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DANIEL CHAPTER 5
Belshazzar’s impious feast, Dan_5:1-4. The hand-writing on the wall, which the magicians could not explain, troubleth him, Dan_5:5-9. At the recommendation of the queen Daniel is brought in, Dan_5:10-16. He reproveth the king of pride, profaneness, and idolatry, Dan_5:17-24. He readeth and interpreteth the writing, Dan_5:25-29. Belshazzar slain; the kingdom translated to the Medes, Dan_5:30,31.
Belshazzar’s name is from riches and power. They were wont, when they were promoted, to take new names, which also were significant, as this is, Belshazzar; Bel hath or gives power and riches; this they attributed to the honour of their idol, which belongs only to the God of heaven. There is much contest among the learned who this Belshazzar was; let us mind the Scripture, and not trust to heathen historians. In the second verse here he is called the son of Nebuchadnezzar, his father, so Dan_5:11 twice, and Dan_5:13,18,22; if he were his son, then was he called also Merodach, or Evil-merodach. Yet he might be called his son though his grandson; under these three was the captivity, Jer_27:7, Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach, and Belshazzar.
Made a great feast, after the manner of the East, who showed their magnificence this way, and pleased the epicurean palates of his nobles herein, it being no small piece of policy with some princes to oblige their grandees by balls and compotations; this I believe: yet I conceive also, this feast was anniversary for the honour of their idol Bel, as Herodotus testifieth. But this is prodigious, that he should carouse when the city was besieged and ready to be taken by Darius the Mede, for, saith the text, he drank wine before the thousand. These Bacchanalian feasts have often proved fatal and tragical, Es 1.