Before we begin our study in Daniel 5, we have to delve into history. First, it’s important to understand that Babylon had a subsequent number of kings after Nebuchadnezzar. In chapter 4 we bade farewell to the king, who turned his life around by accepting God. His 43 year reign was the longest in Babylon, and as we go down the list, we’ll see that Babylon was never as strong or stable as when it was ruled by Nebuchadnezzar.
605-562 BC Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (43 years) 562-560 BC Evilmerolach (2 years) assassinated 560-556 BC Neriglaser (4 years) natural causes 556 BC Laborosoarchod (9 months)beaten by conspirators 556-539 BC Nabonidus ruled until conquered by Persia • lived in Arabia last part of his reign Eldest son: Belshazzar (co-regency with Nabonidus)
The most important king we have on this list, besides Nebuchadnezzar, is Nabonidus. He is the last known King of Babylon. He is also known to have lived in Arabia during the last part of his reign. Most likely he was out fighting the Persians, who were conquering the world at that time. In his absence Belshazzar, his co-regent, was physically in Babylon when the city was conquered by the Persians. It is Belshazzar who is in charge of Babylon when the story opens.
1 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Belshazzar is not like Nebuchadnezzar. We see this from the very first line. First, he is throwing a great party and requires the goblets stolen from Jerusalem. These are the treasures robbed from Solomon’s temple, which Nebuchadnezzar burned and destroyed during the siege on Jerusalem. He has no self-control, no respect for God. Most notably, as we will discover, this party is happening as Persia is finalizing its invasion of Babylon that very night! So Belshazzar is partying as the Persians close in.
5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking. 7 The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
God communicates in a startling way. A disembodied hand scrawls out a message on a wall as Belshazzar watches. This is where the saying “the writing is on the wall” comes from. Belshazzar is notably terrified, and summons all of the wise men to interpret the strange language, but none of them can. Again, the king is summoning his earthly resources before considering spiritual ones. He sweetens the deal: whoever can interpret it can become the third most powerful ruler in Babylon.
10 The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. 12 He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.” 13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
Daniel is summoned, only after the queen, perhaps one of Nebuchadnezzar’s surviving wives, remembers that Daniel was able to decipher Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams way back during that reign. This tells us that Daniel has been in the palace for a very long time. He was there through all of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, plus all of the subsequent kings. That is almost 70 years. If we’ve learned anything about Daniel, we understand that he knows where God needs him and remains dutiful to each king in Babylon.
17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. 18 “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes. 22 “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
Daniel first doesn’t accept any payment for his gift. This is important to note because all of the astrologers and sorcerers are on the king’s tab, yet they can’t serve the king in a true way. Next, Daniel bluntly lays out how God operates. He tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar and how humbling is part of God’s plan. Belshazzar has known the history, he knows how God operates, and yet has chosen to be filled with pride instead of humility. All men know God through creation, and we all have a responsibility to honor him. Belshazzar failed to honor God.
25 “This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin 26 “Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27 Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Daniel then internets the inscription. Mene, Tekel Peres. Each has a significant meaning for the king. Mene - Numeration -means Belshazzar’s days are numbered Tekel - Weight - God has weighed him and he has come up light Peres - Division - The kingdom will be divided
The historical part of the story is interesting. Spiritually the kingdom lacked moral value. Physically Belshazzar wasn’t leading properly. Cyrus, the Persian king, had his sights on Babylon and prepared to invade by diverting the Euphrates, which ran under the city. The water lowered and the army entered through the outer gates. Inexplicably, the inner gates were left open. In 539 Persian armies entered the city and captured Babylon. This was prophesied in scripture as well: Isaiah 44:28-45, Jeremiah 51:57-58.
29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
Daniel is put in charge as the third most powerful ruler in Babylon - for a few hours. Belshazzar is slain that very night, and Darius the Mede takes over the city. The city in divided, just as predicted by Daniel.