Daniel 5:1
"Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand."

Commentary

Matthew Henry Concise

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Summary

Belshazzar bade defiance to the judgments of God. Most historians consider that Cyrus then besieged Babylon.

Reflection

Sometimes terrors cause a man to flee to Christ for pardon and peace; but many cry out for fear of wrath, who are not humbled for their sins, and who

seek relief by lying vanities. The ignorance and uncertainty concerning the Holy Scriptures, shown by many who call themselves wise, only tend to drive sinners to despair, as the ignorance of these wise men did.WHBC 856.2

📚Read Complete Commentary

Belshazzar bade defiance to the judgments of God. Most historians consider that Cyrus then besieged Babylon. Security and sensuality are sad proofs of approaching ruin. That mirth is sinful indeed, which profanes sacred things; and what are many of the songs used at modern feasts better than the praises sung by the heathens to their

gods! See how God struck terror upon Belshazzar and his lords. God's written word is enough to put the proudest, boldest sinner in a fright. What we see of God, the part of the hand that writes in the book of the creatures, and in the book of the Scriptures, should fill us with awful thoughts concerning that part which we do not see. If this be the finger of God, what is his arm when made bare? And what is He? The king's guilty conscience told him that he had no reason to expect any good news from heaven. God can, in a moment, make the heart of the stoutest sinner to tremble; and there needs no more than to let loose his own thoughts upon him; they will give him trouble enough. No bodily pain can equal the inward agony which sometimes seizes the sinner in the midst of mirth, carnal pleasures, and worldly pomp. Sometimes terrors cause a man to flee to Christ for pardon and peace; but many cry out for fear of wrath, who are not humbled for their sins, and who seek relief by lying vanities. The ignorance and uncertainty concerning the Holy Scriptures, shown by many who call themselves wise, only tend to drive sinners to despair, as the ignorance of these wise men did.WHBC 856.2

Source: Matthew Henry Concise (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (11 words)

H1113 בֵּלְשַׁאצּר
Definition:

1,2,9,22,29 (Biblical Hebrewid., p. 128) =בֵּלְאשַׁצַּרDaniel 5:30;Daniel 7:1;Βαλτασαρ; see BevEncy. Bib. BelshazzarDrDu xxviii f..Topical LexiconHistorical SettingBelshazzar was the last reigning mon 1,2,9,22,29 (Biblical Hebrewid., p. 128) =בֵּלְאשַׁצַּרDaniel 5:30;Daniel 7:1;Βαλτασαρ; see BevEncy. Bib. BelshazzarDrDu xxviii f..Topical LexiconHistorical SettingBelshazzar was the last reigning mon

H4430 מְלַךְ
Definition:

7). It denotes the act of reigning, becoming king, or exercising royal authority. While applied to human monarchs, the verb also frames explicit declarations of God’s unrivaled kingship, weaving toget 7). It denotes the act of reigning, becoming king, or exercising royal authority. While applied to human monarchs, the verb also frames explicit declarations of God’s unrivaled kingship, weaving toget

Possible Meanings:
  • counsel (semantic_range)
  • advice (semantic_range)
H5648 עֲבַד
Definition:

1+, 2 masculine singularעֲבַ֑דְתְּ(K§ 13, 2)Daniel 4:32; 1singularעַבְדֵֿתDaniel 3:15;Daniel 6:23, 3masculine pluralעֲבַ֫דוּEzra 6:13+;Imperfect2masculine pluralתַּעְבְּדוּן(Baer K§ 38. 1. b);תַּעַבְד 1+, 2 masculine singularעֲבַ֑דְתְּ(K§ 13, 2)Daniel 4:32; 1singularעַבְדֵֿתDaniel 3:15;Daniel 6:23, 3masculine pluralעֲבַ֫דוּEzra 6:13+;Imperfect2masculine pluralתַּעְבְּדוּן(Baer K§ 38. 1. b);תַּעַבְד

Possible Meanings:
  • slave (semantic_range)
  • servant (semantic_range)
H3900 לְחֶם
Definition:

1made a feast.Topical LexiconMeaning and ScopeThe word לְחֶם (H3900) denotes a formal banquet or feast rather than ordinary bread or daily fare. It points to a public occasion of lavish hospitality wh 1made a feast.Topical LexiconMeaning and ScopeThe word לְחֶם (H3900) denotes a formal banquet or feast rather than ordinary bread or daily fare. It points to a public occasion of lavish hospitality wh

H7229 רַב
Definition:

31+, constructDaniel 2:14+; emphatic masculineרַבָּאEzra 4:10+; feminineרַבְּתָאDaniel 4:27; masculine plural redupl.רַבְרְבִין(K§ 59, 4)Daniel 3:33, feminine pluralבָן-Daniel 2:48+, emphaticָ֯ תָאDan 31+, constructDaniel 2:14+; emphatic masculineרַבָּאEzra 4:10+; feminineרַבְּתָאDaniel 4:27; masculine plural redupl.רַבְרְבִין(K§ 59, 4)Daniel 3:33, feminine pluralבָן-Daniel 2:48+, emphaticָ֯ תָאDan

Possible Meanings:
  • great (semantic_range)
H7261 רַבְרְבָן
Definition:

33my lords(of Nebuchadnezzar);נ֫וֺהִי#NAME?Daniel 5:1,2,3,9,10, of DariusDaniel 6:18;ניך- Kt,נָח- Qr (K§ 53, Anm.b)) of BelshazzarDaniel 6:23.Topical LexiconScope of the Termרַבְרְבָן appears eight ti 33my lords(of Nebuchadnezzar);נ֫וֺהִי#NAME?Daniel 5:1,2,3,9,10, of DariusDaniel 6:18;ניך- Kt,נָח- Qr (K§ 53, Anm.b)) of BelshazzarDaniel 6:23.Topical LexiconScope of the Termרַבְרְבָן appears eight ti

Possible Meanings:
  • noble (semantic_range)
H0506 אֲלַף
Definition:

1– Belshazzar “held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles.”2.Daniel 5:1– The king “drank wine in the presence of the thousand.”3.Daniel 7:10– “Thousands upon thousands attended Him.”4.Daniel 7:10 1– Belshazzar “held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles.”2.Daniel 5:1– The king “drank wine in the presence of the thousand.”3.Daniel 7:10– “Thousands upon thousands attended Him.”4.Daniel 7:10

Possible Meanings:
  • 1,000 (semantic_range)
H6903 קְבֵל
Definition:

8;ᵑ7קְבֵיל, withלְ,לִקְבֵיל, suffixלְקִבֵלִי, etc.,in front of(Dalm§ 47, 7); Syriac,aspect,in front,, suffixin front (of), opposite (to), compareGenesis 15:10ᵑ7ᵑ6; Palmyreneלקבלbefore(Cooke321, compar 8;ᵑ7קְבֵיל, withלְ,לִקְבֵיל, suffixלְקִבֵלִי, etc.,in front of(Dalm§ 47, 7); Syriac,aspect,in front,, suffixin front (of), opposite (to), compareGenesis 15:10ᵑ7ᵑ6; Palmyreneלקבלbefore(Cooke321, compar

Possible Meanings:
  • receive (semantic_range)
H0506 אֲלַף
Definition:

1– Belshazzar “held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles.”2.Daniel 5:1– The king “drank wine in the presence of the thousand.”3.Daniel 7:10– “Thousands upon thousands attended Him.”4.Daniel 7:10 1– Belshazzar “held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles.”2.Daniel 5:1– The king “drank wine in the presence of the thousand.”3.Daniel 7:10– “Thousands upon thousands attended Him.”4.Daniel 7:10

Possible Meanings:
  • 1,000 (semantic_range)
H2562 חֲמַר
Definition:

the rebuilding of the Second Temple (Ezra 6:9; 7:22) and the sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1-4, 23). In both contexts the word denotes ordinary fermented grape wine, yet its usage reveals the rebuilding of the Second Temple (Ezra 6:9; 7:22) and the sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1-4, 23). In both contexts the word denotes ordinary fermented grape wine, yet its usage reveals

H8355 שְׁתָה
Definition:

3,4;Imperfect3masculine pluralיִשְׁתּוֺןDaniel 5:2;Participle activeשָׁתֵהDaniel 5:1, pluralשָׁתַ֫יִן; —drink, accusative wineDaniel 5:1,4, +בof vesselDaniel 5:23and (accusative omitted)Daniel 5:2;Dan 3,4;Imperfect3masculine pluralיִשְׁתּוֺןDaniel 5:2;Participle activeשָׁתֵהDaniel 5:1, pluralשָׁתַ֫יִן; —drink, accusative wineDaniel 5:1,4, +בof vesselDaniel 5:23and (accusative omitted)Daniel 5:2;Dan

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