Daniel 5:25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 5:10-29

Here is, I. The information given to the king, by the queen-mother, concerning Daniel, how fit he was to be consulted in this difficult case. It is supposed that this queen was the widow of Evil-Merodach, and was that famous Nitocris whom Herodotus mentions as a woman of extraordinary prudence. She was not present at the feast, as the king's wives and concubines were (Dan. 5:2); it was not agreeable to her age and gravity to keep a merry night. But, tidings of the fright which the king and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 5:25

And this is the writing that was written ,.... They are such and such letters, and so to be read, as follows: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN ; which are Chaldee words, and may be literally rendered, "he hath numbered, he hath numbered"; that is, God hath certainly, perfectly, and exactly numbered; "he hath weighed", God hath weighed thee, Belshazzar; "and they divide the kingdom"; that is, the Medes and Persians, as appears from the following interpretation: 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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:1-31

EXPOSITION BELSHAZZAR 'S FEAST . In regard to this chapter the peculiar state of the Septuagint text has to be noted. At the beginning of the chapter there are three verses which seem to be either variant versions of the Septuagint text, or versions of a text which was different from that from which the Septuagint has been drawn. Throughout the chapter, further, there are traces of doublets. Most of these variations occur in the Syriac of Paulus Tellensis. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:17-29

The value of a good man. The value to a community of a wise and good man is not to be measured by rubies. The safety, welfare, and happiness of society hang upon him. I. THE GOOD MAN 'S GENEROSITY OF MIND . Daniel does not refuse to come when sent for in haste by the king He might have taken occasion, teem the fright of the king, to remind him of past neglect. He might have accused the king of selfish inconsistency, in that he had dishonoured Daniel in the days of kingly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:17-31

At the bar of God. "The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified" ( Daniel 5:23 ). In this tremendous scene Daniel may be regarded as counsel for the crown—for the everlasting crown, for the throne of eternal righteousness, against the unhappy prisoner placed by these awful events at the bar. As such he is the representative of all earnest preachers of righteousness. He was marked by zeal for the right of the crown; fidelity to the position; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:25-28

And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. The Septuagint has two versions of this passage, one m the text, the other in the portion at the beginning, which we think is really composed of marginal readings. In the text the Aramaic is not given... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:25-28

Found wanting. The mysterious writing on the wall of Belshazzar's palace is a revelation of the judgment which must certainly follow all misuse of the talents and opportunities of life. It brings vividly before us the summons, the trial, and the sentence which awaits every one who neglects and abuses his mission in the world. I. THE SUMMONS . "Numbered" is the first word. The days of the Babylonian supremacy are numbered, and the days of the life of King Belshazzar are numbered;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 5:25

And this is the writing that was written - The Babylonians, it would seem, were unacquainted with the “characters” that were used, and of course unable to understand the meaning. See Daniel 5:8. The first thing, therefore, for Daniel to do was to read the writing, and this he was able to do without difficulty, probably, as already remarked, because it was in the ancient Hebrew character - a character quite familiar to him, though not known to the Babylonians, whom Belshazzar consulted. It is... read more

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