Daniel 5

“Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brass, drank, gods. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, wrote, candlestick. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include interpretation, king, king’s. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.” Naming Belshazzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include king, queen, banquet. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and…” Naming Chaldeans and Nebuchadnezzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard…” Naming Daniel and Belteshazzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent…” The line’s distinctive content terms include excellent, gods, light. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make…” The line’s distinctive content terms include interpretation, astrologers, known. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include canst, chain, clothed. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I…” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:” Naming Nebuchadnezzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include alive, feared, gave. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took…” The line’s distinctive content terms include deposed, glory, hardened. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;” Naming Belshazzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and…” The verse names God and Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, writing, written. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.” The line’s distinctive content terms include MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Naming Medes and Persians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” Naming Belshazzar and Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.