Daniel here refers to the history of what happened at the taking of Babylon; but meanwhile he leaves those judgments of God to the consideration of his readers, which the Prophets had predicted before the people had become exiles. He does not use the prophetic style, as we shall afterwards see, but... [ Continue Reading ]
Here king Belshazzar courts his own punishment, because he furiously stirred up God’s wrath against himself, as if he was dissatisfied with its delay while God put off his judgment for so long a period. This is according to what I have said. When the destruction of a house is at hand, the impious re... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet uses the word “_golden, _” probably, because the most precious vessels were brought; silver might also have been added, but the more splendid ones are noticed. He does not say that Nebuchadnezzar carried them off, but implies it to be the common act of all the Babylonians. They obtained... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet shews more distinctly and clearly how the king insulted the true and only God, by ordering his vessels to be brought to him. For when they had been brought forth, _they praised, _says he, _all their gods of gold and silver; _meaning in defiance of the true God they celebrated the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
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 th... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Daniel shews how the king’s mind was struck with fear, lest any one should think his fright without foundation. But he expresses, by many _circumstances, _how disturbed the king was, and thus the sufficiency of the reason would easily appear. It was needful for him to be so struck, that all mig... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet narrates how King Belshazzar sought a remedy for his anxiety; hence we gather how his mind was so immediately wounded, and how he felt he could not escape God’s hand, otherwise he would not have called the wise men so suddenly in the midst of the banquet. Again, when the Prophet says, _H... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Daniel relates how deceived the king was in his opinion, in hoping for any interpretation of the writing from either the magi or the astrologers, the Chaldeans or the soothsayers; for none of them could read it. Hence he pays here the punishment of his ingratitude in passing over God’s Prophet,... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, with regard to the writing itself, God could not be a free agent unless he possessed the power of addressing one man at one time, and a number of men at another. He wished King Belshazzar to be conscious of this writing, while the magi were all as unable to read it as if they were blind. And th... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Daniel relates the occasion of his being brought before the king, as the reader and interpreter of the writing. The queen, he says, did this. It is doubtful whether it was the wife of King Belshazzar, or his grandmother. She was probably an old woman, as she refers to events in the time of King... [ Continue Reading ]
The queen here assigns the reason why Daniel had obtained the honor of being esteemed the prince and master of all the wise men; because she said, _An excellent spirit was found in him, as he interpreted dreams, revealed secrets, and solved difficulties _The three gifts in which Daniel _excelled _ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the king does not acknowledge his own folly, but without any modesty he interrogates Daniel, and that, too, as a captive, — _Art thou, that Daniel, of the captives of Judah, whom my father led away? _He seems to speak contemptuously here, to keep Daniel in servile obedience; although we may rea... [ Continue Reading ]
The following phrase has the same meaning: — _All the wise men were brought before me, and the soothsayers or diviners, to read this writing to me, and to reveal its interpretation; and they could not do it, _said he; for God punished him by shewing how profitless were all the Chaldeans and soothsay... [ Continue Reading ]
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 for this difference. It is not probable that the intention, feeling, or sentiments of the Prophet w... [ Continue Reading ]
Before Daniel recites the writing, and adds its interpretation, he explains to King Belshazzar the origin of this prodigy. He did not begin the reading at once, as he might conveniently have done, saying _Mene, Mene! _as we shall see at the end of the chapter, since the king could not have pro-fired... [ Continue Reading ]
First, with respect to the text; verbally, it is “_he _put,” and thus some translate, “_he _placed his own heart among the brutes,” which makes a tolerable sense; but others rather refer this to God, who placed his heart among beasts, and we know how often the noun substantive is defective in Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel here shews why he, related what we have hitherto heard concerning King _Nebuchadnezzar _’_s _punishment; for Belshazzar ought to have been so affected by that domestic example, as to submit himself to God. We may believe, indeed, that his father Evil-Merodach had forgotten his punishments, si... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet continues his own sentence, and confirms what I have said, namely, King Belshazzar was intractable and willfully blind to God’s judgment. _For thou hast raised thyself, _says he, _against the Lord of heaven. _If he had raised himself thus insolently against men, his sin would be worthy o... [ Continue Reading ]
Some stress must be laid upon the adverb באדין,_badin, _“_at _that time,” because God’s wrath, or at least its denunciation, was now ripe. Daniel, therefore, shews how very patiently God had borne with King Belshazzar in not instantly talking up arms and inflicting punishment; but he now begins to c... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
The exposition of the word Tekel, _to weigh, _now follows: — _Since thou hast been weighed in the balance, or scale, and found wanting _Here Daniel shews God so moderating his judgments, as if he was carrying a balance in his hand. The emblem is taken from the custom of mankind; for men know the use... [ Continue Reading ]
The word פרס, Pheres, is added, for the word Phersin, meaning _his kingdom was divided _among the Medes and Persians. I have no doubt that by this word God signified the dispersion of the Monarchy which was at hand. When, therefore, he says Upharsin, _and they shall divide, _it signifies the instabi... [ Continue Reading ]
This order of the king may excite surprise, since he had been so sharply reproved by the Prophet. He next seemed to have lost all spirit, for he had grown pale a hundred times, and would have devoted the holy Prophet of God to a thousand deaths! How happens it, then, that he ordered him to be adorne... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Daniel shortly relates how his prophecy was fulfilled that very night. As we have before explained it, a customary feast-day had occurred which the Babylonians celebrated annually, and on this occasion the city was betrayed by two satraps, whom Xenophon calls Gobryas and Gadatas. On this passag... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel adds, _the kingdom was transferred to the king of the Medes, _whom he calls Darius, but Xenophon terms him Cyaxares. It is clear enough that Babylon was taken by the skill and under the auspices of Cyrus; since he was a persevering warrior possessed of great authority, though he is not mentio... [ Continue Reading ]