, a lady, according to Herodotus, eminent for her wisdom, and who had the chief direction of public affairs. The queen said, Let not thy thoughts trouble thee Be not so distressed, nor yield to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:13-17

Daniel 5:13-17. Then was Daniel brought in before the king Daniel was now near ninety years of age; so that his years and honours, and former preferments, might have entitled him to a free admission into the king’s presence; yet he was willing to be introduced, as a stranger, by the king’s servants. The king said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel This question of the king shows, that if he was at all acquainted with Daniel, it was very imperfectly; and that in however high esteem that... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:30

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:31

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:2-4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:5-6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:7

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:8-9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:10-12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:13-17

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