Em razão dessa grandeza que lhe era conferida, todos os povos, todas as nações e pessoas de todas as línguas tremiam de medo diante dele. Mandava matar quem queria; deixava viver quem desejava; elevava e rebaixava quem lhe aprazia.
Daniel 5:19
Comentário de Albert Barnes
And, for the majesty that he gave him – That is, on account of his greatness, referring to the talents which God had conferred on him, and the power which he had put in his hands. It was so great that all people and nations trembled before him.
All people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him – Stood in awe of him. On the extent of his empire, see the note at Daniel 3: 4 ; Daniel 4: 1 , Daniel 4:22 .
Whom he would he slew … – That is, he was an arbitrary – an absolute sovereign. This is exactly descriptive of the power which Oriental despotic monarchs have.
Whom he would he kept alive – Whether they had, or had not, been guilty of crime. He had the absolute power of life and death over them There was no such instrument as we call a “constitution” to control the sovereign as well as the people; there was no tribunal to which he was responsible, and no law by which he was bound; there were no judges to determine on the question of life and death in regard to those who were accused of crime, whom he did not appoint, and whom he might not remove, and whose judgments he might not set aside if he pleased; there were no “juries” of “peers” to determine on the question of fact whether an accused man was guilty or not. There were none of those safeguards which have been originated to protect the accused in modern times, and which enter so essentially into the notions of liberty now. In an absolute despotism all power is in the hands of one man, and this was in fact the case in Babylon.
Whom he would he set up – That is, in places of trust, of office, of rank, etc.
And whom he would he put down – No matter what their rank or office.
Comentário de Thomas Coke
Daniel 5:19 . A quem ele matou – Temos aqui uma imagem forte do poder absoluto e independente desses príncipes: eles consideravam seus súditos apenas como escravos. Xerxes, tendo reunido os grandes homens de seu reino, quando ele decidiu empreender a guerra contra a Grécia, disse-lhes: “Eu os reuni, para que eu não parecesse agir apenas por meu próprio conselho; mas lembre-se de que eu espere obediência, não conselho de você. ” Veja Calmet.
Comentário de Adam Clarke
A quem ele matou – O caráter genuíno de um déspota, cuja vontade é a única regra de sua conduta.
Comentário de E.W. Bullinger
pessoas = povos.
a quem ele desejaria, etc. Veja nota em “inferior” ( Daniel 2:39 ).