Daniel 5:13 Commentary and Bible Study

Belshazzar is getting over his horror and his astonishment, his fear and terror. His pride is pouring back into him and his insolence. He is forced to depend on Daniel, because no one else can explain the writing, but from what he says he is the last person he ever would have turned to. He has got to show some courtesy to the queen mother who has commended him so strongly, but with what reluctance he does it. Listen to these haughty words: ‘Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?’ One of the captives – he hardly honours the man, who had already been elevated by Nebuchadnezzar to great height, but who with the arrival of a new administration had no doubt been sidelined. Even in terror he has room for derision. Even when he is in desperate need, he talks down to him and insults him, and he uses this withering language: ‘Are you that Daniel who was brought out of the dredges of that city of Jerusalem which we disposed of and conquered so easily, by the goodwill of my grandfather was brought here? Are you one of them, Jewish people?’ The language of Belshazzar has that ring about it.Now he parrots the Queen Mother’s statement. ‘I have even heard of thee’ – he is going to keep him at arms’ length. ‘I've heard of you’; he should have consulted him; he should have honoured him; he should have had honourable memories of Daniel and the contribution he had made even to his enemies. ‘I have even heard of thee’ – there is a stench of reluctance about these words – ‘that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.’ He just about can get the words out as he asks his favour. He doesn't want to do this. ‘And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been bought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof, but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. I have heard of thee’ – yes, he had heard of him, but he paid no attention to him, never listened to him, never sent for him, never respected him – ‘that thou canst make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.’ He has got to offer the same reward that he has offered to the others.