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Daniel Chapter 5

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Impious feast of Belshazzar


5:1 Belshazzarבֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Bêlshaʼtstsar, bale-shats-tsar’; (Aramaic) Belshazzar = “Bel protect the king”. For more info click here
the king made a great feast to a thousand of his nobles, and drank wine before the thousand.
5:2 While he tasting the wine,
Belshazzarבֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Bêlshaʼtstsar, bale-shats-tsar’; (Aramaic) Belshazzar = “Bel protect the king”. For more info click here
commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר
Transliteration nᵊḇûḵaḏne’ṣṣar Pronunciation neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar’ Nebuchadnezzar II also spelled Nebuchadrezzar II was the second Neo-Babylonian emperor, ruling from the death of his father Nabopolassar in 605 BC to his own death in 562 BC. Historically known as Nebuchadnezzar the Great, he is typically regarded as the empire’s greatest king For more info click here
had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubinesˈkäNGkyəˌbīn noun– chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives., might drink in it.
5:3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of Elahאֱלָהּ
Transliteration: ‘ĕlâ Pronunciation: el-aw’ pl. Elim or Elohim; Imperial Aramaic: אלהא‏ is the Aramaic word for God and the absolute singular form of אלהא‏, ʾilāhā. The origin of the word is from Proto-Semitic and is thus cognate to the Hebrew, Arabic, Akkadian, and other Semitic languages’ words for god. For more info click here See also click here
which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubinesˈkäNGkyəˌbīn noun– chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives., drank in them.
5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron wood, and of stone.

Handwriting on the wall


5:5 At that moment
fingers of a man’s hand came out , and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace across from the lamp stand : and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
5:6 Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were shook, and his knees knocked
against one  another.
5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the necromancers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Who can read this writing, and reveal its meaning to me, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold around his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
5:8 Then all the king’s wise men
came in: but they could not read the writing, nor reveal to the king the meaning of it.
5:9 Then was king Belshazzarבֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Bêlshaʼtstsar, bale-shats-tsar’; (Aramaic) Belshazzar = “Bel protect the king”. For more info click here
greatly troubled, and his expression changed on him, and his lords were confused.
5:10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever: let not your thoughts trouble you, nor let your expression be changed:
5:11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר
Transliteration nᵊḇûḵaḏne’ṣṣar Pronunciation neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar’ Nebuchadnezzar II also spelled Nebuchadrezzar II was the second Neo-Babylonian emperor, ruling from the death of his father Nabopolassar in 605 BC to his own death in 562 BC. Historically known as Nebuchadnezzar the Great, he is typically regarded as the empire’s greatest king For more info click here
your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
5:12 Because as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, meaning of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Danielדניאל
Meaning Judge Of God, God Is My Judge From the verb דין, to judge or govern, and the word אל (‘el), God. For more info click here
, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Danielדניאל
Meaning Judge Of God, God Is My Judge From the verb דין, to judge or govern, and the word אל (‘el), God. For more info click here
be called, and he will show the meaning.
5:13 Then Danielדניאל
Meaning Judge Of God, God Is My Judge From the verb דין, to judge or govern, and the word אל (‘el), God. For more info click here
was brought in before the king. And the king spake and said to Danielדניאל
Meaning Judge Of God, God Is My Judge From the verb דין, to judge or govern, and the word אל (‘el), God. For more info click here
, Are you that Danielדניאל
Meaning Judge Of God, God Is My Judge From the verb דין, to judge or govern, and the word אל (‘el), God. For more info click here
, which are of the son’s of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
5:14 I have even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you.
5:15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and reveal to me the meaning of it: but they could not show the meaning of the thing:
5:16 And I have heard of you, that you can make meanings, and dissolve doubts: now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the meaning of it, you shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
5:17 Then Danielדניאל
Meaning Judge Of God, God Is My Judge From the verb דין, to judge or govern, and the word אל (‘el), God. For more info click here
answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the meaning.
5:18 O you king, the most high Elahאֱלָהּ
Transliteration: ‘ĕlâ Pronunciation: el-aw’ pl. Elim or Elohim; Imperial Aramaic: אלהא‏ is the Aramaic word for God and the absolute singular form of אלהא‏, ʾilāhā. The origin of the word is from Proto-Semitic and is thus cognate to the Hebrew, Arabic, Akkadian, and other Semitic languages’ words for god. For more info click here See also click here
gave Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר
Transliteration nᵊḇûḵaḏne’ṣṣar Pronunciation neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar’ Nebuchadnezzar II also spelled Nebuchadrezzar II was the second Neo-Babylonian emperor, ruling from the death of his father Nabopolassar in 605 BC to his own death in 562 BC. Historically known as Nebuchadnezzar the Great, he is typically regarded as the empire’s greatest king For more info click here
your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:
5:19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: He
killed whom he wanted ; and who he would keep alive; and who he would set up; and who he would put down.
5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was put down from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
5:21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the animals, and he lived with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was washed with the dew of the heavens; till he knew that the most high Elahאֱלָהּ
Transliteration: ‘ĕlâ Pronunciation: el-aw’ pl. Elim or Elohim; Imperial Aramaic: אלהא‏ is the Aramaic word for God and the absolute singular form of אלהא‏, ʾilāhā. The origin of the word is from Proto-Semitic and is thus cognate to the Hebrew, Arabic, Akkadian, and other Semitic languages’ words for god. For more info click here See also click here
ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointed over it whomever he desires.
5:22 And you his son, O Belshazzarבֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Bêlshaʼtstsar, bale-shats-tsar’; (Aramaic) Belshazzar = “Bel protect the king”. For more info click here
, hasn’t humbled your heart, though you knew all this;
5:23 But have lifted up yourself against the Lord of Heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and your, and your lords, your wives, and your concubinesˈkäNGkyəˌbīn noun– chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives., have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, nor hear, don’t know: and the Elahאֱלָהּ
Transliteration: ‘ĕlâ Pronunciation: el-aw’ pl. Elim or Elohim; Imperial Aramaic: אלהא‏ is the Aramaic word for God and the absolute singular form of אלהא‏, ʾilāhā. The origin of the word is from Proto-Semitic and is thus cognate to the Hebrew, Arabic, Akkadian, and other Semitic languages’ words for god. For more info click here See also click here
in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, have you not glorified:
5:24 Then the part of the hand sent from Him; and this writing was written.

Daniel’s interpretation


5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
5:26 This is the meaning of the thing: MENE; Elahאֱלָהּ
Transliteration: ‘ĕlâ Pronunciation: el-aw’ pl. Elim or Elohim; Imperial Aramaic: אלהא‏ is the Aramaic word for God and the absolute singular form of אלהא‏, ʾilāhā. The origin of the word is from Proto-Semitic and is thus cognate to the Hebrew, Arabic, Akkadian, and other Semitic languages’ words for god. For more info click here See also click here
has numbered your kingdom, and finished it.
5:27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
5:28 PERES; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
5:29 Then commanded Belshazzarבֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Bêlshaʼtstsar, bale-shats-tsar’; (Aramaic) Belshazzar = “Bel protect the king”. For more info click here
, and they clothed Danielדניאל
Meaning Judge Of God, God Is My Judge From the verb דין, to judge or govern, and the word אל (‘el), God. For more info click here
with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Belshazzar is killed and the Medes take possession of the monarchy


5:30 In that night Belshazzarבֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Bêlshaʼtstsar, bale-shats-tsar’; (Aramaic) Belshazzar = “Bel protect the king”. For more info click here
the king of the Chaldeans killed.
5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about sixty two years old.

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