Daniel 5:2

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

Belshazzar {H1113}, whiles he tasted {H2942} the wine {H2562}, commanded {H560} to bring {H858} the golden {H1722} and silver {H3702} vessels {H3984} which his father {H2} Nebuchadnezzar {H5020} had taken {H5312} out of {H4481} the temple {H1965} which was in Jerusalem {H3390}; that the king {H4430}, and his princes {H7261}, his wives {H7695}, and his concubines {H3904}, might drink {H8355} therein.

While tasting the wine, Belshatzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels which his father N'vukhadnetzar had removed from the temple in Yerushalayim be brought; so that the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines could drink from them.

Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom.

Context of Daniel 5:2

Daniel 5:2 sets the stage for one of the most dramatic accounts in the book of Daniel: Belshazzar's feast and the writing on the wall. King Belshazzar, co-regent with Nabonidus, is hosting a lavish banquet for a thousand of his lords. The "vessels" mentioned are not ordinary serving ware but sacred artifacts from the Temple in Jerusalem. These golden and silver vessels were plundered decades earlier by King Nebuchadnezzar during his conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Nebuchadnezzar, though a pagan king, had reportedly stored these vessels in the house of his god, demonstrating a degree of respect for their religious significance, even if misguided. Belshazzar's command to bring them out for a drunken party signifies a profound escalation of disrespect and defiance towards the God of Israel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Sacrilege and Defiance: The primary theme is Belshazzar's egregious act of sacrilege. By using the holy vessels dedicated to the worship of God for profane revelry, he directly insulted the God of Israel. This was not merely a political statement but a direct challenge to divine authority.
  • Pride and Arrogance: Belshazzar's actions highlight his immense pride and arrogance. He felt powerful enough to mock the God of a conquered people, disregarding the lessons learned by his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. This act of hubris would immediately precede his downfall.
  • Disregard for History and Divine Warning: Belshazzar, by calling Nebuchadnezzar his "father" (a term that can mean ancestor or predecessor in ancient Near Eastern contexts), should have been aware of how the God of Israel had humbled the mighty Nebuchadnezzar (as detailed in Daniel chapter 4). His deliberate misuse of the vessels shows a blatant disregard for these divine warnings and historical precedent.
  • Impending Judgment: This verse immediately precedes the famous incident of the writing on the wall (Daniel 5:5), signaling that Belshazzar's insolent act is the tipping point for divine judgment against him and the Babylonian Empire.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "his father Nebuchadnezzar" should be understood in the broader sense of "ancestor" or "predecessor." Historical records indicate that Belshazzar was actually the son of Nabonidus, the last king of Babylon, and likely the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The term "father" (Hebrew: ’abh) in ancient Semitic languages often encompassed grandfathers, ancestors, and even predecessors in office, reflecting a lineage or succession rather than direct paternity.

Practical Application

Daniel 5:2 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disrespecting God and sacred things. It teaches that:

  • God's Holiness Demands Reverence: Even items dedicated to God, though inanimate, carry a sanctity that should not be profaned. This extends to how we treat spiritual matters, places of worship, and the name of God today.
  • Pride Precedes a Fall: Belshazzar's arrogance led directly to his destruction. The Bible consistently warns against pride, emphasizing that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  • Accountability for Actions: No matter how powerful or seemingly secure, rulers and individuals are ultimately accountable to God for their actions, especially when they defy His authority.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 1:2

    And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

  • 2 Kings 24:13

    And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.

  • 2 Kings 25:15

    And the firepans, and the bowls, [and] such things as [were] of gold, [in] gold, and of silver, [in] silver, the captain of the guard took away.

  • Ezra 1:7

    Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

  • Ezra 1:11

    All the vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand and four hundred. All [these] did Sheshbazzar bring up with [them of] the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

  • Daniel 5:23

    But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought 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:

  • Jeremiah 27:16

    Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD'S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

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