EXCURSUS C: BELSHAZZAR (DANIEL 5). Before any opinion can be pronounced upon the identification of this king with other known kings, the following questions require an answer. In Daniel 5:11, Are the words to be taken literally, and explained to mean that Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar’s own son? In... [ Continue Reading ]
V. (1) BELSHAZZAR. — On this king see _Excursus C._ As he was the son of Nabonidus, a space of about thirty years must have elapsed since the event recorded in the last chapter. The Babylonian empire survived the death of Nebuchadnezzar only twenty-five years. A THOUSAND. — There is nothing unreas... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILES HE TASTED — _i.e.,_ while he was enjoying the wine. The sacred vessels were brought out of the temple of Merodach, and profaned in this manner for the purpose of defying Jehovah. But it may be reasonably asked, What led him to think of Jehovah in the midst of the revelry? It may have been tha... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME HOUR — _i.e._, suddenly and unexpectedly. (Comp. Daniel 3:6.) Observe that it was only a portion of the hand that the king saw (comp. Daniel 5:24), and that we are not told whether the guests saw the hand or not. That the writing was visible to all is plain from Daniel 5:8. We remark her... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING’S COUNTENANCE WAS CHANGED. — The effect of the vision on the king changes his whole expression to that of alarm instead of drunken mirth.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ASTROLOGERS. — It is worthy of notice that on this occasion the magicians (the _chartummim_) do not appear. We must either suppose that they are included under the general term “Chaldeans,” or that the king in his terror forgot to summon them. The “wise men” spoken of (Daniel 5:8) were the body... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN — _i.e.,_ after the king had addressed the wise men whom he had summoned. But why could not they read an inscription which Daniel deciphered at first sight? It has been conjectured (1) that the character was old Semitic, or one which the wise men did not know; (2) that the language of the inscr... [ Continue Reading ]
The terror of Belshazzar and his lords is caused by the impression that the inability of the wise men to read the inscription is the portent of some terrible calamity.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY REASON OF THE WORDS. — The noise and confusion in the banquet-hall was heard by the queen-mother in her apartments. Her respect for Daniel is evident from her language. The position which she held was one of influence, for it appears that her advice was no sooner offered than it was accepted.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT. — Comp. Daniel 4:8. THY FATHER. — No blood relationship is necessarily implied by this word. It means no more than “predecessor.” (See _Introd.,_ sec. VI.)... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH AS. — The effect of these words is to combine the two facts mentioned in Daniel 5:11, and to make the advice at the end of this verse more forcible. “Because Daniel is a wise man, and has proved his wisdom in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, therefore send for him now.” DISSOLVING OF DOUBTS. —... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING SPAKE. — The words of the queen-mother, especially her mention of the circumstance that Daniel’s name had been changed to Beltehazzar, at once recalls the whole of the circumstances to the king’s mind. That Belshazzar knew him by reputation is plain from the description given of him at... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THING — _i.e._, the whole of this miraculous transaction.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, gift, or reward. (Comp. the conduct of Elisha, 2 Kings 5:16; 2 Kings 8:9.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOST HIGH GOD. — Comp. this and the three following verses with Daniel 4:16; Daniel 4:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS DWELLING... — This is a fact supplementary to what is stated in Daniel 4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH THOU KNEWEST. — The whole history of Nebuchadnezzar was known to Belshazzar. He had not, however, learned the moral lesson conveyed by it. He was therefore doubly guilty in the sight of God, because his blasphemy was wilful.... [ Continue Reading ]
GODS OF SILVER... — Comp. Deuteronomy 4:28. Belshazzar had exceeded those limits of authority over Israel which he had by right of conquest. The Israelites were, indeed, his subjects, but he had no right to blaspheme their God. For similar instances of men exceeding the limits of their authority whi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN. — Not only “at that time,” but also “because of this.” Daniel here expressly designates the writing as something proceeding from God.... [ Continue Reading ]
MENE... — It should be remarked that the word _Mene,_ which occurs twice in the inscription, is found only once in the interpretation, and that the “Medes” who are mentioned in the interpretation are not spoken of in the inscription. Hence it has been conjectured that the second _Mene_ was originall... [ Continue Reading ]
DARIUS THE MEDIAN. — Note the LXX. variation: “And Artaxerxes of the Medes took the kingdom, and Darius, full of days and glorious in old age.” (See _Excursus D._) TOOK — _i.e.,_ received it from the hands of a conqueror. (Comp. Daniel 9:1, where Darius is said to have been “made king over the real... [ Continue Reading ]