CHAP. V. V. 1-4. Belshazzar signifies Bel is his riches. IHe was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, and not his immediate successor . ( Marg . and Ref . Notes , Ezra 1 : 1-4. Is . 14:21 -23.) He reigned seventeen years: and all that time he was engaged in unsuccessful war with Cyrus and the Medes and Persians, having succeeded to it along with his kingdom.
Cyrus had driven the Chaldean armies out of the field, and at this time besieged Babylon: but the king and people, confiding in their impregnable fortifications, the abundance of provisions stored up in the city, and the extent of cultivated lands within the walls, derided his attempts. ( Notes , 30,31. Is . 13:7,8. 44:25-28, v. 28. 45:1-6.
Jer. 51:30-32.) Indeed it seemed scarcely possible that Cyrus should succeed: but he was raised up by God for that service, and was endued with extraordinary capacity, vigor, and perseverance; while Belshazzar was a feeble and negligent prince, given up to pleasure, and leaving the affairs of his kingdom to others.
Cyrus had already formed his plan, and had privately made preparation, for draining off the waters of the Euphrates into adjacent lakes and reservoirs, that he might march his army on its channel into the city: and he waited for this feast, as the proper time for the execution of his design. It was a stated festival, probably observed in honor of some
and righteous sovereignty and almighty pow-idol; on which it was customary for the people gers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
er, the meaner will all the inhabitants of the earth appear in our estimation; for they are all reputed as nothing before him. As "he doeth what he will in heaven and on earth, and none can stay his hand," or call him to account for his conduct; we should learn to receive every thing as his appointment, to submit to his will, to seek his favor, and to rejoice, that "his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure." Thus our trials and deliverances will prove mercies; and we shall use every gift of God to promote the glory of the Giver. This is our highest privilege, and the sure path to immortal happiness, in which "excellent majesty will be added to us." In every circumstance of life and death, we should bless, praise, and honor our God and Savior, and excite others to do the same; for "all his works are
of all ranks to give a full loose to their appetites, in every kind of indulgence: and Cyrus reasonably expected on that occasion to find them off their guard, and in the utmost confusion; nor was he disappointed. For, regardless of so potent and vigilant an enemy at the gates, Belshazzar set his subjects the example of riot and excess; and they copied it. He entertained a thousand of his nobles at his own table: and it was considered as a great condescension that he would eat and drink with them; for these princes did not generally mix with their subjects. Whilst they were thus regaling themselves with generous wines, he proposed to fetch the sacred vessels of the temple to drink out of, from contempt to JЕНОVAH and his worshippers. The seventy predicted years of the captivity, from Jehoiakim's
6 Then the king's * countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, * so that the joints of his loins were loosed, 1 and his knees smote one against another. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with || scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
8 Then came in all the king's wise men : but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
h See on 9.-2:1. 3:19. Job 15: 20-27. 20:19-27. Ps. 73:18 -20.
Chal. brightnesses. 9. Chal. changed it.
i 10. See on 4:5,19.-7:28. k Ps. 69:23. Is. 13:7,8. 21:3,4.
Or, girdles. Is. 5:27. Chal. bindings , or, knots .
1 Is. 35:3. Ez. 7:17. 21:7. Nah. 2:10. Heb. 12:12.
Chal. with might . 4:14. marg . m See on 2:2. 4:6.-Gen. 41:8. Is. 44:25,26.
n 16,29. 2:6. Gen. 41:42-44. Num. 22:7,17. 24:11. 1 Sam. 17:25.
first reduction, drew near to an end; and Belshazzar might intend this to shew his disregard of the prophecies, respecting the restoration of the Jews. The vessels seem to have remained hitherto unmolested in the treasury of the temple of Belus: some indeed think, that they had been dedicated to that idol, and used in his worship; but this does not appear from the history. ( Marg . b, c.- Notes , 1:1,2, v. 2. Ezra 1:7-11.) Belshazzar, however, at this time determined to appropriate them to his own use, and to pollute them by idolatry and intemperance.
For, while the company drank out of these sacred vessels, they celebrated the praises of their idols, which were mere lifeless gold, or silver, or of other inferior materials: probably singing songs concerning their pretended exploits, and to their honor; pouring out libations to them; and ascribing all the victories of their ancestors, and the greatness of the city, to their assistance; especially praising them as the authors of their success against the worshippers of JEHOVAH.
Thus they seemed ambitious of carrying impiety and blasphemy to the greatest extreme. ( Marg . || Ref . d, e.-Notes, Judg . 16:23-25. 1 Sam . 5:1, 2. Hab. 1:11. Rev. 11:7-12, v . 10.)-Many expositors seem to consider sacrilege , as almost exclusively Belshazzar's crime. But the spoil
9 Then was king Belshazzar' greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
[Practical Observations.]
10 Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet-house: and the queen spake, and said, O king, live for ever: "let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.
11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods; and in the days of thy ** father * light and understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy #father, the king, 1 say , thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, # interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard
of God; there appeared on the wall of the room, the fingers of a man's hand, employed in writing, over against the candlestick, that it might be more distinctly seen. This, no doubt was effected by the ministration of an angel. The king not only saw the hand, but the writing afterwards remained on the wall: and though he did not understand what was written, yet conscious guilt led him to forbode some dreadful meaning.
"His thoughts troubled him;" his remorse of conscience caused him to turn pale, his whole frame was disordered, so that the joints of his loins were loosed through terror, and his knees smote against each other. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . f-1.-Notes, Ps . 69:22-28, v . 23. Is . 13:7,8. 21:2-5. 45:1— 6, v . 1.) In great anguish and agitation, therefore, he called to his servants to bring in the astrologers and soothsayers; and, with large promises of honor and preferment, he allured them to exert their utmost skill to read and interpret the hand-writing. ( Marg . and Marg .
Ref . m-p.- Notes , 2:2,5-9.4:4-7.) But they were not able to do it; and some not very probable conjectures have been formed concerning the reason of their inability: but we only know, that God was pleased, for the honor of his own name, to hide it from them. This renewed or increased Belshazzar's consternation; and his
ing of the sacred treasures by Nebuchadnez-nobles also, notwithstanding their numbers,
zar, and no doubt appropriating them to his own use, was sacrilege in the same sense, as Belshazzar's employing the sacred vessels to common purposes: and the peculiar heinousness of Belshazzar's sin evidently consisted, in studiously and publicly insulting the God of Israel, by using the sacred vessels of his temple, when feasting in honor of the idols of Babylon.
V. 5-9. While the king, his nobles, and women, were rejoicing with impious mirth, in defiance of the power, providence, and word
mirth, and wine, were dismayed and astonished exceedingly. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . r, s. Note , Joel 2:6.) - 'It was probably writ in the 'old Hebrew letters, now called the Samaritan 'character, which the Chaldeans were ig'norant of. Lowth . It is, however, wholly incredible, that there should not be one learned man in Babylon, acquainted with the old Hebrew alphabet. Probably the difficulty lay, not in knowing the characters, but in finding out any consistent meaning in them. ( Note , 25 -28.)
B. C. 538. sentences, and * dissolving of + doubts, were || known unto me the interpretation thereof: found in the same Daniel, a whom the but they could not shew the interpretation king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the Spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15 And now the wise men , the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make
V. 10-12. The queen, here spoken of, was not the queen-consort; for Belshazzar's wives and concubines were present at the feast. The queen-mother, Nitocris, the widow of Evilmerodach, the son of Nebuchadnezzar and the father of Belshazzar, is generally supposed to be meant. ( Notes , 2 Kings 25:27-30. Ezra 1: 1-4.) She was a woman of great capacity and reputation; and her active and prudent management had been for some time the chief stay of the empire.
She had not attended this riotous banquet: but, hearing the tidings of the hand-writing, and the terror of Belshazzar, she came into the room; and, after the customary salutation, exhorted the king to resume his courage, and not to yield to dread or despondency; for, though the wise men of Babylon could not read the writing, he had a man in his kingdom who could.
She spake of Daniel in language similar to what Nebuchadnezzar had used, and which she probably had learned from him: for she was aged, and Nebuchadnezzar had not been dead above twentyfour years; so that she no doubt well remem bered the extraordinary events which occurred towards the close of his life. ( Marg . and Marg .
Ref . v-x.- Notes , 4:8,9.) Having mentioned, that "in him was the Spirit of the holy Gods," she spake with admiration of the variety of knowledge and wisdom which be possessed, like those of the gods, according to her confused ideas on that subject: she mentioned his being advanced above all the other wise men of Babylon; as having been repeatedly proved superior to them in excellency of knowledge and disposition, and in interpreting dreams, or solving difficult questions; alluding, no doubt, to the instances which have been considered: (2:4:) and she observed, that if he were called,
of the thing.
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, & thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
17 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.
Israel's God, and as entirely estranged from the practices of the magicians; though erroneously considered by Nitocris as the master of them. (2:48. Note , 4:8,9.)
V. 13-16. Some infer from Belshazzar's ignorance of Daniel, that he had not been employed under him: but this rather proves that the king minded pleasure more than business; and was better acquainted with those who ministered to his sensuality, than with such as managed affairs of state. 'Belshazzar knew 'nothing of him;' (Daniel;) 'which argues him 'to have been a weak and vicious prince, accord'ing to the character historians give of him; and 'that he left the care of the public affairs to his 'mother, minding nothing but his pleasures.' Lowth .
It is certain that Daniel did "the king's business" in the former years of Belshazzar; (8:27.) and it seems probable, that he was never quite laid aside, though comparatively neglected. Indeed Belshazzar spake to him with less respect, than Nebuchadnezzar had been used to do; and seems even to have reflected on him as a stranger and a captive, whilst he acknowledged his extraordinary endowments. As, however, the wise men could not read the writing, and he had been informed that Daniel could, he was willing that he should on that condition have the promised recompense. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref.)
V. 17. Daniel evidently behaved in a very different manner to Belshazzar, on this occasion, than he had formerly done to Nebuchadnezzar; both omitting the customary expressions of respect and good-will, and slighting his offers of honor and preferment. ( Notes , 4: 19-27.) But it should be considered, that Nebuchadnezzar was his senior, as well as his superior in authority; and his benefactor:
he would certainly read and interpret the hand-whereas he spake to Belshazzar, as a very aged
writing. Probably, she knew where to find him, though Belshazzar did not; and might tacitly intend to censure his neglect of so extraordinary a person. Though Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel Belteshazzar, from the name of his idol, he was it seems more generally called by his original name. He was not among the magicians, when called by Belshazzar: and both these circumstances shew, that he was well known as a zealous worshipper of
and eminent person (being at this time almost ninety years old,) to one much younger. He had in former instances, known from prophecy, that the Chaldean monarchy would continue for some time, and his preferment gave him an opportunity of being useful: but he was now assured that Belshazzar's reign and life, and the Chaldean monarchy, were about to terminate together. Probably, he was at this time nearly, if not fully, as high in authority
gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive, and whom he would he set up, and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened * in pride, he was t deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
k 3:4. Jer. 25:9,&c. 27:5-7. Hab. 2:5. Rom. 13:1. 1 2:12,13. 3:6,20,21,29. Prov. 16:14. John 19:11.
m 4:30-33,37. Ex. 9:17. 18: 11. Job 15:25-27. 40:11,12. Prov. 16:5,18. Is. 14:12-17. Luke 1:51,52. 18:14.
n1 Sam. 6:6. 2 Kings 17:14. 2 Chr. 36:13. Jer. 19:15. Heb. 3:13.
* Or, to deal proudly.
Chal. made to come down. Is. 47:1. Jer. 13:18. 48:18. Ez. 30 : 6.
o See on 4:25,32,33. Job 30:3
-7.
Or, he made his heart equal, &-c.
p See on 4:17,25,32,35,37.-Ex. 9:14-16. Ps. 83:17,18. Ez. 17:24.
q 18. Ps. 119:46. Matt. 14:4. Acts 4:8-13.
r Ex. 10:3. 2 Chr. 33:23. 36: 12. Is. 26:10,11. Matt. 21:32. Acts 5:29-33. 1 Pet. 5:5,6. s Luke 12:47. John 13:17. Jam. 4:17.
as Belshazzar proffered to advance him; and he could scarcely avoid despising one, who was so extremely ignorant concerning even the affairs of his own kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar was a very faulty character: yet he had great abilities, applied them to business, and was in many respects eminent, as a monarch: but Belshazzar was every way base, odious, and contemptible. Above all, he had that night been insulting the God of heaven, in the most daring manner, by profaning the sacred vessels in his revels, and extolling his own idols. ( Note , 1-4.) Daniel therefore knew that his doom was irreversible, and immediately to be put in execution: and he did not speak to him, as a subject to his prince; but, as the delegate of heaven, he denounced sentence against him, as a condemned criminal. ( Marg . and Marg. Ref. Notes, 29. Jer . 36:27-29. Matt . 23:29-39. Acts 7:51-53. 8:18-24.)
V. 18-24. Daniel in addressing Belshazzar called his attention to the singular case of Nebuchadnezzar, ( his father , or grandfather,) and thus solemnly introduced his interpretation.-Nebuchadnezzar had received all his power from God; he had become terrible to all the nations of his extensive empire; and he had very frequently used his unlimited authority, in an arbitrary, oppressive, and cruel manner. ( Marg . Ref . i-1.- Notes , 2:37. 3:1-23. 4: 10-18. Jer. 27:4-9.) Yet the immediate cause of that well-known judgment, to which he was exposed, was the hardness of his heart, through pride and presumption, in arrogant contempt and dehance of God: for which diabolical sin, he was degraded as it were to
23 But hast lifted thyself against " the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them: and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, * which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is , 2 and whose are all thy ways, a hast thou not glorified. b
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; * Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put
t 2 Kings 14:10. Is. 2:12. 33:10. 37:23. Jer. 50:29. Ez. 28:2,5, 17. 31:10. Hab. 2:4. 1 Tim. 3:6. Rev. 13:5,6.
u See on 4:37. - Gen. 14:19. Ps. 115:16.
v See on 2-4. 1 Sam. 5:1-9. x Ps. 115:4-7. 135:15-17. Is. 46:6,7. Hab. 2:18,19. 1 Cor. 8 :4.
y Gen. 2:7. Job 12:10. 34:14, 15. Ps. 104:29. 146:4. Is. 42: 5. Acts 17:25,28.
a brute, till he was brought to submit and worship the Lord; which at length he did in language almost angelical. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . m-p.-Notes, 4:1-3,28-37.) But Belshazzar, though fully acquainted with all these facts, had not humbled himself before God: but had been guilty of an insult on him, more flagrant than any of Nebuchadnezzar's crimes; having sacrilegiously and contemptuously used the consecrated vessels, in honor of his base idols; and thus refused to glorify the God, "in whose hand his breath was, and whose were all his ways." ( Marg . Ref . q-b.) And it was at the very time, when he was thus setting JEHOVAH at defiance, that the hand-writing was seen on the wall. ( Notes , 1--9.)
V. 25-28. The literal meaning of the words written seems to be: "He hath numbered, He hath numbered; He hath weighed, and they divide." This Daniel interpreted to signify, that God had certainly numbered the years, or days, of the Chaldean monarchy, and of Belshazzar's life; and they were now fully accomplished: ( Gen. 41:32.) the measure of his days was finished, and that of his iniquity was filled; so that God would no more spare him. "Tekel," "He hath weighed:" this signified, that the king was weighed in the impartial balances of divine justice, and found deserving of the deepest condemnation; as base metal and counterfeit money are detected by the scales, being weighed and found deficient."Peres" is the same as "Upharsin," without the prefix and the termination, and signifies, "he hath divided:" but the similarity between Peres , and the original word for Persians
a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
g 1,2. Is. 21:4-9. 47:9. Jer. 51:11,31,39,57.
seems also referred to: and it was therefore interpreted to mean, that his kingdom was taken from him and given to the Medes and Persians, who would possess it between them. (Marg. Ref . Notes, 30,31. Jer . 6:27-30. Ez . 22:18-22.)-It is remarkable, that Daniel never exhorted Belshazzar to repentance, for he knew that his doom was fixed. ( Notes , 17. 1 Sam . 28 : 12—19.)
V. 29. Belshazzar does not seem to have understood, that the sentence was to be executed immediately: but, whether he believed Daniel or not, he made a point of shewing no resentment, and of ordering him the promised
would lead men to impious and blasphemous defiance of the God of heaven; as well as into every excess in sensual gratification. But what have Christians to do with such "revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries?" And what better are the songs used in many modern feasts, extolling intemperate indulgences and licentious amors, than the praises formerly sung to Bacchus, and Venus, or any other of the filthy group of Pagan deities? Or what are these things but a direct insult on that triune God, in whose name we have been baptized? Yet many "think it strange, that we will not run with them to the same ex
recompense: and though Daniel had previous-cess of riot, speaking evil of us!" (Note, 1
ly expressed his contempt of the honors intended him, yet he did not refuse them; ( Note , 17.) notwithstanding he foresaw the immediate termination of that authority, by which they were conferred.-Some however suppose, that the orders were indeed given immediately; but the execution of them was necessarily deferred till morning, which the intervening transactions of course prevented.
V. 30, 31. While these things were transacting in the palace, two divisions of Cyrus's arıny had marched on the channel of the river into the city, from each end of it: and finding the gates of brass, intended to bar the entrance from the river into the streets, left open, through the carelessness and intoxication of the besieged; they met, and marched into the heart of the city without opposition, and surprised the palace before the alarm was given.
So that, having broken in, and slain Belshazzar, and proclaimed peace and safety to all who laid down their arms; a general submission followed, the city was taken, and the empire reduced, almost without further bloodshed. (Marg. Ref . g.- Notes , 1-4. Is . 13:2-5. 45:1 -6. Jer. 51:38-40,61-64.)-Cyrus was sonin-law and nephew to Darius, or Cyaxares the Mede; to whom the title of king and the civil authority belonged till his death, which happened about two years after: but Cyrus still retained the command of the army, and great power over the whole empire.
It is computed, that Darius was born that very year, in which Jechoniah was carried captive to Babylon, and a fatal blow given to the kingdom of Judah. ( Note , Ezra 1:1-4.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-9.
Carnal men are often most secure, and given up to excessive indulgence, when destruction impends over their heads. Ostentation and studied magnificence unite with sensuality, in stupifying their consciences and hardening their hearts: and if we could see how soon such joyous and luxurious revels are changed for "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth," we must view those who frequent them, with a mixture of pity and aversion; as we should a company of condemned malefactors, whom we saw intoxicated, and dancing in their chains, immediately before the hour appointed for their execution. Such intemperate carousals were indeed consistent in the worshippers of lifeless images and of unclean spirits: for it might be expected, that these objects and ordinances of religious worship
Pet . 4:3-5.) Nay, some apparently think, that no pleasures have their highest relish, unless seasoned with impiety or sacrilege: and they not only sin for the gratification of their sensual passions, but for the sake of sinning; as if their oaths, blasphemies, and profaneness were pleasant to them, in proportion as they are provoking to God! and the greater the number who join together in these outrages, the bolder they grow in them. But how easily can the Lord dismay such daring transgressors!
He has no need to commission thunders, lightnings, or earthquakes: he can do it effectually by a hand-writing on a wall, or by shewing them what he has written in his holy word. One glimpse of his glorious and holy majesty, one realizing apprehension of "his wrath revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteouness of men," is sufficient to appal the heart, to change the countenance, and to agitate the whole frame, of the stoutest rebel on earth.
But no bodily pain or anguish can give an adequate conception of that inward agony, which sometimes seizes the sinner, in the midst of mirth and jovial company, when enjoying all the delights of sense, with all the magnificence of a palace, or the exhilarations of a banquetinghouse. For if God be pleased merely to let a man's conscience loose upon him; his own "thoughts will so trouble hiim," that his feelings will be an anticipation of the sorrows of death and of the pains of hell.
How important then is it, that we, above all things, seek to be at peace with him, and with our own consciences!-Sometimes, indeed, such terrors are salutary, and cause a man to cry out, "What must I do to be saved?" and so lead him to Christ for pardon and peace. But many cry out, through horror of conscience and fear of wrath, who are not humbled for their sins, and who seek relief from anguish by lying vanities. These will liberally reward such as can help them to forget their misery, or amuse them with vain hopes, or gratify their curiosity, or pride, or sensuality.
But when the Lord lays his hand on men, these expedients do not afford so much as a temporary relief: and he often blinds and infatuates the wise men of this world, that he may bring into notice those whom he has endued with heavenly wisdom; nor can all human sagacity develope the plainest matter, which he is pleased to conceal. Yet the ignorance and uncertainty, which professedly wise men manifest concerning the meaning of the sacred scriptures, are suited to drive awakened sin