Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 5 · Argument method – Diverse readings
1. The Methode and Argument.
THe summe and argument of this chapter is an historicall narration, 1. of a fearefull sight, an hand was seene writing vponupon a wall. 2. and the interpretation thereof by Daniel.
In the vision these things are declared. 1. the occasion wherefore this vision was sent, which was the profanation of the vessels of the Temple, which is set forth in this manner. 1. the occasion, the king made a feast, v. 1. 2. the vessels are brought and abused in excessiue drinking at the kings commandement, v. 2. 3. 3. & withall they blaspheme God, and praise their idols, v. 4.
2. The vision it selfe followeth, where is noted 1. the time. 2. what appeared, a mans hand. 3. the manner, it did write. 4. the place, ouer against the candlesticke.
3. The effects are two. 1. the king seeth it, v. 5. 2. vponupon his fight he is troubled, both inwardly in his thoughts, and outwardly in his bodie, his countenance is changed, his Ioynes loosed, and his knees smote together, v. 6.
In the interpretation, there is the way and preparation made vntounto it, vntounto v. 17. then the declaration it selfe, from v. 17. to the ende.
In the preparation there is, 1. the kings inquisition of his soothsayers, but all in vaine, v. 10. 2. his sending for Daniel at the Queenes motion. In the inquisition. 1. the wise men are called. 2. the matter is propounded with promise of great reward, v. 7. 3. their vaine attempt is shewed, v. 8. 4. the euent thereof the kings perplexitie, v. 9.
In Daniels sending for, 1. there is the Queenes motion and speach, see the parts thereof, quest. 22. 2. the execution by the king, with his speach vntounto Daniel, which consisteth of 4. parts. 1. his enquirie concerning his person. 2. a commendation of his gifts, v. 14. 3. a narration of the wisemens weakenes and insufficiencie, v. 15. 4. a promise of great reward to Daniel, if he can expound the vision, v. 16.
Then followeth the declaration it selfe which consisteth, 1. of a sharpe reprehension or redargution, the order and methode thereof see quest. 25. 2. the interpretation it selfe, the parts thereof see, quest. 31.
2. The text with the diuerse readings.
1. v. Belshatzar the king made a great feast (bread. C.) to a thousand of his princes, and dranke wine before the thousand (and eueryevery one dranke wine according to his age. L. ad.)
2. And Belshatzar while he tasted wine (in the tast of wine. C. S. that is, beeing now enflamed with wine, and merrie with wine. L. while the wine was in: for to tast wine. I. but it is said before v. 1. that he had drunke wine) commanded to bring the vessells of gold and siluer, which his father Nebuchadnezzar had brought from the Temple in Ierusalem: that the king and his princes, his wiues and concubines might drinke therein.
3. Then were brought the golden vessels, which they had taken out of the Temple of the Lords house, which was at Ierusalem, and the king and his princes, his wiues, and his concubines, dranke in them.
4. They dranke wine, and praised the gods of gold and siluer, of brasse, of yron, of wood, and stone.
5. At the same time came forth (appeared. B. G. L.) the fingers of a mans hand, which wrote ouer against the candlesticke vponupon the plaister of the wall of the kings palace: and the king sawe the palme (or part. I. the ioynts, or knuckels. L. V. B. pas, signifieth a part, some interpret it the palme) of the hand that wrote.
6. Then the kings countenance (glory or brightnesse. C. which Iunius vnderstandeth of that whole festiuitie which was suddenly turned) was changed (changed it selfe. C.) & his thoughts troubled him, so that the girdle I. (bands. C. V. ioyntes. L. B. G.) of his loynes was loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
7. Then the king cried aloud (strongly. C.) that they should bring in the Astrologians, Chaldeans, and the Soothsayers, (wisards. B.) And the king spake and said to the wisemen of Babel, Whosoeuer can reade me this writing, and shewe me the interpretation thereof, shall be cloathed in purple, and shall hauehave a chaine of gold about his necke, and shall be the third ruler (rule the third. C.) in the kingdome.
8. Then came all the kings wise men, but they could neither read the writing, nor make knowne vntounto the king the interpretation.
9. Then was king Belshatzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his princes were astonied.
10. Now the Queene by reason of the talke of the king and his princes, came into the banket house, and the Queene spake and said, O king liue for euer: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, neither let thy countenance be changed.
11. There is a man in thy kingdome, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the dayes of thy father, light (lat. det.) and vnderstanding, and wisedome, like the wisedome of the gods (L. S. det.) was found in him: whom the king Nebuchad-nezzar thy father made chiefe of the Magicians, Astrologians, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, the king (I say) thy father (thy grandfather. I.).
12. Because that a more abundant spirit (excellent. I. G.) and knowledge, and vnderstanding the interpretation of dreams, & decla…ing of hard sentences, and the solution of doubts, (knots. C.) was found in Daniel, whom the king named (imposed the name) Beltashazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will declare the interpretation.
13. Then was Daniel brought before the king, and the king spake, and said vntounto Daniel, art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captiuitie of Iudah, whom my father the king brought out of Iudea?
14. Now I hauehave heard of thee, that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and that light and vnderstanding, and excellent (abundant. C.) wisedome is found in thee.
15. Now therefore wisemen and Astrologers hauehave beene brought before me, that they should reade this writing, and make knowne vntounto me the interpretation thereof: but they were not able to declare the interpretation of the thing.
16. Then heard I of thee, that thou art able to shewe interpretations (interpret interpretations. C.) and dissolue doubts (knots. C.) now if thou canst reade the writing, and shewe me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed in purple, and hauehave a chaine of gold about thy necke, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdome.
17. Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Keepe thy rewards to thy selfe (thy rewardes be to thee. C.) and giuegive thy gifts to another: yet will I read the writing to the king, and make knowne the interpretation vntounto him.
18. O thou king, (heare thou O king. G.) Iunius referreth it to the 22. v. but it is better put interrogatiuely) the most high God gaue vntounto Nebuchadnezzar thy father, a kingdome, and maiestie, and power, and glorie.
19. And for the maiestie, that he gaue him, all people, nations and languages trembled, and feared (were trembling and fearing before him: whom he would he slue, and whom he would he saued aliue. I. (he …. L. S. B. G. V. but the other is fitter, as set in opposition to the former clause: and then the word must not be deriued of macah to smite, but of caiah to make aliue) whom he would he set vp, and whom he would he put downe.
20. But when his heart was lifted vp, and his minde (spirit. C.) hardened in pride, he was deposed (caused to descend. C.) from his kingly throne, and they tooke his glorie from him.
21. And he was driuen from the sonnes of men, and his heart became as a beasts (was put vntounto the beasts. C.) and his dwelling was with the wild asses, they fedde him with grasse like oxen, and his bodie was wer with the dewe of heauen, till he knewe that the most high God bare rule ouer the kingdome of men, and he appointeth ouer it, whomsouer he pleaseth.
22. And thou his sonne O Belshatzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.
23. But hast lift thy selfe vp against the Lord of heauen, and they hauehave brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy princes, thy wiues, and thy concubines, hauehave drunke wine in them, and thou hast praised the gods of siluer, and gold, and brasse, yron, woode, and stone, which neither see, neither heare, nor vnderstand.
24. Then was the part (palme. B. G. knuckles. B. ioynts. V. L. see before v. 5.) of an hand sent from his presence: and so this writing was written. C. (& hath written this writing. G. B.
25. And this is the writing that is written: mene, mene, tekel, vpharsin.
26. And this is the interpretation of the words (of the things. B. G.) Mene, God hath numbred out thy kingdome, and hath finished it.
27. Tekel, thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting (too light. G.)
28. Peres (diuided. I. and so he interpreteth the other words before, but first the words are set downe, as they were written, and then the interpretation) thy kingdome is deuided, and giuen vntounto the Medes and Persians.
29. Then Belshatzar gaue charge (said. C.) and they cloathed Daniel with purple, and put a chaine of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdome.
30. The same night was Belshatzar the king of the Chaldeans slaine.
31. And Darius (Dariaves. C.) the Mede tooke the kingdome, beeing threescore and two yeare old.