but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
Belshazzar raised himself against the Lord of heaven not once but repeatedly: he commanded the temple vessels brought to his table, drank from them with his concubines in foul debauchery, and then praised gods of dead metal and stone that cannot see, hear, or understand. Against such willful blindness and ingratitude toward the living God on whom his very breath depends, no arrogance could be worse or more worthy of punishment.
AI summary
The queen-mother came to his rescue with counsel, for she knew Daniel, a man in whom dwelt the spirit of the holy gods, with light and understanding and wisdom beyond all the other wise men. The king's physicians for melancholy were his own counselors; he needed a physician for his pride, and she knew where to find him.
AI summary
Commenting on Daniel 5:10-29
Belshazzar dared to lift himself above the Lord of heaven as though he were greater, showing vast pride and ignorance of both himself and the true God. He desecrated the temple vessels to drink wine with his nobles and concubines, then praised gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone, senseless idols below even brutes, while refusing honor to the living God who held his very breath in His hand.
AI summary