Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 5:3
Then they brought 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.
3. This act was not one ofnecessity, or for honor’s sake, but in reckless profanity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem,…. That is, the servants to whom the orders were given fetched them from the temple of Bel, and brought them to the king’s house; and though only mention is made of golden vessels, yet no doubt the silver ones were also brought, according to the king’s command:
and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them; by which they were profaned, being dedicated to holy uses, but now put to common use, and that by such impious persons; and who did it, not on account of the value and antiquity of these vessels, and in admiration of them, and to the honour of their festival; but in contempt of them, and in a profane and scurrilous way, as follows:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet uses the word “ golden, ” probably, because the most precious vessels were brought; silver might also have been added, but the more splendid ones are noticed. He does not say that Nebuchadnezzar carried them off, but implies it to be the common act of all the Babylonians. They obtained the victory under the direction of this king, hence he used the spoils; and since they were all engaged in the victory, the Prophet speaks of them all. In using the phrase, “the temple,” he expresses more than before, by saying, not from Jerusalem only but from the temple of God’s house.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3, 4. The favorite temple of the king adjoined the palace, so that these vessels could be obtained quickly and easily. A reason for this insult to Jehovah has already been suggested. (See note Dan 5:1-4; see also Introduction, III, 4, “Babylon and its Fall.”)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Then they brought the golden vessels which were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood and of stone.’
The blasphemy of the situation is starkly brought out. We cannot doubt the intent of the king. The golden vessels were those connected with the sanctuary itself (see Dan 1:2). And in the midst of that lascivious, drunken feast they drank from them and drunkenly sang songs of worship to man made gods, gods made of earthly materials with no intrinsic life. The description is deliberately derisive.
His act was an insult to the God of Israel, perhaps a deliberate slight on the God Who had so influenced Nebuchadnezzar, who had seemingly never used the vessels in such a way. In Belshazzar’s drunken mind there may have been in mind that ‘the Most High God’ was failing them in their hour of need, so that they would show Him how much they cared.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 5:3 Then they brought 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.
Ver. 3. Then they brought the golden vessels. ] Made and appointed for a better use; as were likewise much of our Church lands, vessels, and utensils, concerning which a learned man complaineth, Possidebant Papistae, possident iam rapistae. Luther cried out earnestly against this abuse in Germany, Knox in Scotland, Calvin at Geneva: I see, said he to the senate there in a sermon, that we have taken the purse from Judas and given it to the devil; neither can I endure such sacrilege, which I know God in the end will punish most severely. Belshazzar paid dear for his boosing in the bowls of the sanctuary.
And the king and his princes drank in them.] As if they had been swine troughs. This was to outsin his father and grandfather, who yet were none of the best.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 5:3-4
Dan 5:3 ThenH116 they broughtH858 the goldenH1722 vesselsH3984 thatH1768 were taken outH5312 ofH4481 the templeH1965 ofH1768 the houseH1005 of GodH426 whichH1768 was at Jerusalem;H3390 and the king,H4430 and his princes,H7261 his wives,H7695 and his concubines,H3904 drankH8355 in them.
Dan 5:4 They drankH8355 wine,H2562 and praisedH7624 the godsH426 of gold,H1722 and of silver,H3702 of brass,H5174 of iron,H6523 of wood,H636 and of stone.H69
Dan 5:3-4
Then they brought 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. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Not only did they use the vessels from the temple to drink wine from in their feast, they praised their false manmade gods who were represented by idols made of all sorts of earthly materials from gold down to wood and stone. To worship their false idols while swilling wine in a drunken state from the sacred vessels from the most holy places of God’s temple in Jerusalem was a sacrilegious act of profound proportion. In scripture this behavior is characterized as spiritual fornication.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Reciprocal: Jdg 16:25 – their hearts Jdg 19:1 – a concubine 2Ki 24:13 – and cut 2Ki 25:15 – and such things 2Ch 4:19 – all the vessels 2Ch 9:20 – drinking 2Ch 36:18 – all the vessels Ezr 1:7 – Nebuchadnezzar Ezr 5:14 – the vessels Isa 5:14 – he that rejoiceth Jer 50:28 – to declare Dan 1:2 – and he Dan 5:23 – lifted Hos 2:8 – her corn Joe 3:5 – ye Hab 1:11 – imputing Mal 1:12 – The table 1Th 5:3 – Peace
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 5:3. The order of Belshazzar was obeyed and the king and his company drank wine from the sacred vessels that had been taken front the Lord’s service at Jerusalem.