Daniel 5

Daniel 5:1

BElshazzar] This was Nebuchad nezzars daughters sonne, as may be gathered by Histories; and in him failed Nebuchadnezzars line, according to the prophecy, Jeremiah 27:7 Dranke]This word signifies a solemne drinking in a publicke feast; which was seldome used amongst the Chaldeans.

Daniel 5:2

He sted] being already heated with wine, and being disposed to drinke largely His father] that is to say, his grandfather.

Daniel 5:4

Praised] attributing unto them the victories which they had obtained over Gods people, and over God himselfe, feasting in honour of them, offering, and powring unto them, of their meat and drinke, according to the custome of Pagans.

Daniel 5:5

The part of] that likenesse of a hand taken off from the arme.

Daniel 5:6

The joynts] the Italian, the girdles] A proverbiall kind of speech, Isaiah 5:27. taken from affrighted souldiers, that are running away: who unbuckle their armours off their backs. The meaning is, that his strength and courage failed him.

Daniel 5:7

Shall be clothed] A badge of honour for great Officers and Lords. See upon. Genesis 41:42 The third] the first after me, and the Qu〈…〉 my mother.

Daniel 5:8

They could] It is likely that these Letters were written, without any distinction or separation of words: whereupon they could not compose nor frame the words, to make any sense of them.

Daniel 5:10

The Queen] the Kings Mother, or according to some his grandmother Of the words] having heard lies, words full of terrour and feare. Or his command to call the wise men.

Daniel 5:12

Doubts] the Italian, riddles] Cld, Knots perplexed and obscure speeches and sentences.

Daniel 5:20

Hardened] against Daniels exhortations, Dan. 4 27.

Daniel 5:23

Whose are all] who by his soveraigne power governeth all whatsoever man undertakes, and whatsoever happeneth to him, and upon whose will, all things absolutely depend.

Daniel 5:25

Mene] these words signifie, he hath done right, he hath weighed, and it falleth in peeces.

Daniel 5:26

God] God hath a long time forborne thee, he is at last come to take an account of thine administration, and having, as one should say, cast up thine accounts; he now requireth satisfaction: a terme taken from creditors.

Daniel 5:27

Weighed] A terme taken from light comes. The meaning is, God hath examined thee, and hath found thee unworthy of the degree which thou holdest.

Daniel 5:28

It divided] the Italian is, put in peeces] as who should say; put to the mint, like broken or false coine. There is an allusion between the word Peres and Persia To the Medes] namely, to Darius the Mede, and afterwards to Cyrus the Persian, Daniel 6:28.

Daniel 5:30

Slaine], as some say it was, when Babylon was taken by Cyrus, whilest the Babylonians were feasting and banquetting. See Isa. 1. 5. Jeremiah 51:39. Habakkuk 2:5. Others by some reliques of ancient Histories doe imagine that he was slaine by a conspiracy of his Barons, whereof one was this Darius, and that happened some few yeares before the said surprise.

Daniel 5:31

Darius] the Histories make no mention of this Darius; and it hath been thought that it was Chiassar King of Media, Cyrus his Unckle and father in law. Who having accompanied Cyrus in his Babylonian enterprize, after the taking, was by him made King of it; For an honour to his age and degree. Others will have this Darius, sonne of Ashuerus, Daniel 9:1. to be one of the conspirators against Belshazzar, and one of the Barons of Babylon, though a Mede by Nation: called Darius whilest he was a private man, and Nabonnidus, or Labinitus when he was a King: and that it was he under whom Babylon was taken by Cyrus, who tooke away his kingdome from him T〈…〉ke] the Italian, received] by the Babylonians election, if we follow the second opinion as hath been spoken of. Or by Cyrus his yeelding it to him; if we follow the first. See Daniel 9:1 About threescore] or who was already threescore and two yeares of age.