ion he obtained such
honors. But Daniel desired that he would keep his gifts to himself;
for what is the effect of wisdom and of Divine revelation admits of no
gifts, and bestows its advantages on petitioners freely; but that still
he would explain the writing to him; which denoted that he should soon
die, and this because he had not learnt to honor God, and not to admit
things above human nature, by what punishments his progenitor had
undergone for the injuries he had offered to God; and because he had
quite forgotten how Nebuchadnezzar was removed to feed among wild beasts
for his impieties, and did not recover his former life among men and
his kingdom, but upon God's mercy to him, after many supplications and
prayers; who did thereupon praise God all the days of his life, as one
of almighty power, and who takes care of mankind. [He also put him in
mind] how he had greatly blasphemed against God, and had made use of
his vessels amongst his concubines; that therefore God saw this, and
was angry with him, and declared by this writing beforehand what a sad
conclusion of his life he should come to. And he explained the writing
thus: "MANEH. This, if it be expounded in the Greek language, may
signify a Number, because God hath numbered so long a time for thy life,
and for thy government, and that there remains but a small portion.
THEKEL This signifies a weight, and means that God hath weighed thy
kingdom in a balance, and finds it going down already.--PHARES. This
also, in the Greek tongue, denotes a fragment. God will therefore break
thy kingdom in pieces, and divide it among the Medes and Persians."

4. When Daniel had told the king that the writing upon the wall
signified these events, Baltasar was in great sorrow and affliction,
as was to be expected, when the interpretation was so heavy upon him.
However, he did not refuse what he had promised Daniel, although he were
become a foreteller of misfortunes to him, but bestowed it all upon him;
as reasoning thus, that what he was to reward was peculiar to himself,
and to fate, and did not belong to the prophet, but that it was the
part of a good and a just man to give what he had promised, although the
events were of a melancholy nature. Accordingly, the king determined so
to do. Now, after a little while, both himself and the city were
taken by Cyrus, the king of Persia, who fought against him; for it was
Baltasar, under whom Babylon was taken, when he had reigned sevente