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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:27

Tekel - This word (תקל teqēl) is also, according to Gesenius, a passive participle (from תקל teqal - “to poise, to weigh”), and means “weighed.” It would be used with reference to anything placed in a balance to ascertain its weight; and hence, like the word “measure,” would denote that the extent, dimensions, true worth, or character of anything was ascertained. As by the use of scales the weight of anything is known, so the word is applied to any estimate of character or of actions, and a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:28

Peres - In Daniel 5:25 this is “Upharsin.” These are but different forms of the same word - the word in Daniel 5:25 being in the plural, and here in the singular. The verb (פרס peras) means, to “divide;” and in this form, as in the previous cases, it is, according to Gesenius, participle meaning “divided.” As it stands here, it would be applicable to anything that was “divided” or “sundered” - whether a kingdom, a palace, a house, territory, etc. “What” was divided could be known only by Divine... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 5:24-28

Daniel 5:24-28. Then was part of the hand sent from him The LXX. read, Δια τουτο εκ προσωπου αυτου απεσταλη αστραγαλος χειρος , και την γραφην ταυτην ενεταξε . “On this account hath the joint, or part of a hand, been sent from his presence, and hath formed this writing.” The reading in the Vulgate is to the same purpose. Houbigant translates the verse, “Therefore is the hand sent from him, the fingers whereof have formed this writing.” And this is the writing, MENE, &c. In the Arabic... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:1-31

Belshazzar’s feast (5:1-31)The events of this chapter took place in 539 BC. If Daniel was about fifteen years of age when taken captive to Babylon in 605 BC, he would now be over eighty. Nebuchadnezzar had long been dead. The present king, Nabonidus, was absent in distant territories for much of his reign, and the rule of the country was largely in the hands of his son Belshazzar. The queen who appears in the story (v. 10) was probably the queen mother, wife of Nabonidus. Nebuchadnezzar is... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 5:28

made a proclamation . See note on "herald", Daniel 3:4 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Daniel 5:28

Daniel 5:28. The Medes and Persians— The kingdom of the Medes seems to have been but of short duration: it probably had its name of Media from מדי Madi, the third son of Japhet; but its first establishment into a kingdom is dated about 150 years before the reign of Cyrus. Sir Isaac Newton reckons up only five kings. Herodotus (lib. 1:) tells us, the first was Dejoces, a man of great prudence, and who reigned a long time. Phraortes his son succeeded him, whom Calmet judges to have been the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:27

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 (1 Samuel 2:3; Psalms 62:9). Like spurious gold or silver (Jeremiah 6:30). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:28

28. Peres—the explanation of "dividers" (Daniel 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]. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 5:25-28

6. Daniel’s interpretation of the writing 5:25-28Scholars have wearied themselves trying to figure out how Daniel got his interpretation from these three apparently Aramaic words. They have been as unsuccessful as Belshazzar’s original wise men were. It seems best to me simply to take Daniel’s interpretation at face value, even though we may not be able to understand completely how he arrived at it. It has been said that Daniel could interpret these words because he recognized his Father’s... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:1-31

Belshazzar’s FeastBelshazzar, king of Babylon, holds a great feast, at which he profanely uses the sacred vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple at Jerusalem (Daniel 5:1-4). He is terrified at seeing part of a human hand writing mysterious words on the wall of the banqueting room, and vainly offers great rewards to the wise men of Babylon if they can read and explain the writing (Daniel 5:5-9). The queen tells him of Daniel, and of his fame for wisdom, acquired in Nebuchadnezzar’s... read more

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