Daniel 5, records a series of events which occurred on the night the mighty Babylonian Empire fell to the Medes and Persians. In Daniel 2, Daniel had told Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom would be followed by a kingdom of silver. We now see the fulfilment of this part of the prophecy. Daniel not only lived in the days of the Babylonian Empire but was to live on into the days of the Medo-Persian Empire.
We have some difficulty in tracing the succession of rulers after Nebuchadnezzar, but the kingdom seems to have passed through a succession of weak men. It is believed that Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The word ‘Father’ in the text is used in this sense.
It seems he was placed on the throne by his father, who was the son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar. Regardless of the connections, Belshazzar was an evil king. The faith gained by Nebuchadnezzar in the latter part of his life was not passed on to Belshazzar.
Babylon, at this time, was also under attack by the Persian army, and it’s possible that the feast was given to show Belshazzar’s contempt for the Persians and to allay his people’s fears. This feast was typical of most pagan feasts, and it was marked by much drinking and revelry, Daniel 5:1.
Belshazzar presided over this feast, which included a thousand of his lords, Daniel 5:1. The command to bring forth the sacred vessels that had been carried from the Temple in Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar was a deliberate act of sacrilege which brought insult to God, Daniel 5:2.
These vessels had been taken at the same time that Daniel and his friends had been taken, Daniel 1:1-3, about 605 B.C. The term ‘father’ here is used in the sense of ancestor or forefather, Daniel 5:2.
Pusey, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Neither in Hebrew, nor in Chaldee, is there any word for ’grandfather,’ ’grandson.’ Forefathers are called ’fathers’ or ’fathers’ fathers.’ But a single grandfather, or forefather, is never called ’father’s father’ but always ’father’ only.’
It seems that Nebuchadnezzar may have had some respect for these vessels in that he had had them stored as trophies of victory. While on display, they were not used. Men under the influence of alcohol often do things they would not do when sober.
Perhaps Belshazzar wished to make a display or do something unusually surprising. Thus, they were brought out so that the king, his princes, wives, and concubines might drink from them, Daniel 5:3.
As they revelled, they praised their pagan gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone, Daniel 5:4.
Suddenly, in the midst of their revelry, there appeared part of a hand, fingers, that part of the hand we employ when writing, Daniel 5:5. These fingers began to write upon the wall, Daniel 5:5.
Suddenly, the revelry was silenced, shocking everyone into soberness. The king is no longer laughing and drinking. Now his knees begin shaking and knocking against each other. He is suddenly terrified and in great fear, Daniel 5:6.
Not knowing the meaning of the writing, he ‘cries aloud’ for the astrologers, soothsayers and wise men, Daniel 5:7. In a panic, he wants an immediate interpretation. He offers an award to anyone who can read the strange writing and give an interpretation of it, Daniel 5:7.
Dunagan, in his commentary, says the following concerning Daniel 5:7.
‘More helpless and useless advisors. It appears that each generation of unbelievers must learn the hard way, for myths that may have been dealt with by one generation reappear to tempt the next generation, Judges 2:10-11. ‘Third ruler of the kingdom’: That is, after Nabonidus, and himself.’
The wise men, now faced with a situation where they could not cheat or use deceit, were a complete failure, Daniel 5:8.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The writing appears to have been in the Aramaic language. Therefore, it seems that the wise men’s difficulty in understanding it may have been due to its interpretation, rather than just the meaning of the words, Daniel 5:14-16 / Daniel 5:25.’
Their failure further troubles the king. Since no one can interpret, he really is worried, Daniel 5:9. At this moment, the queen, probably the queen’s mother, since his wives were already in the banquet hall, enters, Daniel 5:10.
She says there is a man in his kingdom who could give the meaning, Daniel 5:11. She remembered how Daniel had interpreted the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar and how he was made chief of the wise men, Daniel 5:12 / Daniel 4:8-9 / Daniel 4:18.
Dunagan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The queen here might have been the queen mother, seeing that all the wives of Belshazzar were already at the banquet. The woman speaks with remarkable dignity and self-possession; in addition, she shows an intimate knowledge of the abilities of Daniel. For these reasons, this queen may have been the widow of Nebuchadnezzar.’
How is it that Belshazzar knew nothing of Daniel? Perhaps he did know of him, but refused to be guided by one who refused to worship or recognise the gods of Babylon. In Daniel 5:22, Daniel implies Belshazzar knew all about these things of the past. Since the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel had probably dropped into the background.
Daniel is called in to stand before the king and asks if he is the Daniel that Nebuchadnezzar brought into exile, Daniel 5:13. He claims he’s heard about what Daniel can do, but claims he has the spirit of the gods in him, Daniel 5:14. The king explains that his so-called wise men couldn’t interpret the writing, Daniel 5:15.
Dunagan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Belshazzar may even have heard of Daniel long before this, but indulging himself in sinful activities, he may have never taken the trouble to consult him. Yet Belshazzar remembered his Babylonian military history, the very God he had been mocking. Now one of God’s servants stands before him, being the only man who can help him.’
Daniel is offered purple clothes, a gold chain and a third position in the empire, Daniel 5:16. No doubt he was offered the same position he had occupied under Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel declined the gifts but offered to read and interpret the writing for the king, Daniel 5:17. Daniel’s motivation was not earthly things but a desire to make known God’s will for man.
Daniel reminds the king that it was God, the Most High God, who gave Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom and then disposed of him from the throne for a reason, Daniel 5:18-19. Probably because of his pride and arrogance, Daniel 5:20.
Daniel proceeds to give Belshazzar the rest of the history of God’s dealings with the great Nebuchadnezzar, which once against emphasizes the truth that ‘the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes,’ Daniel 5:21 / Daniel 4:17.
Dunagan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Belshazzar is doubly condemned, seeing that he knew all about how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar, yet he had proceeded to act even more foolishly and arrogantly than the former king. Note, though the facts of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity may have been hidden from the populace, they were known by the royal family. It is one thing to sin; it is another thing to see others face the consequences and then go on ahead and sin.’
Daniel becomes very plain-spoken now. He says that Belshazzar had not recognised this, although he knew it, Daniel 5:22. The king is condemned for insulting God by abusing the vessels associated with His temple, worshipping false gods, and being arrogant, Daniel 5:23.
Notice Daniel tells the kings that his gods cannot see, hear or understand, Daniel 5:23. He had set himself up against and in the independence of ‘the God in who holds your breath in His hands and owns all your ways, you have not glorified,’ Daniel 5:23.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Nothing is more absolute than the power which God holds over the breath of men, yet there is nothing which is less recognised than that power, and nothing which men are less disposed to acknowledge than their dependence on Him for it.’
Belshazzar had acted in his previous conversation with Daniel, that he did not know very much about him, but only had heard some things. He knew much more than he pretended. He also knew what had happened to his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar. Because he didn’t honour God, the holder of life and all of our ways, God sent the hand to write the inscription, Daniel 5:24.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Nebuchadnezzar had heard a voice from heaven while he was outdoors, Daniel 4:31, but Belshazzar saw a hand from heaven indoors. Both forms of revelation have been extremely rare throughout history, but these occasions in the Book of Daniel involved leaders of the greatest nation on earth.’
As a result of his defiance, writing appeared on the wall. It is believed that the writing was in ancient Hebrew characters. The writing was from God, and its meaning was direct and clear-cut. The term ‘mene’ means to number, and ‘tekel’ means to weigh, and ‘upharsin’ means torn or divided.
The meaning was that Belshazzar had been weighed in the balances of God’s justice and had been found wanting. Thus, his kingdom would be taken away from him and given to the Medes and Persians. His kingdom would be torn apart by the Medes and the Persians, who are even now approaching the gate under the leadership of Cyrus, Isaiah 44:24-28 / Isaiah 45:1.
It should be pointed out, however, that there have been many conjectures respecting the characters which were employed on this occasion. The main thing is that God made it possible for Daniel to know the meaning.
Though the interpretation was a fearful thing, yet the king did not hesitate to fulfil his promises, Daniel 5:16. Thus, he bestowed on Daniel all those things he promised if he were given the interpretation. He may have done this, thinking this would appease Daniel’s God.
Sometime during the night, there was swift judgment, Daniel 5:30. It seems that Daniel had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth until they were being fulfilled, Daniel 5:31.
Cyrus, under the command of Darius the Mede, diverted the waters of the Euphrates river which ran under the wall and through the city of Babylon. This left the channel dry for the army of Cyrus to move under the wall and inside the city during the darkness.
It seems the great feast at the palace had attracted everyone’s attention; thus, the enemy was able to move into the city unnoticed. Sometime during the night, Belshazzar was killed. The great Babylonian Empire fell and was now in the hands of the Medes and Persians.
Campbell, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The record of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel is the story of an overbearing king who experienced temporary judgment, but the story of Belshazzar is one of a sacrilegious king who suffered permanent judgment. Xenophon also recorded Belshazzar’s death. The night of revelry that had become a night of revelation now turned into a night of retribution.’
Dunagan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The city had been under assault by Cyrus, in anticipation of a long siege, the city had stored supplies to last for 20 years. The Euphrates River ran through the city from north to south, so the residents had an ample water supply. The Persians captured the city by building a canal to divert the River Euphrates into a nearby lake, with the water diverted, its level receded, and the Persian soldiers were able to enter the city under the sluice gate. Since the walls were unguarded, the Persians, once inside the city, were able to conquer it without a fight. The overthrow of Babylon took place on October 12th, 539 B.C.’
Who would ever have thought the mighty city of Babylon would fall in such an easy way? It seems there was very little resistance offered to the soldiers of Cyrus. Every great kingdom in history has fallen at one time or another.
No one dreamed they would do this. People often boast of their power and greatness, not realising how limited and small they are. God rules this world, and He can dispose of kingdoms as quickly as overnight.
The UK can brag about its power and strength, but when it forgets that our real strength is in God. Then we too shall fall as a nation. Our strength has always been in recognition of the one true God, and that “In God We Trust,” as the Americans say.
Our greatness has been in our morality and not any military might. If we lose our morals, we will lose our nation. Few seem to understand where our true greatness lies. There are those who would try to remove the very things that have made us great.
As Christians, our trust and faith are in God and His Son, Jesus. We love our country and are very proud of it. But we will not be led down the road of immorality and disrespect for God. We are all citizens of the kingdom of God which will never fall and cannot be destroyed, Philippians 3:20-21.