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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.

Daniel 5:2 · King James Version

Meaning

Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, held a great feast where he and his guests drank from the golden and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem by his father, Nebuchadnezzar. The act of using these sacred vessels for such a profane purpose was a direct defiance of God, as they were meant for worship and sacred ceremonies in the temple. By desecrating these vessels, Belshazzar demonstrated his arrogance and lack of reverence for the Lord. The significance of this action would soon become clear, as it led to the appearance of a mysterious hand writing on the wall, foretelling the fall of Babylon and the end of Belshazzar's reign. This event serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disrespecting the things of God and the importance of humility and obedience before Him.

Theological Overview

Belshazzar's actions in commanding the golden and silver vessels, taken from the temple in Jerusalem by his father Nebuchadnezzar, reveal a blatant disregard for the sacredness of these objects. This act of using the vessels for a pagan feast symbolizes the desecration of the holiness associated with these items. The theological interpretation of this verse highlights the consequences of disrespecting God's holy things. By using the vessels for worldly purposes, Belshazzar and his companions arrogantly reject the authority and sovereignty of God. Furthermore, this passage speaks to the importance of understanding the significance of sacred objects and the need to honor them appropriately. Through word studies of terms like "temple," "princes," and "wives," we can gain a deeper understanding of the historical context and social dynamics at play in this narrative. Overall, this verse serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of profaning the sacred and the repercussions that can follow.

Daniel 5:2 in other translations

American Standard Version

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.

World English Bible

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 from them.

Douay-Rheims

And being now drunk, he commanded that they should bring the vessels of gold and silver, which Nabuchodonosor, his father, had brought away out of the temple, that was in Jerusalem, that the king and his nobles, and his wives, and his concubines, might drink in them.

Geneva Bible (1599)

And Belshazzar whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring him the golden and siluer vessels, which his father Nebuchad-nezzar had brought from the Temple in Ierusalem, that the King and his princes, his wiues, and his concubines might drinke therein.