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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Daniel 5:17

‘Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him its interpretation.”

Daniel politely states that he wishes for no reward. He is not here to benefit from what he is about to do. This probably impressed the king with the idea that such a man would speak only the truth. Besides such refusals were often seen as polite acceptances among orientals. But the reader is aware all the time that the promise is anyway an empty one, for by the morrow there will be no kingdom.

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See also Daniel 5:17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 17. _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....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN DANIEL ANSWERED AND SAID BEFORE THE KING, LET THY GIFTS BE TO THYSELF - That is, “I do not desire them; I do not act from a hope of reward.” Daniel means undoubtedly to intimate that what he woul...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 5 BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST _ 1. Belshazzar's licentious feast (Daniel 5:1)_ 2. The writing on the wall (Daniel 5:5) 3. Forgotten Daniel (Daniel 5:10) 4. The message of Daniel ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DANIEL 5. Belshazzar, who is represented as king of Babylon, makes a great feast, using the vessels which his father had brought to Babylon from the Temple at Jerusalem. During the feast the fingers o...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    INTERPRETATION. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "interpretation thereof"....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Daniel rejects the proffered honours: he will read the writing; but he will do so quite irrespectively of any promises made to him by the heathen king. _before the king_ cf. on Daniel 2:8. _rewards_...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    LET THY GIFTS BE TO THYSELF— This is a compliment. He afterwards accepts what he here declines through civility. He means to say, that he was ready to do whatever the king commanded, without any respe...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    c. TRANSGRESSION TEXT: Daniel 5:17-23 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing unto the k...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. THE...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST Belshazzar, king of Babylon, holds a great feast, at which he profanely uses the sacred vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple at Jerusalem (Daniel 5:1). He is terrified at...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE MEN WHO WERE LOYAL TO GOD DANIEL _ROBERT BRYCE_ CHAPTER 5 V1 King Belshazzar had a big party. He invited a thousand important people and he drank wine with them. V2 As Belshazzar drank wine,...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    LET THY GIFTS BE TO THYSELF. — Daniel refused the king’s offer of reward at first, but afterwards accepted it. In this way he showed his determination to speak the truth without any respect to fee, gi...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    בֵּ אדַ֜יִן עָנֵ֣ה דָנִיֵּ֗אל וְ אָמַר֙ קֳדָ֣

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE FIERY INSCRIPTION IN this chapter again we have another magnificent fresco-picture, intended, as was the last-but under circumstances of aggravated guilt and more terrible menace-to teach the les...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING Daniel 5:17-31 Daniel was unperturbed and undismayed. Calm and collected, he recognized his Father's handwriting, and read it, as the instructed may decipher a scroll which...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The next scene is cast in the reign of Belshazzar. He had succeeded to the throne of his father, and was a man of profligate habits. No details are given of his reign, but a graphic picture is set bef...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Another. He does not refuse the offers, but civilly replies that he will give satisfaction without regard to any recompense._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Who but must admire the faithfulness and honesty of Daniel. And who but must bless the Lord for making him so! It was now many a year since Daniel was first brought before the king on such an occasion...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    First of all, Daniel here rejects the proffered gifts. We do not read of his doing so before; he rather seemed to delight in the honors conferred by King Nebuchadnezzar. We may inquire into the reason...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In chapter 5 the iniquity of the head of the Gentiles with respect to the God of Israel reaches the highest point, and assumes that character of insolence and contempt which is but the effort of weakn...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN DANIEL ANSWERED AND SAID BEFORE THE KING,.... With great freedom, boldness, and intrepidity: LET THY GIFTS BE TO THYSELF; remain with thee; I neither want them, nor desire them; nor will I recei...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. Ver....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then was Daniel brought in before the king_ Daniel was now near ninety years of age; so that his years and honours, and former preferments, might have entitled him to a free admission into the king's...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE INTERPRETATION AND THE FULFILMENT...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards, the presents which he intended as a fee to Daniel, TO ANOTHER, the prophet of Jehovah rejecting everyt...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    REWARDS: Or, fee, as Daniel 2:6...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    10-17 Daniel was forgotten at court; he lived privately, and was then ninety years of age. Many consult servants of God on curious questions, or to explain difficult subjects, but without asking the...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Did not Daniel receive gifts and honour, from Nebuchadnezzar, on the like occasion? ANSW. He was then young, and the captivity was to be long, and he by his place could be helpful to his poor brethren...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Daniel 5:17 Then H116 Daniel H1841 answered H6032 (H8750) said H560 (H8750) before H6925 king H4430 gifts...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Daniel 5:1 I. Belshazzar's feast was characterised by great intemperance. II. It was characterised by great profanity. III. This night was one of supernatural visitation. IV. This was a night of t...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Daniel's personal history under Belshazzar and Darius. The pride of Belshazzar and his downfall. The writing on the wall. Its interpretation and fulfillment. CHARACTERS: God, Belshazzar, Qu...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Daniel 5:2. _Belshazzar his father Nebuchadnezzar._ Belshazzar was the son of Evilmerodach, and grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The empire therefore falling at this time, fulfilled the prophecy, that all...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And made known to him the interpretation._ THE TRUE INTERPRETER OF LIFE I. THAT IN NO NATION IS THERE A TOTAL ABSENCE OF DIVINE RULERSHIP. The people of Israel assumed that their God was their own p...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then was Daniel brought in before the king._ THE PREACHER’S OPPORTUNITY How the prophet always clears a space for himself; how on great occasions men distribute themselves into proper classes. When...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    DANIEL—NOTE ON DANIEL 5:1 Daniel explains to Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, that the writing on the wall is a message that the true God rules over all. In his own time, this true God will vindi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    DANIEL—NOTE ON DANIEL 5:13 Daniel alone is able to decipher the writing on the wall. It is a message from the true God, telling of the end of the Babylonian Empire. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _HOMILETICS_ SECT. XVII.—BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST (Chap. 5.) This chapter deservedly a favourite with general readers [126]. The magnificence, excitement, and revelry of the royal feast; the profligate kin...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION DANIEL 5:1 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...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now in our Bible to Daniel, chapter 5. Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousands (Daniel 5:1). There are men who call themse...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Kings 3:13; 2 Kings 5:16; 2 Kings 5:26; Acts 8:20; Daniel 2:6;...

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