Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 5:11

"There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;" — Daniel 5:11 (ASV)

There is a man in thy kingdom - Namely, Daniel. As the queen-mother had lived in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, and recollected the important service which he had rendered in interpreting the king’s dream, it was natural that her mind should at once recur to him. It would seem, also, that though Daniel was no longer employed at court, she still had an acquaintance with him, so far at least as to know that he was accessible and might be called in on this occasion.

It may be asked, perhaps, how Belshazzar was so ignorant of all this as to need this information. For it is clear from the question the king asks in Daniel 5:13, “Art thou that Daniel?” that he was ignorant of him personally, and probably even of his services as an officer in the court of Nebuchadnezzar.

An ingenious and not improbable solution to this difficulty has been proposed, founded on a remark by Sir John Chardin: “As mentioned by the queen, Daniel had been made by Nebuchadnezzar ‘master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.’ Chardin conjectures that he had been deprived of this employment on the death of that king, and reaches this conclusion from the fact that when a Persian king dies, both his astrologers and physicians are driven from court—the former for not having predicted, and the latter for not having prevented, his death.”

“If such was the etiquette of the ancient Babylonian court, as it is of the modern Persian court, we certainly have a most satisfactory solution to the present difficulty, as Daniel must then be supposed to have relinquished his public employments and to have lived retired in private life during the eight years occupied by the reigns of Evil-Merodach and Belshazzar.” — Harmer, as quoted by Rosenmuller (“Morgenland,” on Daniel 5:13).

In whom is the spirit of the holy gods - This is language a pagan would likely use when speaking of one who had shown extraordinary knowledge of Divine things. See the note at Daniel 4:9.

And, in the days of thy father - Margin, “grandfather.” See the note at Daniel 5:1–2.

Light, and understanding, and wisdom - Light is the emblem of knowledge, as it makes all things clear. The meaning here is that he had shown extraordinary wisdom in interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

Like the wisdom of the gods - Such as the gods only could possess.

Whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians ... - See Daniel 2:48. This is repeated here, and dwelt on, to call the king’s attention to the fact that Daniel was worthy to be consulted. Though now living in obscurity, it was fitting that one who had been placed at the very head of the wise men of Babylon by a prince as distinguished as Nebuchadnezzar should be consulted on this occasion.