The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-10-05
DANIEL IN
J abEL,SHAZZAR
9aaday Schoel Lessen Tor Oct. ]. 1875
Specially Prspared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TExT.-Daniel s:17-3O Mem.
ory Verses q, 30
GOLDEN TExT.-''The face Of the Lord
II against them that do evil.--Psalm A:16.
TIME.-B. c. $50. Prof. Beecher places It
in June or earlier. 1t was in the latter period
of the Exile. Compare verse n with Daniel
S1.
PLACE-Babylon on the Euphrates.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES lisa.
silt tells OF guidance of Cyrus. lisa 10. II;
H.l-9; 43:14-l7; 46l, 2, ia tell OF the over
throw of Babylon. Jer. 10 and 61 represent
the destruction of Babylon.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
INTRODUCTORY - We are now
drawing near to the close of the 10
years dating from the beginning OF the
captivities b. G. 6O6-4) for which period
jeremiah had foretold that the exile
should continue der. l5:12). THE ex-
lies gradually acquired lands anil
houses, they lived In separate commun-
tiles, and were apparently allowed to
maintain to some extent the social Gus
toms and organizations OF their native
land (Ezek. 81; 14:D."-Ottley. Ma
tive qualities soon brought the Jews to
the front in whatever land they were
thrown."--Prof. e. T. Harper. Jere-
miah's prophecies still pervaded the
moral atmosphere. Ezekiel's voice was
heard through the nation. The glorious
visions and prophecies of the later chap
ters of Isaiah we're stirring the hearts
of the faithful with hope and faith and
courage. We now come to the providen-
tial movements which made the return
possible. A new king, and new policy.
now took possession OF the empire that
held the Jews captive. Cyrus. the
Persian, conquered Babylon. The
nominal king of Babylon at this time
was Nabonidus. He was most scholar
ly man rather than ruler, interested In
his country's institutions, and making
most valuable records on clay cylinders.
There is, says Mr. Pinches, "every prob
ability that Belshazzar, the son Of Ma
bonidus, was the real ruler" We have
lnerned about Belshazzar from these
ta6lets and inscriptions lately discov-
cred in the ruins Of Babylon. Cyrus, the
conqueror of Babylon, the king Of Elan
Media and Persia, appears on the hori'
zon at this time, advancing toward
Babylon, In his victorious career, with
his Ile-extended troops, whose mum
bers like the waters Of river could moi
be known" He entered Babylon with
out fighting, which agrees with botf
Heredotus and Daniel
Belshazzar's Great Feast.-Belshaz
Ear was youth flushed with the excite
ment Of almost yucontrolled power
Even while Cyrus~ approaching will
his victorious army, the young man
secure in the unrivaled strength Of hi
city defenses, made q great feast to
thousand of the mobiles, probably II
E-sagila, the magnificent temple O
Belus, within the walls Of Babylon. I
was a wonder Of the world. The wall
were rich with images Of the Chaldean
painted In vermilion and exceeding Il
dyed attire" on goodly horses, lik
those on tho frieSe Of the Acropolis.-
From Farrar. 4
" II. Let thy gifts be to thyself:
Keep them, do what you will with them
Daniel will speak Gods truth withou
fear or favor, and the rich presents tn
king offered can have no influence what
ever.
VS.. 1922 "The most high God CAV
Nebuchadnezzar:" The true God l
shown to be over all and above all. IAN
thou hast not humbled thin
heart" etc. You have not slime
through ignorance, but have gone on 1
q wicked course in spite Of, in defianc
of, Gods lessons of warning.
v. %. But hast lifted up thyself:
Exalted thyself as IL thou couldst def
and disobey with impunity the Lord 6
Heaven.
v. rs. This Is the writing:' Th
words are Of the Aramaic (called Cha
dee in A. w. language, with letters lik
the Hebrew. This language was II
miliar In Babylon at that time.
v. 2S. Meme" repeated for the SAX
Of emphasis); God hath numbered tn
kingdom and finished IT." God had pu
. definite limit to the number Of year
the kingdom should last, and that mum
ber was now complete.
v. q. "Tekel; thou art weighed 4
the balances:" q to his moral charac
J, ter and actions, and been found wanting
J Of light weight like counterfeit coir
{ or one that did not come up to tn
} standard required. God had tested him
, and he had failed.
ri v. 28. "Peres" 1.-THE singular Of tn