Daniel 5:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Daniel 5:1

Belshazzar’s Feast

1 Belshazzar the king ^amade a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels ^awhich his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

3 Then they brought the gold ^avessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.

4 They drank wine, ^aand praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

5 ^aIn the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

6 Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his ^aknees knocked against each other.

7 ^aThe king cried¹ aloud to bring in ^bthe astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; ^cand he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

8 Now all the king’s wise men came, ^abut they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.

9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly ^atroubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were¹ astonished.

10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.

11 ^aThere is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your¹ father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and¹ explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, ^awhom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”

The Writing on the Wall Explained

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel¹ who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my² father the king brought from Judah?

14 I have heard of you, that ^athe Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

Verse Comparison: Daniel 5:1

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American Standard Version
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

Amplified® Bible
BELSHAZZAR THE king [descendant of Nebuchadnezzar] made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and he drank his wine in the presence of the thousand.

Contemporary English Version
One evening, King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his highest officials, and he drank wine with them.

Darby English Version
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his nobles, and drank wine before the thousand.

Good News Bible
One night King Belshazzar invited a thousand noblemen to a great banquet, and they drank wine together.

King James Version
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

New American Standard Bible
Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

New International Version
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.

New King James Version
Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

Revised Standard Version
King Belshaz'zar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in front of the thousand.

Young's Literal Translation
Belshazzar the king hath made a great feast to a thousand of his great men, and before the thousand he is drinking wine;

New English Translation
King Belshazzar¹ prepared a great banquet² for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of³ them all.⁴

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