Daniel 5:5, Daniel 5:25-28 NIV

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 5:5

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 5:5

Fingers of a man's hand - The fingers were collected about the style or pen as in the act of writing. read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 5 Here Daniel begins his narration of the change which took place, for at that instant the king’ acknowledged something sorrowful and disturbing to be at hand. Yet, as he did not at once understand what it was, God gave him a sign as an omen of calamity, according to the language of the profane. In this way God sent him warning when he saw the king and his nobles raging with mad licentiousness. There appeared, then, the hand of a man, says the Prophet, using this expression from its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:1-9

Blasted merriment. All merriment is not forbidden. Banqueting is not in itself a sin. Jesus Christ himself honoured with his presence a marriage festival, and contributed, by miracle, the wine for the occasion. On the restoration of the prodigal son, a banquet was prepared, while music and dancing were the fitting exponents of the father's joy. God is not a foe to rational pleasure. He gives both the capacity and the occasion for joyful hilarity. But when excess of wine inflames the carnal... 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 5:5

In the same hour oame forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. The two versions given in the Septuagint here do not seriously differ from each other or from the Massoretic text, only that they both omit "the part of," and represent the king as seeing the hand. Theodotion has ἀστραγάλους , which maybe rendered "finger-joints;" otherwise this version is very... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:5

The writing on the wall. We have here a declaration of judgment, the circumstances, form, and effects of which are full of significance. I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DECLARATION OF JUDGMENT . 1 . It was in the king ' s palace. The guards who may keep off the human intruder cannot shut out the Divine messenger. Judgment may find a man in his own home ( Isaiah 37:38 ; Daniel 4:29 ; Luke 12:16 ). 2 . It was at a time of pleasure. The intoxication of pleasure... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:5-17

The crisis of awaking. "Then was Daniel brought in before the king" (verse 13). In introducing the present subject the following features and incidents of the history need vivid and powerful setting: suddenness of the apparition—only fingers writing—in ancient Hebrew characters (same as those of the two Sinaitic tables)—on the plain plaster over against the candlestick—seen by its light—the effect upon the king, pale, trembling, sobered (he will not die drunk)—a great cry for help—why... read more

Albert Barnes

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

In the same hour - On the word “hour,” see the note at Daniel 4:19.Came forth fingers of a man’s hand - Not the whole hand, but only the parts usually employed in writing. Not a man writing; not even an arm, but fingers that seemed to move themselves. They appeared to come forth from the walls, and were seen before they began to write. It was this that made it so impressive and alarming. It could not be supposed that it was the work of man, or that it was devised by man for the purpose of... read more

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

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:1-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 5:5-17

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

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