## Ibn Ezra on Daniel Chapter 5

###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:1:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:1:1)

בלשצר עבד לחם רב - עשה מאכל.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:1] Belshazzar... made a great banquet (עֲבַד֙ לְחֶ֣ם רַ֔ב - *avad lechem rav*): [Means] he made a feast (עָשָׂה מַאֲכָל - *asah ma'achal*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:1:2
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:1:2)

ולקבל אלפא - נגד שרים אלף הפך משפט המלכים.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
And in the presence of the thousand (וְלׇקֳבֵ֥ל אַלְפָּ֖א - *v'lokovel alpá*): [Meaning] before/opposite a thousand nobles. [This was] contrary to the protocol (or: custom, rule - מִשׁפָּט - *mishpat*) of kings.


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:2:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:2:1)

בלשצר, בטעם חמרא - זאת היתה עצת היין ששתה והשתכר.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:2] Belshazzar... under the influence of the wine (בִּטְעֵם חַמְרָא - *bit'em chamra*): This [command] was the effect (lit. counsel - עֵצָה - *etzah*) of the wine that he drank, having become drunk.


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:2:2
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:2:2)

שגלתיה - כמו: והשגל יושבת אצלו והיא הגברת המוכנת למשכב המלך, וככה תשגלנה והוא המעשה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
His consorts (שֵׁגְלָתֵהּ - *sheglateih*): [This word *shegal* means queen or primary consort], like [in the verse]: “and the consort (*shegal*) sitting beside him” [Nehemiah 2:6]. And she is the mistress/lady designated for the king's bed. And similarly [the related verb form appears in]: “...you shall become engaged to a woman, but another man shall violate her (יִשְׁגָּלֶנָּה - *yishgalennah*)” [Deuteronomy 28:30], and this refers to the act [of intercourse].


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:2:3
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:2:3)

ולחנתיה - פלגשיו והנה שתים רעות עשה: ששתו הכל בכלי הקדש, ושבחו לאלהי זהב עץ ואבן.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
And his concubines (וּלְחֵנָתֵהּ - *ul'chenateih*): [Meaning] his secondary wives/concubines (פִּילַגְשָׁיו - *pilagshav*). And behold, he committed two evils: [first,] that everyone drank from the holy vessels, and [second,] that they praised gods of gold, wood, and stone [cf. Daniel 5:4, Daniel 5:23].


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:5:1)

בה שעתא, נברשתא - נורה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:5] At that moment (בַּהּ־שַׁעֲתָ֗ה), opposite the lampstand (נֶבְרַשְׁתָּ֔א): [The word *nebrashta* means] a lamp/light (נוּרָה - *nurah*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:2
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:5:2)

על גירא - כאבני גיר והוא הסיד.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
On the plaster (עַל־גִּירָ֕א): [This is] like "limestones" (אַבְנֵי-גִר - *avnei-gir*) [Isaiah 27:9], and it refers to lime/plaster (הַסִּיד - *ha-sid*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:3
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:5:3)

כותל היכלא - כמו אחר כתלינו.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
Of the wall of the palace (דִּֽי־כְתַ֥ל הֵיכְלָ֖א): [The word *k'tal* (wall) is] like [in the phrase] "...behind our wall" (אַחַר כָּתְלֵנוּ - *achar kotleinu) [Song of Songs 2:9].*


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:4
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:5:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:5:4)

פס ידא - חתיכת יד וככה: יהי פסת בר. גם כתונת פסים, והכל נגזר מגזרת כי פסו אמונים והנה ראו ידים בלא גוף.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
The part of the hand (פַּ֥ס יְדָ֖א): [Meaning] a piece/part of a hand (חֲתִיכַת יָד - *chatichat yad*). And similarly [the word *pas* appears in]: “May there be abundance (פִּסַּת - *pissat*) of grain” [Psalms 72:16]; also “a coat of many pieces/colors (פַּסִּים - *passim*)” [Genesis 37:3]. And all [these usages] are derived from the root meaning [seen in] “for the faithful have vanished (פַּסּוּ - *passu*)” [Psalms 12:2]. And behold, they saw hands without a body.


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:6:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:6:1)

וקטרי - קשורי חלציו, כמעט היו מותרים.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:6] And the joints of (וְקִטְרֵ֤י - *v'kitrei*): [This refers to] the ligaments/joints (lit. bindings - קִשׁוּרֵי - *kishurei*) of his loins; they were almost loosened/untied (מֻתָּרִים - *mutarim*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:6:2
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:6:2)

נקשן - כדמות משיקות אשה אל אחותה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
Knocked (נָֽקְשָֽׁן - *nokshan*): In the manner of one touching the other, [like the common biblical idiom] "one to another" (אִשָּׁה אֶל-אֲחוֹתָהּ - *ishah el achotah* - e.g., Exodus 26:3, describing curtains joined together).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:7:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:7:1)

והמניכה - רביד הזהב.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:7] And the chain (וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א - *v'hamnikha*): [This means] the golden necklace/chain (רְבִיד הַזָּהָב - *revid hazahav*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:7:2
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:7:2)

ותלתי - ובשלישית המלכות ישלט.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
And third (וְתַלְתִּ֥י - *v'talti*): [Meaning] and he shall rule as the third in the kingdom (וּבַשְּׁלִישִׁית בַּמַּלְכוּת יִשְׁלֹט - *u'vashlishit ba'malchut yishlot*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:9:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:9:1)

משתבשין - כמשמעו, כאדם לא ידע מה לעשות.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:9] Were dismayed (מִֽשְׁתַּבְּשִֽׁין - *mishtabshin*): [This is] according to its literal meaning (כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ - *k'mashma'o*); like a person who does not know what to do.


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:10:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:10:1)

מלכתא - יש אומרים: אשת נבוכדנצר.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:10] The queen (מַלְכְּתָא): There are those who say [this was] the wife of Nebuchadnezzar.


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:11:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:11:1)

נהירו - כמו: ונהורא.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:11] Illumination (נַהִיר֧וּ - *nahiru*): [This word is] like [the Aramaic word for light/illumination found, for example, in Daniel 2:22]: “and light (וּנְהוֹרָא - *u’nehora*)”.


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:12:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:12:1)

ואחוית אחידן - מגיד חידות ומתיר קשורים.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:12] To explain riddles (וְאַֽחֲוָיַ֨ת אֲחִידָ֜ן - *v'achawayat achidan*) [and solve problems (וּמְשָׁרֵ֣א קִטְרִ֗ין - *u'm'share kitrin*)]: [This means] telling [the meaning of] riddles (מַגִּיד חִידוֹת - *maggid chidot*) and untying knots (וּמַתִּיר קְשׁוּרִים - *u'matir k'shurim*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:18:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:18:1)

אנת - הטעם שמע אתה המלך.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:18] You (אַ֖נְתְּ - *an’t*) [O king]: The meaning [of starting with "You"] is: Listen, you, O king (הַטַּעַם שְׁמַע אַתָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ - *ha'ta'am sh'ma atah ha'melech*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:19:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:19:1)

זייעין - כמו: ולא זע ממנו.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:19] Trembled (זָיְעִ֥ין - *zay'in*): [This is] like [the phrase in Esther 5:9 describing Mordecai's defiance of Haman]: “and did not move/tremble before him” (וְלֹא-זָע מִמֶּנּוּ - *v'lo za mimenu*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:20:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:20:1)

להזדה - דרך זדון.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:20] To act presumptuously (לַהֲזָדָה - *lahazadah*): [Meaning] in a way of insolence/presumption (דֶּרֶךְ זָדוֹן - *derech zadon*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:20:2
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:20:2)

וטעם וכל ארחתך ליה – שאתה בידו והוא מוליכך למקום חפצו כמו רסן הסוס ביד הרוכב. ויפת אמר: ובאחריתך תלך אליו על דרך: והרוח תשוב אל האלהים אשר נתנה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
And the meaning of [the phrase later in Daniel 5:23] “and whose are all your ways” (וְכֹל אֹרְחָתָךְ לֵהּ - *v'chol orchatecha leh*) is: that you are in His hand, and He leads you to the place He desires, like the bridle of the horse in the hand of the rider. But Yefet [ben Ali] said [interpreting Daniel 5:23]: "And in your end, you will go to Him," along the lines of [the verse]: “and the spirit returns to God who gave it” [Ecclesiastes 12:7].


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:25:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:25:1)

רשים - רשם וכמוהו רשום בכתב.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:25] Inscribed (רְשִׁים - *r'shim*): [Meaning] recorded/inscribed (רָשַׁם - *rasham*). And like it [is the phrase in Daniel 10:21]: “inscribed in the writing [of truth]” (רָשׁוּם בִּכְתָב - *rashum biktav*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:25:2
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:25:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:25:2)

מנא - כל דבר שיסופר יחשוב. ועוד: כי מלת פרסין שנים. פרס האחד, שהוא פריסת שבירת מלכותו וכריתותם. ופרס השני, מגזרת מדי ופרס, על כן אמר: ויהיבת למדי ופרס.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
MENE (מְנֵא): [Signifies that] everything that is counted (יְסֻפַּר - *y'suppar*) [or] numbered (יֵחָשֵׁב - *yechashev*). Furthermore, the word UPHARSIN (וּפַרְסִין) has two [meanings implied by the singular Peres]: The first PERES (פְּרֵס) relates to breaking/dividing (פְּרִיסַת - *p'risat*), [signifying] the breaking/division of his kingdom and its cutting off (כְּרִיתוּתָם - *k'ritutam*). And the second PERES (פֶּרֶס) relates to Persia (פָּרַס - *Paras*), from [the common phrase like in Daniel 6:9, Daniel 6:13, Daniel 6:16; Esther 1:3, etc.] “Media and Persia” (מָדַי וּפָרַס - *Madai uFaras*). Therefore, he [Daniel] said [in the interpretation, Daniel 5:28]: “and it is given to the Medes and Persians” (וִיהִיבַת לְמָדַי וּפָרָס - *viyhivath l'Madai uFaras*).


###### Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:30:1
[Ibn Ezra on Daniel 5:30:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Daniel/r/5:30:1)

קטיל - נהרג, כמו: יקטול עני ואביון.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
[Daniel 5:30] Was killed (קְטִיל - *k'til*): [Means] was slain (נֶהֱרַג - *nehĕrag*). Like [the usage in Job 24:14]: “he murders (יִקְטֹל - *yiktol*) the poor and needy”.