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
We see that this king was not
acquainted with Daniel at all. Daniel had, probably, been demoted after the
reign of Nebuchadnezzar. The king wants to make sure he is the right Daniel.
The word “father”
is used in the same sense of grandfather which was probably a custom in those
days to the Babylonians.
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."
Even the unsaved world recognizes a
person who is in good relationship with God. We can see from the verse above,
that this king's information is hear-say. He has heard of Daniel.
Notice, light is
mentioned in connection with wisdom and understanding.
Isaiah 9:2
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that
dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light
shined."
II Corinthians 4:6
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in
our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ."
This is all saying,
that Daniel is inhabited of his God. His power is God's power in him.
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:"
The wise men, spoken of in this verse,
are the worldly wise. They have no power of God working within them. They would
be of no help.
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."
Again, this is back to Daniel. He will
be greatly rewarded of the king, when he tells what this writing is. All of the
things mentioned, like the scarlet robe and the gold chain, show his authority
to rule.
“The third ruler”:
This trio included Daniel, along with Belshazzar (553 – 539 b.c.), and
Nabonidus, (ruled 555 – 539 b.c.). The prizes turned out to be non-existent in
light of the city’s conquest that very night. (Verses 29-30)
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."
Daniel is saying to him, forget the
gifts. He will interpret the writing on the wall. Not only will Daniel read the
writing, but he will explain the interpretation of it, as well, to the king.
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