Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 5:22

"And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this," — Daniel 5:22 (ASV)

And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart... - As you should have done in remembrance of these events. The idea is, that we ought to derive valuable lessons from what has taken place in past times; that, from the events which have occurred in history, we should learn what God approves and what he disapproves; that we should avoid the course which has subjected others to his displeasure, and which has brought his judgments upon them.

The course, however, which Belshazzar pursued has been that of kings and princes commonly in the world, and indeed of humankind at large. How little do people profit by the record of the calamities which have come upon others for their crimes! How little are the intemperate of one generation admonished by the calamities which have come upon those of another; how little are the devotees of pleasure; how little are those in places of power!