The king's countenance was changed - Here is a very natural description of fear and terror. The face grows pale; The mind becomes greatly agitated; Pains seize on the lower part of the back and kidneys; A universal tremor takes place, so that the knees smite against each other; 5. And lastly, either a syncope takes place, or the cry of distress is uttered, Daniel 5:7 ; : "The king cried." read more
Whosoever shall read this writing - He knew it must be some awful portent, and wished to know what. read more
They could not read the writing - Because it was in the pure Hebrew, not the Chaldean character. See below. read more
The queen - came - This is generally allowed to have been the widow of Nebuchadnezzar; if so, she was the queen Amiyt, daughter of Astyages, sister of Darius the Mede, and aunt of Cyrus, according to Polyhistor, cited by Cedrenus. See Calmet. Others think that Nitocris was the person who is said to be queen when Cyrus took the city; and is stated to have been a lady of eminent wisdom and discretion, and to have had the chief direction of the public affairs. She was the mother of Labynithus;... read more
Nebuchadnezzar thy father - See the note on Daniel 5:1 ; (note). read more
Dissolve doubts - Untie knots - unbind what is bound. An expression used in the east to signify a judge of eminent wisdom and skill. read more
Let thy gifts be to thyself - They could be of little use to any, as the city was in a few hours to be taken and pillaged. read more
Nebuchadnezzar thy father - Or grandfather, as the margin reads, Daniel 5:2 . See the notes on Daniel 5:1 ; (note). read more
Whom he would he slew - The genuine character of a despot, whose will is the only rule of his conduct. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:5
Fingers of a man's hand - The fingers were collected about the style or pen as in the act of writing. read more