Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Daniel · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
HItherto the Divine spirit, that was in Daniel, being shewed by his interpreting of two dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar: now a third instance is given of the same in his reading and expounding the strange hand-writing upon the wall to Belshazzar, in every of which there is somewhat typifying things done under the Gospell. 1. In the stone cut out of the mountaine without hands. 2. In the watcher decreeing the cutting down of the proud King, represented by an huge high and broad tree, for by this was set forth Iohn the Baptists threatning, that every tree that brings not forth good fruit Luk. 3. Luk. 13.shall be hewen down and cast into the fire, and our Lords telling how the barren figtree should be cut down, which was also fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and for the renewing of the stump still to shoot up again afterwards, it was also true in the Jew, or shall be when converted, Rom. 11. 2 Cor. 3. 3. In this hand-writing setting forth Belshazzars destruction, and losse of his kingdome, because he weighed too light, for by books wherein mens doings are written, all shall at the last by Christ be judged, and then they Rom. 14. 10. Revel. 20. 12.that are light like chaffe, and not heavy and substantiall like wheat, very husks without grain, shall be destroyed, and the kingdome of Heaven given to the solid faithfull, who are within, as they shew to be outwardly. Touching this Belshazzar the King, some think him to have been the son of Nebuchadnezzar, because he is in this chapter so called, and next after Nebuchadnezzar written of, and whereas it may seem to make against it, that Evilmerodach succeeded 2 King. 25.Nebuchadnezzar, it is held by them that Evilmerodach and Belshazzar were all one, which is also intimated, Jer. 50. 2. where it is said, in speaking of the destruction of Babylon, Bel is faln, Merodach is broken in pieces, which may be taken for Evilmerodach; and whereas Jer. 27. it is said, all Nations shall serve Nebuchadnezzar, and his son, and his sons son, which was not fulfilled, if Belshazzar were his son, in whose time Babylon was destroyed they answer, that there were two Nebuchadnezzars, touching the former of which Jeremy saith, that all Nations should serve him and his son, and sons son, and so they did, if Belshazzar were son of the second of these Nebuchadnezzars. Others say, that Belshazzar was not the son, but the grand-child of Nebuchadnezzar, and called his son only as the grandchild of any man is commonly, and the grandfather the father. According to this Evilmerodach was Nebuchadnezzars son, and Belshazzar his son. Lastly, others place next unto Nebuchadnezzar Evilmerodach, then Joseph. l. 11. antiq. c. 11.Niglissar, after him Labosardach, then Belshazzar, so Josephus whom Jerom followeth, but unto them he reckoneth so many years, that it agreeth not with the years of the Jews captivity, to Evilmerodach 18 years, to Negl…ar 40, to Labesordach 9 moneths, to Belshazzar 17. which together make 75 besides the yeares of Nebuchadnezzar after Jerusalem destroyed 36. It is therefore rather to be held, that Belshazzar was the son of Evilmerodach, and that he is omitted by Daniel, as in whose time nothing remarkable fell out, but what was before related, 2 King. 25. and Daniel propounded to himself onelyonly to set forth things of greatest note. And thus the prophesie of Jeremiah was fulfilled of all Nations Jer. 27.serving Nebuchadnezzar, and his son, and sons son, and we shall not be forced to flee to an uncertain conjecture of another Nebuchadnezzar coming between, of whom neither the Hebrews, nor Berosus the Caldee Historiographer maketh any mention. And the time of the Jewes captivity agreeth to this being 70 years, if we reckon to Nebuchadnezzar 36 years, to Evilmerodach 18, to Belshazzar 17 as Iosephus, being together 71, in which year being the 17 of Belshazzar the Medes and Persians tooke Babylon, and as Lyra saith out of Lyra.the Hebrew traditions, Belshazzar seeing the 70 yeares spoken of by Ieremy come, and Babylon standing still, although besieged, and the Jews by the coming on of another Monarch not delivered, hereupon took occasion to sleight that prophesy, and as if all danger were past, to make that great feast to his Princes, that he did, and so when he was most secure, he was cut off. Bu… of the manner of Cyrus his proceeding and taking Babylon, and the description of that great city, see what I have written upon Ezra, pag. 5. 6.
When Belshazzar was in his cups with his Lords his Wives, and his Concubines V. 10.(who were a wonderfull great company, for there were 1000 Lords or Princes, it being by some conceived, that all his Princes were come unto him to Babylon to help to defend the City, an hand was seen writing upon the wall such a writing, as none of the wise men of his could read or interpret, which made his heart and limbs to tremble. Upon this the Queen hearing of it came in, about whom it may be questioned, what Queen shee was, seeing his wives and concubines were already with him: but it is answered, most probably shee was the wife of Nebuchadnezzar who lived still, or of Evilmerodach his father, who knew what Daniel had formerly done in the like difficult cases, wherefore she certifieth him of Daniel, and Daniel being sent for came, and read and interpreted the writing, which was Mene, Mene, Tekel, Ʋpharsin, which because when he cometh to interpret, he saith, Mene, God V. 26.hath numbred thy kingdome and finished it; Tekel, thou art weighed in the ballance, and found wanting; Peres, thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians: the vulgar hath only these three words, Mene, Tekel, Perez; but the first word is doubled, and for Peres is Ʋpharsin, which cometh of foreign and, and Peres, whence is foreign divisions, and Mene properly signifyeth numbred, Tekel weighed. Thus by prodigious signes God hath some other times also foreshewed the destruction of other wicked kings. Zonaras saith, that a Judge in Antioch saw Zona…as.in heaven a number of starres so placed together, that of them these words were made, hodie Iulianus in Perside occiditur, this day is Iulian slain in Persia, and Grecorias l. 7.it f…ll out accordingly. Upon a place in Adrianople was a verse seen written, that one of the Paleologues family should shortly dye, and Machael Andronicus the Emperors son shortly after dyed.