The Aramaic word mishteh, represented by H4961, is the term for a banquet. It appears just 1 time in 1 verse, marking a very specific event. The word itself is the Aramaic corresponding term for a feast.
In its sole biblical appearance, H4961 sets the scene for a pivotal moment of royal judgment. The queen enters the banquet house because of the commotion caused by the "words of the king and his lords" Daniel 5:10. Her arrival is in response to the king's terror, whose thoughts troubled him and whose countenance changed Daniel 5:6. The queen attempts to reassure the king in the midst of this grand, yet disrupted, royal affair.
Several related Aramaic words provide the context for the banquet:
- H1005 bayith (house): This word is used directly with mishteh to describe the location as the "banquet house" Daniel 5:10. This term has various applications, from the sacred "house of God" Ezra 6:17 to a royal dwelling like the "house of the kingdom" Daniel 4:30.
- H4430 melek (king): The king, Belshazzar, is the host of the banquet Daniel 5:10. The term is central to the surrounding narrative, highlighting the contrast between an earthly king and the God who "removeth kings, and setteth up kings" Daniel 2:21.
- H7261 rabrᵉbân (lord, prince): These magnates were the guests attending the event with the king Daniel 5:10. The lords participated in the feast and were present for the terrifying events that unfolded Daniel 5:9.
The theological weight of H4961 is derived entirely from the event it hosts.
- A Stage for Divine Judgment: The banquet is not a place of simple celebration but the setting where God's judgment is delivered to King Belshazzar. The feast is interrupted by a divine sign that causes the king's thoughts to trouble him Daniel 5:10.
- Hubris and Defiance: The event is characterized by human pride. At this gathering, the king and his lords used the sacred vessels from God's house for their feast, an act of defiance that directly preceded the judgment Daniel 5:23.
- Fulfillment of Prophecy: The disruption of the banquet signals the end of the Babylonian kingdom. The queen's plea for the king to live for ever Daniel 5:10 is deeply ironic, as God's judgment is being delivered at that very moment, affirming that His own kingdom is the one that will stand for ever Daniel 2:44.
In summary, mishteh H4961 is a term whose significance is defined by its singular, dramatic context. While appearing only once, it pinpoints the location of Belshazzar's feast, a pivotal event in the book of Daniel. It provides the backdrop for a profound lesson on divine sovereignty, judgment, and the ultimate futility of human pride when set against the power of God.
TRV