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DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2019 May 17
Daniel 5
 Belshazzar's Feast (1635) Rembrandt (1606-1669) Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style The National Gallery, London, England, United Kingdom Image Source: Wikimedia [ Illustration: Today's painting depicts the moment described in today's chapter in which a hand appeared and wrote the words of Belshazzar's judgment and doom. In Rembrandt's depiction above, the Hebrew / Aramaic script is written in columns rather than in its usual right-to-left manner. ] SPECIAL NOTE: [ I will again be working through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I will be adding links, resources, images, and the like, upgrading the former work-through which began with the 2013-10-12 posting which can be found, along with the full Genesis to Revelation postings, in the Archive Page. Postings will be at midnight Eastern Time, as I am able. However, no chapters will be skipped, even though a posting may be late. And all postings will be housed in the Archive Page. ] Explanation: The narrative in Daniel 5 takes place in the latter part of Daniel's life (about B.C. 623 B.C. - perhaps between 538 and 523 B.C.), in the last hours of Belshazzar's reign. Thus the narrative of the previous four chapters was set in the time of Nebuchadnezzar (who lived c. 634-562 B.C. and reigned c. 605-562 B.C.). And the fifth chapter is set at the end of Belshazzar's life (reigned 553 - 539 / 538 B.C.) and the end of the Kingdom of Babylon (539 / 538 B.C.) which fell to Darius the Median (reigned 538-536 B.C.). "As is clear from the extra-biblical records, it was actually Nabonidus (ca. 556-539 B.C.) who was king of Babylon at this time. However, Nabonidus spent long periods of time at Teima, and during those times Belshazzar his son was de facto king of Babylon. This arrangement may help to explain why later in this chapter Belshazzar promises that the successful interpreter of the handwriting on the wall will be made third ruler in the kingdom. If Belshazzar was in effect second ruler in the kingdom, this would be the highest honor he could grant." (Net Bible). In chapter 1, in accord with the second commandment, Daniel and his friends avoided idolatry by refusing to eat impure food, some of which had possibly been offered to idols. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar honored the third commandment by praising God for his power to reveal secrets. In chapter 3, after God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace, he issued a decree against blasphemy, thereby honoring the third commandment. In chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar honored himself instead of God thereby breaking the third commandment. Therefore God smote him with madness, prompting him, after he recovered, to issue a decree to respect and honor God in accord with the third commandment. In Daniel 5, the issue is the violation of second and third commandments, idolatry and blasphemy. Thus, the issues of the previous 4 chapters come to a decisive, fatal, and kingdom destroying head. Thus, the reader of the Book of Daniel, especially the Jews who were in exile for idolatry and for grievously dishonoring God, would be instructed by striking examples, of the dangers of these sins and would be inhibited from continuing to embrace them in their captivity and from returning to them once they were released. Idolatry and Blasphemy Flaunted (1-4). Chapter 5 opens with a banquet. Belshazzar brings gold and silver vessels from the Temple at Jerusalem which were supposed to be used for holy purposes to worship God, and he uses them to drink wine along with his nobles, wives, and concubines. This is a grievous act of disrespect toward God, and therefore it violates the third commandment which forbids us to take God's name in vain by blasphemy (speaking evil of him) or by disrespecting, demeaning, or repudiating him (1-3). In addition, they praised their idols while drinking from these vessels. This violates the second commandment which forbids idolatry (4). God Judges the Idolatry and Blasphemy (5-31). Because of this idolatry and blasphemy, God sent a warning. Disembodied fingers appeared and wrote a message on the wall (5). The king was terrified (6). He called mightily for magicians who could read the writing, promising great rewards to anyone who could read it (7). None who were called could read the writing, and all were terrified and stunned (8-9). However, the queen (or the queen-mother, probably), advised the king to call Daniel who had been chief of the magicians under Nebuchadnezzar (10-12). Daniel came before the king, declined the gifts, rebuked the king, and interpreted the writing. The words were mene, mene, tekel, upharsin -- numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided. This meant that ('the days of,' perhaps) Belshazzar's kingdom had been numbered and (the numbering was) finished. It had been weighed and found deficient. It was divided (split up) and given to the Medes and Persians (13-28). Belshazzar then made Daniel the third ruler in the kingdom, which may indicate that Belshazzar was the second ruler, his father Nabonidus being the chief ruler, as mentioned above near the beginning of the "Explanation" section (29) That night Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede ruled in his place (30-31). Alternate Chapter Outline: Various authors see a chiastic * structure in this and other chapters in Daniel. Below, I have presented the outline of David A. Dorsey, slightly modified, from his book The Literary Structure of the Old Testament (p. 261). Below, I have made the main paragraph divisions of Daniel 5 in accord with Dorsey's chiastic divisions. * A chiastic structure is a literary form of parallelism in which a succession of ideas leads up to an emphatic central point then repeats in reverse order. a. Introduction: Belshazzar Prospers (1-4). b. Handwriting on the Wall Appears (5-6). c. Magicians Summoned (7-9). d. TURNING POINT: Daniel is Remembered (10-12). c'. Daniel Summoned (13-16). b'. Handwriting on the wall Interpreted (17-28). a'. Conclusion: Belshazzar Overthrown (29-31). [ Sermons: Eric Alexander. Sinclair Ferguson. William Sill. Various. ] Bible Chronologies -- Genesis to Revelation [Traditional Patriarchal Chronology. Judges Period Chronology 1. Judges Period Chronology 2. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Intertestamental Period Chronology 1. Intertestamental Period Chronology 2. Intertestamental Period Chronology 3. Intertestamental Period Chronology 4. Intertestamental Period Chronology 5.] [New Testament Chronology 1. New Testament Chronology 2. New Testament Chronology 3. New Testament Chronology 4. New Testament Chronology 5.] RESOURCES PLEASE NOTE: Use the resources on this and other sites thoughtfully, particularly the commentaries and encyclopedias. I have attempted to list conservative, scholarly resources. However, some providers use liberal or liberal-influenced commentaries such as the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (in Bible Hub). Such commentaries are undoubtedly included by the provider for the wealth of useful information and comments which they provide. By consulting several commentaries, it should be fairly easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If, however, you would like personal assistance, write to me at AD LIB ARTS EMAIL. [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Daniel 5: Daniel 1. Daniel 2. Daniel 3. Daniel 4. Daniel 5. Daniel 6. ] [1] Esther 1:3-4; Jeremiah 52:33; Genesis 40:20; Mark 6:21-22. [2] Daniel 1:2; 2 Kings 24:13; 2 Kings 25:15; 2 Chronicles 36:10, 18; Ezra 1:7-11; Jeremiah 27:16-22; Jeremiah 52:19. [3] Jeremiah 27:7; Isaiah 14:22; 2 Samuel 9:7; Matthew 1:1; Zechariah 1:1; Zechariah 1:7; Isaiah 39:7; Esther 1:10-11; 2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Kings 11:3; Song of Solomon 6:8. [4] Judges 16:23-24; Isaiah 42:8; Hosea 2:8-13; Revelation 9:20-21; Daniel 4:37. [5] Job 20:5; Psalm 78:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Colossians 2:14; Revelation 20:12-15. [6] Daniel 2:1; Daniel 7:28; Isaiah 13:7-8; Ezekiel 7:17; Ezekiel 21:7; Nahum 2:10; Hebrews 12:12. [7] Daniel 8:27; Daniel 2:2; Esther 3:1. [8] Daniel 2:27; Daniel 4:7; Genesis 41:8; Isaiah 47:9, 12-15. [9] Job 18:11-14; Revelation 6:15; Daniel 10:8; Psalm 48:6; Matthew 2:3. [10] 1 Samuel 4:20-22. [11] Daniel 4:8-9, 18-19; Daniel 2:47. [12] Daniel 6:3. [13] Daniel 1:6-7. [14] Daniel 1:19-20. [15] Daniel 2:3-11; Isaiah 29:10-12. [16] Genesis 40:8; Acts 8:18. [17] 2 Kings 5:16; 2 Kings 8:9; Daniel 2:6; Acts 8:20. [18] Daniel 4:16-17; Daniel 4:22-25. [19] Daniel 4:36-37; John 19:11. [20] Proverbs 16:5, 18. [21] Daniel 4:25, 32-33. [22] Exodus 10:3; 2 Chronicles 33:23; 2 Chronicles 36:12; Isaiah 26:10; Matthew 21:32; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:6, 17. [23] Deuteronomy 4:28; Isaiah 10:5-18; Jeremiah 51:20-25; Hosea 14. [24] Genesis 41:32. [25-26] Isaiah 47:1-15; Jeremiah 50:1-46; Jeremiah 51:1-64. [27] Job 31:6. [28] Daniel 5:31; Daniel 9:1; Isaiah 45:1-2. [29] Daniel 1:20; Daniel 2:46-49; Daniel 3:30; Daniel 6:3; Daniel 6:28; Daniel 9:23; Daniel 10:11, 19. [30] Jeremiah 51:11, 31, 39, 57. [31] Daniel 6:1-3; Daniel 9:1. -- From Treasury of Scripture Knowledge & Others ] [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ] [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ] [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). PROVERBS: Book of Proverbs. ECCLESIASTES: Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized. SONG OF SOLOMON: Song of Solomon Dramatized. ISAIAH: Isaiah Dramatized. JEREMIAH: Jeremiah Dramatized. LAMENTATIONS: Lamentations Dramatized. EZEKIEL: Ezekiel Dramatized. DANIEL: Daniel Dramatized. VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ] HARMONY OF THE LAW GOSPEL HARMONIES Gospel Harmony - Summary | The Harmony of the Gospels - Augustine | Gospel Harmony Chart - Online Bible Greek Harmony of the Gospels - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF) | Gospel Harmony in English - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF) HEBREW AND GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLES Daniel Detailed Outline Daniel 5 Map 1: Bible Nations | Map 2: Empire of David and Solomon Map 3: Kingdoms of Judah and Israel | Post Exile Chronology. 1. Spiritual Struggle in Babylon (1:1 - 6:28) E. The Struggle with Debauchery - Won by God Sending a Conqueror (5:1-31) 3 Then they bought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 8 Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied [dazed, stunned, astonished]. 15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been bought 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: 16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts [and untie knots]: 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. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven [and from night mist of the heavens his body is wet]; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have bought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 25 And this is the writing that was written, 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: 30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
Tomorrow's Picture: TBA
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