Bible Commentaries
Daniel 5

Verses 1-31

Justification: God Exalts the Righteous and Humbles the Proud Daniel 4:1 to Daniel 6:28 records the stories of Daniel’s prophetic interpretation and fulfillment of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which predicted his madness for a season (Daniel 4:1-27). In this interpretation Daniel calls the king to repent and stand righteous before God in order to obtain His mercies (Daniel 4:27). The king is struck mad in the midst of his boasting, only having his mind restored after the season predicted by Daniel’s interpretation of the dream. King Nebuchadnezzar repents when his mind is restored, gives all glory to God, declaring Him true and just, and he finds God’s mercy in that God restores to him his kingdom and his splendor (Daniel 4:28-37). This story is followed by King Belshazzar’s drunken pride, when his boasting is interrupted by a divine handwriting upon the wall. Daniel interprets the dream as divine judgment upon the king, only to find its fulfillment that same night in the death of the king and the fall of Babylon (Daniel 5:1-31). Darius the Mede exalts Daniel above his other governors because of his just character. Daniel’s right standing before God is tested in the lion’s den and he is proven genuine. Thus, he prospers during the reigns of Darius and Cyprus (Daniel 6:1-28).