Daniel 5:13-18

Daniel 5:13

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

 

Then Daniel had been brought in before the king and the king started to ask him questions to make sure that this was the real Daniel and that the wise men were not stalling for time as they did in the days of Nebuchadnezzar.   Belshazzar wanted to know if he was the real Daniel which came from the land of Judah which Nebuchadnezzar had conquered.

 

Daniel 5:14

I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

 

He then speaks compliments to Daniel stating what he has heard about him.  It is quite interesting that Belshazzar being the king did not even know who the chief of the wise men was.  The words he spoke were basically those words which he heard come from his mother.  He sort of parroted them back.

 

Daniel 5:15

And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:

 

Now Daniel is seemingly facing the same situation which he faced previously with Nebuchadnezzar.  The king tells him that all the wise men and astrologers were brought before him and were shown the writing but they could neither read the writing nor could they give any type of interpretation.

 

Daniel 5:16

And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

 

Once again the king compliments Daniel and telling him of the spiritual attributes the king’s mother stated.  The king now makes the same offer to him as he did to the other group of counselors.  If Daniel makes good on the interpretation, the he can expect to be promoted and honored.  The color scarlet may have represented the rank of the third ruler and the chain of gold may have had an insignia commensurate with the rank of third ruler. 

 

Daniel 5:17

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

 

Then Daniel being dedicated to the Lord and showing no concern for the gifts that come with the interpretation, states that he will read the writing and make known to him the meaning of the words.   Daniel was separating himself from the temptation of riches and the snares that it could bring.

 

Daniel 5:18

O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

 

Now Daniel is reminding the king that it was God who gave the kingdom of Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar and along with the responsibilities as king, God gave him majesty, glory, and honor in the sight of men.  It were these things that went to the head of Nebuchadnezzar and eventually filled him with such pride and arrogance that God had to finally deal with him.  Nebuchadnezzar was under the impression that the kingdom of Babylon was all of his doing and creation.

Back