Daniel 5:17

17 To which things Daniel answered, and said before the king, Thy gifts be to thee, and give thou to another man the gifts of thine house; forsooth, king, I shall read the scripture to thee, and I shall show to thee the interpreting thereof. (To which Daniel answered, and said to the king, Let thy gifts be to thee, and give thou to someone else the gifts of thy house; but, O king, I shall read this writing to thee, and I shall tell thee its interpretation.)

Daniel 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 5:17

Then Daniel answered and said before the king
With great freedom, boldness, and intrepidity: let thy gifts be to thyself;
remain with thee; I neither want them, nor desire them; nor will I receive them on condition of reading and interpreting the writing: and give thy rewards to another;
which he had promised to those that could read and interpret the handwriting on the wall; even to be clothed with scarlet, have a golden chain, and be the third ruler in the kingdom. It may be rendered, "or give thy rewards to another" ^F19; either keep them thyself, or give them to whomsoever thou pleasest: should it be asked, why Daniel refused gifts now, when he received them from Nebuchadnezzar? it may be answered, he was then young, and wanted them, and could make use of them for the benefit of his countrymen, but now was old, and needed them not; besides, he knew then that the captivity would continue long, but that it was now just at an end, and the monarchy coming into other hands, when these gifts and rewards would be of little use; as also this king was a very wicked one, worse than his grandfather, and he did not choose to receive from him; and especially since the interpretation of the writing would be bad news to him; as well as to let him know that he did not do these things for fee and reward, but for the glory of God; and that as he had freely received such knowledge, he freely communicated it: and therefore adds, yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the
interpretation;
in reverence of him as a king, and in subjection to him, and to satisfy him in this matter; for he refused his gifts, not from pride and vanity, and a supercilious contempt of the king and his affairs; nor as being doubtful of success in reading and interpreting the writing; which he well knew he was able to do, and therefore promises it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (bh Nrxal Ktybzbnw) "tua tibi dona et munera habeto: aut in alios conferto": Castalio.

Daniel 5:17 In-Context

15 And now wise men, astronomers, entered in my sight, to read this scripture, and to show to me the interpreting thereof; and they might not say to me the understanding of this word. (And now wise men, yea, the astrologers, have come before me, to read this writing, and to tell me its interpretation; but they could not say to me the understanding, or the meaning, of these words.)

16 Certainly I have heard of thee, that thou mayest interpret dark things, and unbind bound things; therefore if thou mayest read the scripture, and show to me the interpreting thereof, thou shalt be clothed in purple, and thou shalt have a golden band about thy neck, and thou shalt be the third prince in my realm. (Certainly I have heard of thee, that thou can interpret secret, or hidden, things, and unbind bound things; and so if thou can read this writing, and tell me its interpretation, thou shalt be clothed in purple, and thou shalt have a gold band around thy neck, and thou shalt be the third in power in all my kingdom.)

17 To which things Daniel answered, and said before the king, Thy gifts be to thee, and give thou to another man the gifts of thine house; forsooth, king, I shall read the scripture to thee, and I shall show to thee the interpreting thereof. (To which Daniel answered, and said to the king, Let thy gifts be to thee, and give thou to someone else the gifts of thy house; but, O king, I shall read this writing to thee, and I shall tell thee its interpretation.)

18 O! thou king, [the] highest God gave realm, and great worship, and glory, and honour, to Nebuchadnezzar, thy father. (O! thou king, the Most High God gave kingdom, and great worship, and glory, and honour, to Nebuchadnezzar, thy predecessor.)

19 And for [the] great worship which he had given to that Nebuchadnezzar, all peoples, lineages, and languages, trembled and dreaded him; he killed which he would, and he smote which he would, and he enhanced which he would, and he made low which he would. (And for the great power which he gave to that Nebuchadnezzar, all the peoples, and the tribes, or the nations, of every language, trembled and feared him; he killed whom he would, and he struck down whom he would, and he exalted, or he lifted up, whom he would, and he made low whom he would.)