Daniel 5
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Handwriting on the wall (1-9)
We now read that the king of Babylon is Belshazzar and so it is estimated by scholars that it has been about 23 years since the death of Nebuchadnezzar. As we will notice later in the story, Belshazzar seems to be second in charge of the kingdom, but is given power and rule over the plains of Babylon by Nebonidus. Belshazzar is having a great feast with thousands of his lords. He gives the command, likely under the influence of the wine, to bring in the gold and silver vessels that had been captured from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. So these vessels are brought in to Belshazzar and they all drink wine from them while praising their gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Within the same hour, the fingers of a man appeared and wrote on the wall. Belshazzar’s reaction is the same reaction that we would all have at such a sight. He is greatly troubled, he grows faint, and his knees are knocking together. Belshazzar is terrified. Therefore, Belshazzar makes a decree that anyone who can read the words that were written by the hand and can give its interpretation will be made third in the kingdom, clothed in purple, and a chain of gold put around his neck. However, none of the wise men of Babylon can read the writing on the wall nor make an interpretation. Again, Belshazzar is greatly troubled and all the wise men are astonished.
The call of Daniel (10-17)
The queen hears about what has taken place and she tells Belshazzar that there is a man in the kingdom with the spirit of the holy God. In the days of Nebuchadnezzar he had wisdom far beyond all the other wise men. Go call for Daniel and he will give the interpretation. It seems clear that this queen was queen during the days of Nebuchadnezzar and can therefore remember when Daniel interpreted the dreams of the king. Daniel is brought in to Belshazzar. Belshazzar goes through the whole thing with Daniel. Belshazzar has heard that Daniel is a wise man with the spirit of God. He further explains that none of his wise men could read the writing or interpret the words and if Daniel can do so, he will be made third in the kingdom, clothed with purple and a gold chain placed around his neck.
Daniel interprets the words (18-31)
Daniel first says that he is not here for the gifts and that Belshazzar can keep them. Daniel goes on to explain some history to Belshazzar. Daniel reminds Belshazzar about what happened to king Nebuchadnezzar when he became proud. His throne and glory were taken away and he was made like one of the beasts. In verse 22 Daniel says to Belshazzar that he has not humbled himself either. By taking the gold and silver vessels of the temple and praising his gods while drinking wine, he had lifted himself up against the Lord of heaven. So the fingers of the hand were sent, writing MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. MENE: God has numbered the kingdom and put it to an end. It seems by the duplication of the word MENE, that God is suggesting that he has numbered it twice or that it is said twice for emphasis. TEKEL: You have been weighed and found lacking. PERES: This word is apparently the plural of “pharsin” and the “u” is a conjunction. The word means, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Belshazzar gives the command to make Daniel third in the kingdom and gives him the gifts. It does not seem that Belshazzar has understood the gravity of the message. That very night, Belshazzar is killed and the Medo-Persian empire takes over. This validates our interpretation of the kingdoms in chapter 2 of Daniel. There we saw a great statue and were told that there would be a kingdom that would rise up after Babylon , symbolized by the silver chest. This is clearly the Medo-Persian empire. History reveals more information about the fall of Babylon . The New American Commentary says this in regard to Babylon , “The outer walls were approximately 25 feet in width and rose to a height of at least forty feet. These fortifications were too difficult to challenge, and so according to Herodotus and Xenophon, the Medo-Persian army diverted water from the Euphrates river (which ran under the walls of Babylon ) into a marsh. With the level of the water lowered, the soldiers were able to wade the river under the walls and enter the city.” Further, “the city was invaded while the Babylonians were feasting in a time of drunken revelry.” This can be seen in what we have just read in Daniel. Therefore, the Medo-Persian empire seized Babylon , fulfilling the prophecy found in Isaiah 21:9, ” Babylon is fallen, is fallen!”
