30/01/22 – Daniel 5:10-16
Daniel 5:10 – [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:
Who is the queen here, noting that Belshazzar’s wives and concubines were already present at the feast? Some suggest that this was the queen-mother. Benson suggests that she was the wife of Evil-Merodach (who was the king following Nebuchadnezzar), and given the title of queen mother. Cambridge suggests that she was the wife of Nebuchadnezzar; this is based on her knowledge of Daniel’s past interpretations during the time of Nebuchadnezzar. It is clear that she not only has a good knowledge of Daniel’s wisdom, but also shows strong approval for what Daniel says.
The queen, because of the utterances of the king (or his command to fetch the wise men – Daniel 5:7), came into the banquet house. She had heard what the king had said after the writing appeared on the wall and had come in because of this. It seems that she would have realised that this was a similar situation to those occurring in the days of Nebuchadnezzar (see Vs 11 below). It is clear that she considered Daniel to have special abilities and was prepared to speak out in support of him, even when such behaviour by even such a person as the queen might be seen as an offense before the king. Note that when Esther came before the king (Esther 5:1-2), she had to gain his approval first. Tradition says that without such approval she might have faced punishment, even execution.
O king, live for ever – While the queen might have had some sort of right to enter into the king’s presence without previously gaining permission to do so (we don’t know if she was inviting possible danger to herself), she still observes the correct approach to communicating with him; she grants him the authority as king by uttering these words first.
let not thy thoughts trouble thee – do not let such thoughts alarm or dismay you. (That is, there is another way of dealing with this that may bring more satisfaction than did the advice of the wise men.) Note that, until now, Belshazzar has been troubled (Daniel 5:6) and then greatly troubled (Daniel 5:9) and his countenance (brightness of face) changed as well (Daniel 5:6 & 9). Now the queen directly addresses these issues by saying that such thoughts do not need to cause such distress in him.
nor let thy countenance be changed – If the shock of seeing the “hand” write on the wall changed his countenance (made his face pallid with fear), then get over it! Being in panic mode is not going to help you one bit, so pull yourself together and start thinking about your options properly! There is a man who has the wisdom of the gods (Vs 11 below), so let him be called “and he will shew the interpretation” (Vs 12 below). That is, not all is lost, for at least we can call upon a man who could tell you what is happening.
Daniel 5:11 – 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, [I say], thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and] soothsayers;
Many of these words are repeated in Vss 12 & 14 below. The repetition is part of this sort of narrative.
light – clarity of understanding. Also translated “light” in Vs 14 below, as well as in Daniel 2:22.
understanding – or “insight”. Also used similarly in Vss 12 & 14 below.
wisdom – or shrewdness or prudence. Also used in Vs 14 below.
the spirit – ruwach (Aramaic) (spirit;
wind; spirit of man; seat of the mind) Translated “mind” in Daniel 5:20 (But
when his heart was lifted up, and his mind
hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his
glory from him:)
The Hebrew equivalent (ruwach)
is used for “spirit” in Joel 2:28.
Cambridge’s notes on Joel 2:28 say that “The ‘spirit’
in man is the principle of life, upon which consciousness and intelligence
depend, and which imparts activity to the inert ‘flesh’” Note
“the spirit of the gods” in Vs 14 below.
thy father – or “ancestor” It can also simply mean “your predecessor”. It does not appear to refer to Nebuchadnezzar as his
actual father. Instead it would mean either his
ancestor or predecessor. That is, there may not even be any actual blood
lineage implied here. Most likely Belshazzar’s father was the king listed in
history: Nabonidus. It is said that Nabonidus married a daughter of
Nebuchadnezzar.
whom the king Nebuchadnezzar ….. made master of
the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans and
soothsayers – See Daniel 2:48. The queen
emphasises her claim that it was Nebuchadnezzar “thy father” who made Daniel
master of all the other wise men by repeating “the king, (I say), thy
father”.
This is to doubly confirm that it was Daniel (whom he can call upon now – see
Vs 12 below) who knew the answers then and can still know answers in
Belshazzar’s day. That is, the wise men of Nebuchadnezzar’s
day didn’t know the answers, yet Daniel did. So, if the wise men of
Belshazzar’s day don’t know the answers, then Daniel,
once again, should be called upon to reveal the answers.
the holy gods – The queen clearly didn’t
believe in the one true God alone, but as one of a pantheon of gods.
“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit (or mind) of the holy gods (he has the wisdom that only the holy gods can have). In the days of your father (ancestor or predecessor) light (having clarity of understanding) and understanding (insight) and wisdom, like the wisdom that only the gods can have, was found in him. It was he whom your father (ancestor) king Nebuchadnezzar made master (rab – chief; captain) over all the other wise men (the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers).”
Daniel 2:22 – He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (where “light” is the same word used for “light” in the Vs 11 above; such light belongs to God alone)
Daniel 5:12 – Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
excellent – or “surpassing”, a superlative term. Translated “exceeding” in Daniel 3:22 (“and the furnace exceeding hot”) That is, a spirit more excellent than any of the others.
spirit – This can refer to the seat of the mind, thus his ability to think.
knowledge – or “power of knowing”, mental ability.
shewing – or “declaring” with the idea of revealing or making something known.
hard sentences – puzzles, riddles
dissolving of doubts – literally “loosening of knots, difficulties or problems”. It can also refer to the loosening of joints such as the hip. Here it could refer to his problem-solving abilities.
“Because Daniel has already proven himself in the days of Nebuchadnezzar (with his surpassing ability to think, his mental powers, his declaring of puzzles or riddles, and solving of problems); because these skills were found in this same Daniel (whom Nebuchadnezzar named Belteshazzar), then let this Daniel be called for he will be able to declare its interpretation.”
This is an excellent recommendation from the queen as to Daniel’s fitness to take on such a task. This is a five-star review, which is amazing considering that it comes from a person who does not believe God to be any more than one of the “holy gods” (Vs 11 above).
It is possible that Belshazzar was not aware of the name “Daniel” and that his Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, may have had more meaning to the present king. (Although the king’s questioning of Daniel does suggest that the king had not heard of him before.)
In any case, the queen appears to have added this information in case the name Daniel was not known to the king. Belshazzar’s questioning of Daniel in Vs 13 below does suggest that he did not know Daniel well enough to recognise him.
Daniel 5:13 – 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?
Jewry – Yᵉhuwd
(Aramaic) (Judah; Judea; Jewry)
Its Hebrew equivalent is translated “Judah”. The Greek
Ioudas (“Judah” in Hebrews 8:8)
is a similar term. In other words, he was one of the Jews that Nebuchadnezzar
took as slave (Daniel 1:3-4). This in itself should
have downgraded Daniel’s abilities somewhat, not being one of the native
Babylonians, but merely a slave!
So (as a result of the queen’s advice to call Daniel), Daniel was brought in before the king (into the king’s presence). And the king spoke to Daniel, saying, “Are you that (same) Daniel who was one of the Judean captives, whom my father (ancestor, predecessor) (Nebuchadnezzar) brought (as captives) out of Judah?”
It appears from this that Belshazzar did not know Daniel personally, having to confirm that he (Daniel) was actually the one spoken of by the queen. Note that Daniel is said to have been in his 80s by now, so many years have passed since Daniel’s interactions with Nebuchadnezzar.
One timeline has Daniel about 17 (605 BC) when taken to Babylon, 19 (603 BC) when interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st dream, and 83 (539 BC) when brought before Belshazzar. Other timelines vary, but most would have Daniel in his 80s in today’s passage.
Daniel 5:14 – 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.
Belshazzar had heard – but who had he heard from? In fact, was it the words of the queen just a short while before that he has heard? She said that in Daniel was “the spirit of the holy gods” and that he had “light and understanding and wisdom” (Vs 11) in him. This Vs 14 is merely Belshazzar repeating what the queen has just told him. Perhaps he has decided to check Daniel out, to see if he really can deliver the goods as the queen has claimed.
Daniel 5:15 – And now the wise [men], the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
Belshazzar makes it clear to Daniel that not one of his wise men (including the astrologers, that is, the conjurers, enchanters, or necromancers) could not explain what the writing on the wall meant. It is probable that Belshazzar has his doubts about Daniel being able to do what so many wise men have not been able to do. But he is desperate for an answer, and he can’t afford to dismiss Daniel as an upstart who doesn’t have the qualifications of his wise men. It is clear that Belshazzar has no idea of Daniel’s past reputation for interpreting dreams; perhaps it would have been a good thing if he had kept an eye on the man whom Nebuchadnezzar had said, “Of a truth [it is], that your God [is] a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” (Daniel 2:47)
Of course, Nebuchadnezzar had learned his lesson about God’s sovereignty the hard way too. However, it is like the old saying: that the one thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history! What a shame that Belshazzar hadn’t been told about Daniel and his God. For, if he had, then possibly he might have just decided not to drink sacrilegiously from those temple vessels.
If the wise men had been able to solve the riddle, then there would have been no need for Daniel and the wisdom of his God. But the riddle could only be solved by the God of gods (Daniel 2:47). There are always going to be riddles that only sovereign God can answer.
Daniel 5:16 – 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.
Belshazzar had even heard (no doubt from the queen also) more of what Daniel could do. It’s a fact that unless God’s people proclaim His wisdom, then the world will never know of it. If it hadn’t been for the queen proclaiming the wisdom of Daniel (via his God), then Belshazzar would never “have heard” of Daniel and the things he could do.
The queen had proclaimed Daniel’s skills and the king had taken note. But when should a king take note of a queen when she is not the ruler? If the king is desperate enough, he’ll grasp at straws. And if this Daniel is said to have mental ability surpassing all the others, with understanding (insight), an interpreter of dreams, a declarer of riddles and problem-solver, then clearly, if this all be true, he is going to satisfy all the necessary requirements to sort out the king’s problem of the writing on the wall!
So Belshazzar makes one final commitment here. If Daniel can indeed read the writing and reveal its interpretation, he will be given all that was promised to any of the wise men as per Daniel 5:7 – 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. (Not that Daniel cared anyway!)
That is, if Daniel can deliver the goods here, then he will become the third highest authority in the land, in fact, the empire. Next time we look at how Daniel (via the wisdom of God) answers everything Belshazzar needs to know about the writing on the wall.
Note that if the queen failed to open her mouth to proclaim the wisdom of Daniel (who in turn would then proclaim God to be the source of his wisdom), then this story might have ended very differently indeed. Imagine if not one Christian ever proclaimed God’s mercy through His gospel. Just think what might have been if not one Christian went out into the world, teaching all nations to observe all things as they had been commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
As Paul wrote in Romans 10:13-15 – 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
What if no-one had preached the gospel of peace? What if no-one wanted to be sent to preach the gospel? How would anyone have ever heard unless someone had brought glad tidings of good things? Who would ever have got saved if no-one ever heard the gospel? What if Christians failed in their duty to proclaim God’s gospel?
Luke 8:39 – Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Psalm 66:16 – Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
Psalm 105:1-2 – 1O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make
known his deeds among the people. 2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto
him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
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