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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 5:1-9

We have here Belshazzar the king very gay, but all of a sudden very gloomy, and in straits in the fulness of his sufficiency. See how he affronts God, and God affrights him; and wait what will be the issue of this contest; and whether he that hardened his heart against God prospered. I. See how the king affronted God, and put contempt upon him. He made a great feast, or banquet of wine; probably it was some anniversary solemnity, in honour off his birth-day or coronation-day, or in honour of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:1

Belshazzar the king made a great feast ,.... This king was not the immediate successor of Nebuchadnezzar, but Evilmerodach, Jeremiah 52:31 , who, according to Ptolemy's canon, reigned two years; then followed Neriglissar, his sister's husband, by whom he was slain, and who usurped the throne, and reigned four years; he died in the beginning of his fourth year, and left a son called Laborosoarchod, who reigned but nine months, which are placed by Ptolemy to his father's reign, and therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:2

Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine ,.... As he was drinking his cups, and delighted with the taste of the wine, and got merry with it: or, "by the advice of the wine" F8 בטעם חמרא "vino dictante", Tigurine version. , as Aben Ezra and Jarchi interpret it, by a personification; as if that dictated to him, and put him upon doing what follows; and which often puts both foolish and wicked things into the heads of men, and upon doing them: then he commanded to bring the golden and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:3

Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem ,.... That is, the servants to whom the orders were given fetched them from the temple of Bel, and brought them to the king's house; and though only mention is made of golden vessels, yet no doubt the silver ones were also brought, according to the king's command: and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them ; by which they were profaned, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:4

They drunk wine ,.... That is, out of the vessels of the temple at Jerusalem, and perhaps till they were drunk: and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone ; for they had gods of all these materials; See Gill on Daniel 1:2 , and these they praised by offering sacrifices unto them; or rather by singing songs, and drinking healths, and by ascribing all their victories over the nations of the world to them; as that by their means they had got such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:5

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand , &c.; From heaven, as Jarchi; or they came forth as if they came out of the wall: this was done by the power of God, though it might be by the intervention or means of an angel; so Josephus Ben Gorion F9 Hist. l. 1. c. 5. p. 24. says, that an angel came and wrote what follows; and Saadiah says it was Gabriel, called a man, Daniel 11:21 , but this is conjecture; however, at the very time the king and his nobles were feasting and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:1

Belshazzar the king made a great feast - This chapter is out of its place, and should come in after the seventh and eighth. There are difficulties in the chronology. After the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach his son ascended the throne of Babylon. Having reigned about two years, he was slain by his brother-in-law, Neriglissar. He reigned four years, and was succeeded by his son Laborosoarchod, who reigned only nine months. At his death Belshazzar the son of Evil-merodach, was raised... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:2

Whiles he tasted the wine - He relished it, got heated by it, and when Wine got fully in, Wit went wholly out; and in consequence he acted the profane part of which we immediately read. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 5:4

And praised the gods of gold - They had gods of all sorts, and of all metals; with wooden gods, and stone gods, beside! read more

Adam Clarke

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

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