Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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 show the interpretation of the thing:
15. the astrologers ] the enchanters (Dan 1:20).
shew ] declare.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And now the wise men … – Dan 5:7-8.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And now the wise men; the astrologers, have been brought in before me,…. For it seems they came not of themselves, or upon hearing his loud cry; but were sent for by him, and came by his orders, and were introduced into his presence by the proper officers:
that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; pointing to the writing upon the wall:
but they could not show the interpretation of the thing; nor even read it; though it may be some of them might attempt to read it, and did read it in their way, as well as they could, or at least pretended to read; yet could make no manner of sense of it, which was the thing the king was intent upon.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The following phrase has the same meaning: — All the wise men were brought before me, and the soothsayers or diviners, to read this writing to me, and to reveal its interpretation; and they could not do it, said he; for God punished him by shewing how profitless were all the Chaldeans and soothsayers, in whom he trusted at the moment of his extremity. While he was thus disappointed in his hopes, he acknowledges himself to have been deceived; and when he preferred the magi and soothsayers, he thought himself fortified by their counsel, as long as they were on his side. Meanwhile his rejection of the holy Prophet was deservedly intolerable to God. Belshazzar confesses this without intending to do so; hence I said his confession was not ingenuous or voluntary, but violently extorted by the secret instinct of God. He also promises Daniel what he had previously promised the magi, — Thou shalt be clothed in purple if thou canst read this writing, and wear a golden chain round thy neck, and thou shalt reign as the third person in the kingdom But the end of his reign was now close at hand, and yet in security he offers this dignity to Daniel. This shews how rapidly the terror which God had occasioned him had vanished away. He is agitated by the greatest uneasiness, just like madmen, for they having no certainty exult amidst their terror, and wish to leap or fly towards heaven itself. Thus also this tyrant though he trembles at God’s judgment, yet retains a hidden obstinacy in his heart, and imagines his kingdom will permanently continue, while he promises wealth and honors to others. It now follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) The thingi.e., the whole of this miraculous transaction.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 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:
Ver. 15. But they could not show the interpretation of the thing. ] They could not read nor interpret it. Such as seek to sorcerers are worthy to lose their labour, as a punishment of their folly. Suidas testifieth that the citizens of Alexandria in Egypt devised and decreed that astrologers should pay a certain tribute to the State out of their gettings, and that it should be called the fool’s tribute, because none but fools and light fellows would resort to such for direction.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 5:15
Dan 5:15 And nowH3705 the wiseH2445 men, the astrologers,H826 have been brought inH5954 beforeH6925 me, thatH1768 they should readH7123 thisH1836 writing,H3792 and make knownH3046 unto me the interpretationH6591 thereof: but they couldH3546 notH3809 shewH2324 the interpretationH6591 of the thing:H4406
Dan 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 mystics of the realm should be getting used to this by now. This is the third time we know of that they were unable to perform to the expectations of the king. The first time recorded nearly cost them their lives. If is had not have been for Daniel intervening with the correct interpretation they would have been wiped out by Nebuchadnezzar’s palace guard. It is almost unbelievable that these mystics clung to their false beliefs in the face of the numerous times that it was demonstrated to them that the God of Daniel was the one true and living God.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Dan 5:7, Dan 5:8, Dan 2:3-11, Isa 29:10-12, Isa 47:12
Reciprocal: Isa 47:13 – Let now Dan 4:18 – forasmuch Dan 5:5 – wrote
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 5:15, Wise men, the astrologers is very significant. All of the astrologers were considered wise men, hut there were wise men who were not asLrologers. Hence the king made the distinction as to which class of wise men had been brought in; it was the astrologers. He did this in respect for Daniel, who, though classed as a wise man (chapter 2: 13), was a higher rank than astrologers; he was one in whom was the spirit of the gods. Daniel was Informed of the failure of the astrologers.