10 The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles ; the queen spoke and said , " O king , live forever ! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale . 11 "There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods ; and in the days of your father , illumination , insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar , your father , your father the king , appointed him chief of the magicians , conjurers , Chaldeans and diviners . 12 "This was because e e an extraordinary spirit , knowledge and insight , interpretation of dreams , explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel , whom the king named Belteshazzar . Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation ." 13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king . The king spoke and said to Daniel , "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles e from Judah , whom my father the king brought from Judah ? 14 "Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination , insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15 "Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message . 16 "But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems . Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck , and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom ." 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king , "Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else ; however , I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 "O king , the Most High God granted sovereignty , grandeur , glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father . 19 "Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples , nations and men of every language feared and trembled before him; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive ; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled . 20 "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly , he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21 "He was also driven away from mankind , and his heart was made like that of beasts , and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys . He was given grass to eat like cattle , and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until e he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever e He wishes . 22 "Yet you, his son , Belshazzar , have not humbled your heart , even though you knew all this , 23 but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven ; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles , your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold , of bronze , iron , wood and stone , which do not see , hear or understand . But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways , you have not glorified . 24 "Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out. 25 "Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE , MENE , TEKEL , UPHARSIN .' 26 "This is the interpretation of the message : 'MENE '-God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. 27 " 'TEKEL '-you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient . 28 " 'PERES '-your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 5:10-28
Commentary on Daniel 5:10-17
(Read Daniel 5:10-17)
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 way of salvation, or the path of duty. Daniel slighted the offer of reward. He spoke to Belshazzar as to a condemned criminal. We should despise all the gifts and rewards this world can give, did we see, as we may by faith, its end hastening on; but let us do our duty in the world, and do it all the real service we can.
Commentary on Daniel 5:18-31
(Read Daniel 5:18-31)
Daniel reads Belshazzar's doom. He had not taken warning by the judgments upon Nebuchadnezzar. And he had insulted God. Sinners are pleased with gods that neither see, nor hear, nor know; but they will be judged by One to whom all things are open. Daniel reads the sentence written on the wall. All this may well be applied to the doom of every sinner. At death, the sinner's days are numbered and finished; after death is the judgment, when he will be weighed in the balance, and found wanting; and after judgment the sinner will be cut asunder, and given as a prey to the devil and his angels. While these things were passing in the palace, it is considered that the army of Cyrus entered the city; and when Belshazzar was slain, a general submission followed. Soon will every impenitent sinner find the writing of God's word brought to pass upon him, whether he is weighed in the balance of the law as a self-righteous Pharisee, or in that of the gospel as a painted hypocrite.