Page 147 - Daniel

was a physical descendent of Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel’s excellent qualities manifested themselves in unusual

knowledge and understanding, and the ability to “interpret dreams,
explain riddles, and solve problems” (v. 12). Daniel had not been
assembled with the other wise men because he probably was in
semiretirement and was no longer chief of the wise men. The queen
urged, however, that he now be brought in to solve the present problem.

DANIEL CALLED IN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM (5:13–16)

5:13–16 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king
answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of
Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. I have heard of

you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and
understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise
men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this
writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not
show the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can
give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the
writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed

with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be
the third ruler in the kingdom.”

It seems clear that Belshazzar knew something of Daniel, for his form
of address in verse 13 goes beyond the information supplied by his
mother. He knew for instance that Daniel was of the captivity of Judah
and that he was one of the captives that Nebuchadnezzar had brought
out of Jerusalem. It may well be that because of awareness of his

ancestry and religious convictions that Daniel had been demoted by
Belshazzar himself. Now Belshazzar was all too eager to have the gifts of
this man exercised to interpret the writing. Belshazzar goes on in verse
14 to repeat what his mother had said concerning Daniel’s wisdom.

Belshazzar informs Daniel of the inability of all the wise men either to
read or to interpret the writing. Belshazzar then offers Daniel the same
promise he made to the others of being clothed with purple and having a
chain of gold and the privilege of being “the third ruler in the kingdom.”