Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:4
4. praised—sang and shouted praises to "gods," which being of gold, "are their own witnesses" (Isaiah 44:9), confuting the folly of those who fancy such to be gods. read more
Daniel 5
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:5
5. In the same hour—that the cause of God's visitation might be palpable, namely, the profanation of His vessels and His holy name. fingers of . . . hand—God admonishes him, not by a dream (as Nebuchadnezzar had been warned), or by a voice, but by "fingers coming forth," the invisibility of Him who moved them heightening the awful impressiveness of the scene, the hand of the Unseen One attesting his doom before the eyes of himself and his guilty fellow revellers. against the candlestick—the... read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:6
6. countenance—literally, "brightness," that is, his bright look. joints of his loins—"the vertebræ of his back" [GESENIUS]. read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:7
7. He calls for the magicians, who more than once had been detected in imposture. He neglects God, and Daniel, whose fame as an interpreter was then well-established. The world wishes to be deceived and shuts its eyes against the light [CALVIN]. The Hebrews think the words were Chaldee, but in the old Hebrew character (like that now in the Samaritan Pentateuch). third ruler—The first place was given to the king; the second, to the son of the king, or of the queen; the third, to the chief of the... read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:8
8. The words were in such a character as to be illegible to the Chaldees, God reserving this honor to Daniel. read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:10
10. queen—the queen mother, or grandmother, Nitocris, had not been present till now. She was wife either of Nebuchadnezzar or of Evil merodach; hence her acquaintance with the services of Daniel. She completed the great works which the former had begun. Hence HERODOTUS attributes them to her alone. This accounts for the deference paid to her by Belshazzar. (See on :-). Compare similar rank given to the queen mother among the Hebrews (1 Kings 15:13). read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:11
11. spirit of the holy gods—She remembers and repeats Nebuchadnezzar's language (Daniel 4:8; Daniel 4:9; Daniel 4:18). As Daniel was probably, according to Oriental custom, deprived of the office to which Nebuchadnezzar had promoted him, as "master of the magicians" (Daniel 4:9), at the king's death, Belshazzar might easily be ignorant of his services. the king . . . thy father the king . . . thy father—The repetition marks with emphatic gravity both the excellencies of Daniel, and the fact... read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:13
13. the captivity of Judah—the captive Jews residing in Babylon. read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:17
17. Not inconsistent with :-. For here he declares his interpretation of the words is not from the desire of reward. The honors in :- were doubtless urged on him, without his wish, in such a way that he could not with propriety refuse them. Had he refused them after announcing the doom of the kingdom, he might have been suspected of cowardice or treason. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:3
3. This act was not one of necessity, or for honor's sake, but in reckless profanity. read more