Daniel 5:7

"Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another."

Key Reflection

In Daniel 5:7, we see a vivid depiction of King Belshazzar's sudden fear and distress upon witnessing the mysterious handwriting on the wall. The imagery is powerful; his "face was changed" indicating an immediate shift from confidence to terror, and his thoughts became troubled as he grappled with an inexplicable supernatural event. This cultural context highlights the profound impact of divine intervention in ancient Near Eastern monarchies, where such occurrences were often seen as omens of impending doom or a sign of divine judgment.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

And the king cried aloud -Margin, as in the Chaldee, “with might.” This indicates a sudden and an alarming cry. The king was deeply terrified; and, unable himself to divine the meaning of the mysterious appearance of the hand, he naturally turned at once to those whose office it was to explain dreams and supernatural appearances. To bring in the astrologers ... -See the note atDaniel 2:2;Daniel 4:7. And said to the wise men of Babylon -Those just referred to - the astrologers, etc. Having the power, as was supposed, of interpreting the indications of coming events, they were esteemed as eminently wise.

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