Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 5:28

"PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." — Daniel 5:28 (ASV)

Peres — In Daniel 5:25 this is “Upharsin.” These are only different forms of the same word—the word in Daniel 5:25 being in the plural, and here in the singular. The verb (פרס p^eras) means to “divide;” and in this form, as in the previous cases, it is, according to Gesenius, a participle meaning “divided.”

As it stands here, it would be applicable to anything that was “divided” or “separated”—whether a kingdom, a palace, a house, territory, etc. “What” was divided could be known only by Divine revelation. If the “word” had been understood by Belshazzar, it undoubtedly would have suggested the idea that there was to be some sort of division or sundering, but what that would be would not be indicated by the mere use of the word.

Perhaps to a frightened imagination, the idea might have been conveyed that there would be a revolt in some of the provinces of the empire, and that a part would be torn away. However, it would not have occurred to him that it would be so torn that the whole would pass under the dominion of a foreign power. Josephus (Antiquities, Book 10, Chapter 11, Section 3) says that the word “Phares” in the Greek tongue means a “fragment,” κλασμα klasma—God will, therefore, break your kingdom in pieces and divide it among the Medes and Persians.”

Thy kingdom is divided — That is, the proper interpretation of this communication is that the kingdom is about to be torn apart, or broken into fragments. It is to be separated or torn from the dynasty that has ruled over it and given to another.

And given to the Medes and Persians — On this united kingdom, see the notes at Isaiah 13:17. It was “given” to the Medes and Persians when it was taken by Cyrus, when the kingdom of Babylon became extinct, and from then on became a part of the Medo-Persian empire. See the notes at Isaiah 13:17 and Isaiah 13:19.