Daniel 5:24-31

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:24

Then was the part of the hand sent - This was the filling up of the cup of thy iniquity; this last act made thee ripe for destruction. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:25

And this is the writing - Had the words been written in the Chaldean character, every wise man there, every one that could read the alphabet of his own language, could have read and interpreted them. Let it be observed, - That the character which we now call Hebrew is the Chaldean character. That the true Hebrew character is that which we call the Samaritan. Daniel could easily read this, for it was the character used by the Jews previously to the Babylonish captivity. It appears... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:29

Clothed Daniel with scarlet - ארגונא argevana , more probably with purple. The gold chain about the neck was an emblem of magisterial authority. It is often thus mentioned in Scripture. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:30

In that night was Belshazzar - slain - Xenophon says, he was dispatched by two lords, Gadatas and Gobrias, who went over to Cyrus, to avenge themselves of certain wrongs which Belshazzar had done them. We have already seen that Cyrus entered the city by the bed of the Euphrates, which he had emptied, by cutting a channel for the waters, and directing them into the marshy country. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:31

Darius the Median took the kingdom - This is supposed to be the same as Cyaxares, son of Astyages and maternal uncle of Cyrus, to whom he gave the throne of Babylon, after himself had had the honor of taking the city. Daniel speaks nothing of the war that raged between the Babylonians and the Medes; but Isaiah speaks particularly of it, chap. 13, 14, 45, Isaiah 46:1-13 , Isaiah 47:1-15 .; and so does Jeremiah, chap. 50, 51. I need not add, that it is largely spoken of by profane... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:24

Verse 24 Some stress must be laid upon the adverb באדין,badin, “at that time,” because God’s wrath, or at least its denunciation, was now ripe. Daniel, therefore, shews how very patiently God had borne with King Belshazzar in not instantly talking up arms and inflicting punishment; but he now begins to come forth as a judge, and to ascend his judgment seat; for the haughtiness was now desperate, and the impiety no longer tolerable. We observe with what emphasis the word then is used; as if he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:25

Verse 25 Daniel here explains these four verses which were written upon the wall. The king could not read them, either through stupor, or because God blunted all his senses, and blinded his eyes, as was formerly said. The same thing must be said of the magi and the soothsayers, for they could have read, had they not been rendered blind. First of all, Daniel recites the four words, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsn, and then adds their interpretation. He repeats the word Mene twice. Some conjecture... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:27

Verse 27 The exposition of the word Tekel, to weigh, now follows: — Since thou hast been weighed in the balance, or scale, and found wanting Here Daniel shews God so moderating his judgments, as if he was carrying a balance in his hand. The emblem is taken from the custom of mankind; for men know the use of the balance for accurate measurement. So also God is said to treat all things by weight and measure, since he does nothing with confusion, but uses moderation; and, according to ordinary... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:28

Verse 28 The word פרס, Pheres, is added, for the word Phersin, meaning his kingdom was divided among the Medes and Persians. I have no doubt that by this word God signified the dispersion of the Monarchy which was at hand. When, therefore, he says Upharsin, and they shall divide, it signifies the instability of the Monarchy, since he wished to destroy or utterly abolish it. But the Prophet alludes very appositely to the division made between the Medes and Persians; and thus his disgrace was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:29

Verse 29 This order of the king may excite surprise, since he had been so sharply reproved by the Prophet. He next seemed to have lost all spirit, for he had grown pale a hundred times, and would have devoted the holy Prophet of God to a thousand deaths! How happens it, then, that he ordered him to be adorned with royal apparel, and next to be proclaimed by his own herald the third person in the kingdom? Some think this was done because the laws of kings were sacred among the Babylonians; nay,... read more

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