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Selected Verse: Daniel 5:30 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Da 5:30	Strong Concordance	In that night [03916] was Belshazzar [01113] the king [04430] of the Chaldeans [03779] slain [06992].
	King James	In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
HERODOTUS and XENOPHON confirm Daniel as to the suddenness of the event. Cyrus diverted the Euphrates into a new channel and, guided by two deserters, marched by the dry bed into the city, while the Babylonians were carousing at an annual feast to the gods. See also Isa 21:5; Isa 44:27; Jer 50:38-39; Jer 51:36. As to Belshazzar's being slain, compare Isa 14:18-20; Isa 21:2-9; Jer 50:29-35; Jer 51:57.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

HERODOTUS and XENOPHON confirm Daniel as to the suddenness of the event. Cyrus diverted the Euphrates into a new channel and, guided by two deserters, marched by the dry bed into the city, while the Babylonians were carousing at an annual feast to the gods. See also Isa 21:5; Isa 44:27; Jer 50:38-39; Jer 51:36. As to Belshazzar's being slain, compare Isa 14:18-20; Isa 21:2-9; Jer 50:29-35; Jer 51:57.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain - On the taking of Babylon, and the consequences, see the notes at Isa 13:17-22; Isa 45:1-2. The account which Xenophon ("Cyrop." vii. s.) gives of the taking of Babylon. and of the death of the king - though without mentioning his name, agrees so well with the statement here, that it may be regarded as a strong confirmation of its correctness. After describing the preparation made to take the city by draining off the waters of the Euphrates, so as to leave the channel dry beneath the walls for the amy of Cyrus, and after recording the charge which Cyrus gave to his generals Gadatas and Gobryas, he adds, "And indeed those who were with Gobryas said that it would not be wonderful if the gates of the palace should be found open, "as the whole city that night seemed to be given up to revelry" ὥς ἐν κώμῳ γὰρ δοκεῖ ἡ πόλις πᾶσα εἶναι τῇδε τῇ νυκτί hōs en kōmō gar dokei hē polis pasa einai tēde tē nukti. He then says that as they passed on, after entering the city, "of those whom they encountered, part being smitten died, part fled again back, and part raised a clamor. But those who were with Gobryas also raised a clamor as if they also joined in the revelry, and going as fast as they could, they came soon to the palace of the king. But those who were with Gobryas and Gadatas being arrayed, found the gates of the palace closed, but those who were appointed to go against the guard of the palace fell upon them when drinking before a great light, and were quickly engaged with them in hostile combat. Then a cry arose, and they who were within having asked the cause of the tumult, the king commanded them to see what the affair was, and some of them rushing out opened the gates. As they who were with Gadatas saw the gates open, they rushed in, and pursuing those who attempted to return, and smiting them, they came to the king, and they found him standing with a drawn sabre - ἀκινάκην akinakēn And those who were with Gadatas and Gobryas overpowered him, ἐχειροῦντο echeirounto - and those who were with him were slain - one opposing, and one fleeing, and one seeking his safety in the best way he could. And Cyrus sent certain of his horsemen away, and commanded that they should put to death those whom they found out of their dwellings, but that those who were in their houses, and could speak the Syriac language, should be suffered to remain, but that whosoever should be found without should be put to death. "These things they did. But Gadatas and Gobryas came up; and first they rendered thanks to the gods because they had taken vengeance on the impious king - ὅτι τετιμωρημένοι ἦσαν τὸν ἀνόσιον βασιλέα hoti tetimōrēmenoi ēsan ton anosion basilea. Then they kissed the hands and feet of Cyrus, weeping with joy and rejoicing. When it was day, and they who had the watch over the towers learned that the city was taken, and "that the king was dead" - τὸν βασιλέα τεθνηκότα ton basilea tethnēkota - they also surrendered the towers." These extracts from Xenophon abundantly confirm what is here said in Daniel respecting the death of the king, and will more than neutralize what is said by Berosus. See Intro. to the chapter, Section II.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain - On the taking of Babylon, and the consequences, see the notes at Isa 13:17-22; Isa 45:1-2. The account which Xenophon ("Cyrop." vii. s.) gives of the taking of Babylon. and of the death of the king - though without mentioning his name, agrees so well with the statement here, that it may be regarded as a strong confirmation of its correctness. After describing the preparation made to take the city by draining off the waters of the Euphrates, so as to leave the channel dry beneath the walls for the amy of Cyrus, and after recording the charge which Cyrus gave to his generals Gadatas and Gobryas, he adds, "And indeed those who were with Gobryas said that it would not be wonderful if the gates of the palace should be found open, "as the whole city that night seemed to be given up to revelry" ὥς ἐν κώμῳ γὰρ δοκεῖ ἡ πόλις πᾶσα εἶναι τῇδε τῇ νυκτί hōs en kōmō gar dokei hē polis pasa einai tēde tē nukti.

He then says that as they passed on, after entering the city, "of those whom they encountered, part being smitten died, part fled again back, and part raised a clamor. But those who were with Gobryas also raised a clamor as if they also joined in the revelry, and going as fast as they could, they came soon to the palace of the king. But those who were with Gobryas and Gadatas being arrayed, found the gates of the palace closed, but those who were appointed to go against the guard of the palace fell upon them when drinking before a great light, and were quickly engaged with them in hostile combat. Then a cry arose, and they who were within having asked the cause of the tumult, the king commanded them to see what the affair was, and some of them rushing out opened the gates. As they who were with Gadatas saw the gates open, they rushed in, and pursuing those who attempted to return, and smiting them, they came to the king, and they found him standing with a drawn sabre - ἀκινάκην akinakēn And those who were with Gadatas and Gobryas overpowered him, ἐχειροῦντο echeirounto - and those who were with him were slain - one opposing, and one fleeing, and one seeking his safety in the best way he could. And Cyrus sent certain of his horsemen away, and commanded that they should put to death those whom they found out of their dwellings, but that those who were in their houses, and could speak the Syriac language, should be suffered to remain, but that whosoever should be found without should be put to death.

"These things they did. But Gadatas and Gobryas came up; and first they rendered thanks to the gods because they had taken vengeance on the impious king - ὅτι τετιμωρημένοι ἦσαν τὸν ἀνόσιον βασιλέα hoti tetimōrēmenoi ēsan ton anosion basilea. Then they kissed the hands and feet of Cyrus, weeping with joy and rejoicing. When it was day, and they who had the watch over the towers learned that the city was taken, and "that the king was dead" - τὸν βασιλέα τεθνηκότα ton basilea tethnēkota - they also surrendered the towers." These extracts from Xenophon abundantly confirm what is here said in Daniel respecting the death of the king, and will more than neutralize what is said by Berosus. See Intro. to the chapter, Section II.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
In that night was Belshazzar - slain - Xenophon says, he was dispatched by two lords, Gadatas and Gobrias, who went over to Cyrus, to avenge themselves of certain wrongs which Belshazzar had done them. We have already seen that Cyrus entered the city by the bed of the Euphrates, which he had emptied, by cutting a channel for the waters, and directing them into the marshy country.

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⁵⁷ And I will make drunk [07937] her princes [08269], and her wise [02450] men, her captains [06346], and her rulers [05461], and her mighty men [01368]: and they shall sleep [03462] a perpetual [05769] sleep [08142], and not wake [06974], saith [05002] the King [04428], whose name [08034] is the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

²⁹ Call together [08085] the archers [07228] against Babylon [0894]: all ye that bend [01869] the bow [07198], camp [02583] against it round about [05439]; let none thereof escape [06413]: recompense [07999] her according to her work [06467]; according to all that she hath done [06213], do [06213] unto her: for she hath been proud [02102] against the LORD [03068], against the Holy One [06918] of Israel [03478].
³⁰ Therefore shall her young men [0970] fall [05307] in the streets [07339], and all her men [0582] of war [04421] shall be cut off [01826] in that day [03117], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].
³¹ Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud [02087], saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635]: for thy day [03117] is come [0935], the time [06256] that I will visit [06485] thee.
³² And the most proud [02087] shall stumble [03782] and fall [05307], and none shall raise him up [06965]: and I will kindle [03341] a fire [0784] in his cities [05892], and it shall devour [0398] all round about [05439] him.
³³ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; The children [01121] of Israel [03478] and the children [01121] of Judah [03063] were oppressed [06231] together [03162]: and all that took them captives [07617] held them fast [02388]; they refused [03985] to let them go [07971].
³⁴ Their Redeemer [01350] is strong [02389]; the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] is his name [08034]: he shall throughly [07378] plead [07378] their cause [07379], that he may give rest [07280] to the land [0776], and disquiet [07264] the inhabitants [03427] of Babylon [0894].
³⁵ A sword [02719] is upon the Chaldeans [03778], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], and upon the inhabitants [03427] of Babylon [0894], and upon her princes [08269], and upon her wise [02450] men.

² A grievous [07186] vision [02380] is declared [05046] unto me; the treacherous dealer [0898] dealeth treacherously [0898], and the spoiler [07703] spoileth [07703]. Go up [05927], O Elam [05867]: besiege [06696], O Media [04074]; all the sighing [0585] thereof have I made to cease [07673].
³ Therefore are my loins [04975] filled [04390] with pain [02479]: pangs [06735] have taken hold [0270] upon me, as the pangs [06735] of a woman that travaileth [03205]: I was bowed down [05753] at the hearing [08085] of it; I was dismayed [0926] at the seeing [07200] of it.
⁴ My heart [03824] panted [08582], fearfulness [06427] affrighted [01204] me: the night [05399] of my pleasure [02837] hath he turned [07760] into fear [02731] unto me.
⁵ Prepare [06186] the table [07979], watch [06822] in the watchtower [06844], eat [0398], drink [08354]: arise [06965], ye princes [08269], and anoint [04886] the shield [04043].
⁶ For thus hath the Lord [0136] said [0559] unto me, Go [03212], set [05975] a watchman [06822], let him declare [05046] what he seeth [07200].
⁷ And he saw [07200] a chariot [07393] with a couple [06776] of horsemen [06571], a chariot [07393] of asses [02543], and a chariot [07393] of camels [01581]; and he hearkened [07181] diligently [07182] with much [07227] heed [07182]:
⁸ And he cried [07121], A lion [0738]: My lord [0136], I stand [05975] continually [08548] upon the watchtower [04707] in the daytime [03119], and I am set [05324] in my ward [04931] whole nights [03915]:
⁹ And, behold, here cometh [0935] a chariot [07393] of men [0376], with a couple [06776] of horsemen [06571]. And he answered [06030] and said [0559], Babylon [0894] is fallen [05307], is fallen [05307]; and all the graven images [06456] of her gods [0430] he hath broken [07665] unto the ground [0776].

¹⁸ All the kings [04428] of the nations [01471], even all of them, lie [07901] in glory [03519], every one [0376] in his own house [01004].
¹⁹ But thou art cast out [07993] of thy grave [06913] like an abominable [08581] branch [05342], and as the raiment [03830] of those that are slain [02026], thrust through [02944] with a sword [02719], that go down [03381] to the stones [068] of the pit [0953]; as a carcase [06297] trodden under feet [0947].
²⁰ Thou shalt not be joined [03161] with them in burial [06900], because thou hast destroyed [07843] thy land [0776], and slain [02026] thy people [05971]: the seed [02233] of evildoers [07489] shall never [05769] be renowned [07121].

³⁶ Therefore thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, I will plead [07378] thy cause [07379], and take vengeance [05358] for thee [05360]; and I will dry up [02717] her sea [03220], and make her springs [04726] dry [03001].

³⁸ A drought [02721] is upon her waters [04325]; and they shall be dried up [03001]: for it is the land [0776] of graven images [06456], and they are mad [01984] upon their idols [0367].
³⁹ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert [06728] with the wild beasts of the islands [0338] shall dwell [03427] there, and the owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [03427] therein: and it shall be no more inhabited [03427] for ever [05331]; neither shall it be dwelt [07931] in from generation [01755] to generation [01755].

²⁷ That saith [0559] to the deep [06683], Be dry [02717], and I will dry up [03001] thy rivers [05104]:

⁵ Prepare [06186] the table [07979], watch [06822] in the watchtower [06844], eat [0398], drink [08354]: arise [06965], ye princes [08269], and anoint [04886] the shield [04043].

¹ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] to his anointed [04899], to Cyrus [03566], whose right hand [03225] I have holden [02388], to subdue [07286] nations [01471] before [06440] him; and I will loose [06605] the loins [04975] of kings [04428], to open [06605] before [06440] him the two leaved gates [01817]; and the gates [08179] shall not be shut [05462];
² I will go [03212] before [06440] thee, and make [03474] the crooked places [01921] straight [03474] [03474]: I will break in pieces [07665] the gates [01817] of brass [05154], and cut in sunder [01438] the bars [01280] of iron [01270]:

¹⁷ Behold, I will stir up [05782] the Medes [04074] against them, which shall not regard [02803] silver [03701]; and as for gold [02091], they shall not delight [02654] in it.
¹⁸ Their bows [07198] also shall dash [07376] the young men [05288] to pieces [07376]; and they shall have no pity [07355] on the fruit [06529] of the womb [0990]; their eye [05869] shall not spare [02347] children [01121].
¹⁹ And Babylon [0894], the glory [06643] of kingdoms [04467], the beauty [08597] of the Chaldees [03778]' excellency [01347], shall be as when God [0430] overthrew [04114] Sodom [05467] and Gomorrah [06017].
²⁰ It shall never [05331] be inhabited [03427], neither shall it be dwelt [07931] in from generation [01755] to generation [01755]: neither shall the Arabian [06163] pitch tent [0167] there; neither shall the shepherds [07462] make their fold [07257] there.
²¹ But wild beasts of the desert [06728] shall lie [07257] there; and their houses [01004] shall be full [04390] of doleful creatures [0255]; and owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [07931] there, and satyrs [08163] shall dance [07540] there.
²² And the wild beasts of the islands [0338] shall cry [06030] in their desolate houses [0490], and dragons [08577] in their pleasant [06027] palaces [01964]: and her time [06256] is near [07138] to come [0935], and her days [03117] shall not be prolonged [04900].