Belshazzar's Feast
1 Belshazzar the king [who was a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar] gave a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking his wine in the presence of the thousand [guests].
Sixty-six years had elapsed since the events of Daniel 1, which tells of Nebuchadnezzar's first strike against Jerusalem in 605 BC. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 after a reign of 43 years. His son, Evil-merodach, ruled from 562 to 560; his brother-in-law Neriglissar reigned four years, from 560 to 556. After a two-month reign by Labashi-marduk in 556, the Babylonian Empire continued from 556 to 539 under the command of Nabonidus. Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus. He reigned alongside his father from 553 to 539.
Archaeologists have discovered Belshazzar's name on several documents. He ruled with his father, Nabonidus, staying home to administer the affairs of the kingdom while his father tried to reopen trade routes taken over by Cyrus and the Persians. Belshazzar was in charge of the city of Babylon when it was captured.
2 Belshazzar, as he tasted the wine, gave a command to bring in the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought in the gold and silver vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
5 Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand appeared and began writing opposite the lampstand on [a well-lit area of] the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the part of the hand that did the writing. 6 Then the king's face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him; the joints and muscles of his hips and back weakened and his knees began knocking together. 7 The king called aloud to bring in the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were master astrologers] and the diviners. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around his neck, and have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom."
Nabonidus was first in command as king, and Belshazzar, his son, was second. The person who could read the writing would be given third place in command, which was the highest position and honor that Belshazzar could offer.
8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or reveal to the king its interpretation.
Although the writing on the wall contained only three simple words in Aramaic, a language understood by Babylonians (see 2:4), the people could not determine its prophetic significance. God gave Daniel alone the ability to interpret the message of doom to Babylon. No matter how great the reward offered, the wise men of the kingdom couldn't interpret the message because they lacked God's wisdom. Daniel did not rush into the banquet hall with the others. His loyalty was to God, not money.
Jeremiah 33:3 (AMP) 3 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.'
9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly perplexed, his face became even paler, and his nobles were bewildered and alarmed.
10 Now the queen [mother], overhearing the [excited] words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet area. The queen [mother] spoke and said, "O king, live forever! Do not be alarmed at your thoughts or let your face be changed.
This queen was either Nabonidus's wife or the wife of one of his predecessors, possibly even of Nebuchadnezzar. She was not Belshazzar's wife, because his wives were with him in the banquet hall.
11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners. 12 It was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve complex problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation."
Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV) 16 A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Daniel Interprets Handwriting on the Wall
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the sons of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15 Now the wise men and the enchanters, were brought in before me so that they might read this writing and reveal its meaning to me, but they could not give the interpretation of the message. 16 But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to make interpretations and solve complex problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and reveal its interpretation to me, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around your neck, and you shall have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom."
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and reveal the interpretation to him.
The king offered Daniel beautiful gifts and great power if he would explain the writing, but Daniel turned him down. Daniel was not motivated by material rewards. His entire life had been characterized by doing what was right in God's eyes. Daniel was not showing disrespect in refusing the gifts, but he was growing older and knew the gifts would do him little good. Besides, being the third-highest ruler in a kingdom Daniel knew was about to be destroyed was not exactly motivating! Daniel wanted to show that he was giving an unbiased interpretation to the king. Doing what God wants should be our first priority, not gaining power or rewards. Do you love God enough to do what he wants, even if it means giving up comfort, influence, or financial reward?
18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and greatness and glory and majesty; 19 and because of the greatness that He gave him, all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language trembled and feared him. Whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he kept alive; whomever he wished he promoted and whomever he wished he humbled. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21 He was also driven from mankind, and his mind was made like that of an animal, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he came to know [without any doubt] that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind and He appoints it to whomever He wills. 22 And you, his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart (mind), even though you knew all this.
Often kings would kill the bearers of bad news. But Daniel was unafraid and told the truth. He had been steadfast in living and telling the truth since his youth. In this case, he knew Babylon would be overrun and Belshazzar would be killed. Daniel still used this opportunity to reveal the sin of Belshazzar and his companions, pointing them to God and urging them to humble themselves before him. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, however, Belshazzar did not humble himself. We should tell the truth, even when we face pressure to please others or conform. Like Daniel, we should be bold when we are in a position to speak against those who defy God's authority and lovingly point them to the saving grace of Jesus, even when it seems they will not listen.
23 And you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of His house have been brought before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But the God who holds in His hand your breath of life and your ways you have not honored and glorified [but have dishonored and defied].
As king, Belshazzar would have known Babylonian history, so he was familiar with the story of how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar. Nevertheless, Belshazzar's banquet was a rebellious challenge to God's authority. He took the gold cups from God's Temple and drank from them (5:2-4). No one who understands that the Most High God rules over the whole universe should be foolish enough to challenge him.
24 Then the hand was sent from the presence [of the Most High God], and this inscription was written:
Belshazzar was using the gold cups from the Temple for his party, and God condemned him for this act. We must not use for sinful purposes what has been dedicated to God. Today this would include church buildings, financial donations, and anything else that has been set apart for serving God. Be careful how you use what is God's.
25 "This is the inscription that was written, 'mene, mene, tekel, upharsin [numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided].' 26 This is the interpretation of the message: 'mene'—God has numbered the days of your kingdom and put an end to it; 27 'tekel'—you have been weighed on the scales [of righteousness] and found deficient;
The writing on the wall was a message for all those who defy God. Although Belshazzar had power and wealth, his kingdom was totally corrupt, and he could not withstand the judgment of God. God's time of judgment comes for all people. If you have forgotten God and slipped into a sinful way of life, turn away from your sin now before he removes the opportunity to repent. Ask God to forgive you, and begin to live by his standards.
28 'peres'—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians."
The Medes and Persians joined forces to overthrow Babylon. This event was predicted in the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had in Daniel 2. It was represented in the statue's silver chest and arms.
29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple and a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation concerning him was issued [declaring] that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 During that same night Belshazzar the [last] Chaldean king was slain [by troops of the invading army]. 31 So Darius the Mede received the kingdom; he was about the age of sixty-two.
Darius and his soldiers entered Babylon by diverting the river that ran through the city and then walking in on the dry riverbed.
This Darius is not to be confused with Darius I, mentioned in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, or Darius II (the Persian), mentioned in Nehemiah. Darius the Mede is named only in the book of Daniel. Other records name no king between Belshazzar and Cyrus. Thus, Darius may have been (1) appointed by Cyrus to rule over Babylon as a province of Persia; (2) another name for Cyrus himself or for his son, Cambyses; or (3) a descendant of Xerxes I.