Daniel 5:1

“Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.”

Daniel 5:1

“Belshazzar the king”

• Belshazzar: means “Bel, protect the king”
• Belshazzar was the first born son of Nabonidus, the son of Nebuchadnezzar
• Nabonidus was in Lebanon recovering from an illness before beginning a war in Arabia
• Nabonidus had given his son Belshazzar coregency with him as king and had left him to reign over Babylon

 “made a great feast”

• This feast occurred shortly after Babylon had lost two important battles
• The fact that they would party after losing these battles suggests how secure they felt in their city
• Babylon was surrounded with two sets of double walls varying in width from 12 -26 feet in thickness
• The city was able to flood the surrounding area making it impossible to approach closely with a large army
• The river Euphrates ran through the city giving it a water supply

 “a thousand of his lords,”

• It was not unusual for ancient kings to have huge celebrations and invite large numbers of their subjects

“drank wine before the thousand.”

• Normally, the king would eat and drink in a smaller private hall but on special occasions he would drink with his subjects
   

Daniel 5:2

“Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.”

Daniel 5:2

“Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine,”

• The king gave this order after tasting the wine suggesting that he may have been drunk
• Ancient people in this area of the world rarely desecrated other religions sacred objects also suggesting that he may have been drunk

“the golden and silver vessels”

• God’s temple was robbed by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C., again in 597 B.C. when king Jehoiakim was taken captive, and again in 586 B.C. when the temple was destroyed

 “which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem;”

• The Aramaic word used here can mean “ancestor” or “grandfather”
• Some suggest that his mother was also a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar which would mean that his only grandfather was Nebuchadnezzar!

 

 

Daniel 5:2

“the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.”

 

Daniel 5:2

“the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.”

• Wives and concubines both derive from the same word but may reflect a different social level (nobility versus captives)
  
  

Daniel 5:3

“Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.”

Daniel 5:3

“vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem;”

• These were holy vessels

“drank in them.”

• They all desecrated God’s vessels
  
  

Daniel 5:4

“They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.”

 

Daniel 5:4

“praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.”

• While desecrating God’s holy vessels they praised their false gods
• At the end of time this will happen again when Satan claims to be Christ and ministers in the temple
  
  

Daniel 5:5

“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.”

Daniel 5:5

“In the same hour”

• While they were desecrating God’s vessels judgment was announced
• In the last days after Satan reigns as the false Christ God will again announce His judgment
• He will do this thru the Holy Spirit with the latter rain poured out

 “came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote”

• God sent His message using a human hand
• In the last days God will use humans to bring His last message of warning to the world

“upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace:”

• God’s message was written on the king’s wall so all could see
• In the last days God’s message will given to all

“over against the candlestick”

• The candlestick was set up next to the king
• The king had plenty of worldly light

“the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.”

• The king could not miss this message just as in the last days God’s final message will not be missed even though it will be ignored by many
  
  

 

Daniel 5:6

“Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.”

Daniel 5:6

“the king's countenance was changed,”

• The king had a look of fear on his face

“his thoughts troubled him,”

• The king became worried and anxious

“joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.”

• His knees were shaking in fear
   

Daniel 5:7

“The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 5:7

“The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers”

• This is the same group that has failed in the past!
• Astrologers: used stars to predict future
• Chaldeans: used science to predict future
• Soothsayers: used dead people’s bodies to predict the future

 “shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

• Clothed with scarlet: these robes were considered the highest honor
• Chain of gold about his neck: gold chain a symbol of honor
• The third ruler: this would be the highest position available in the kingdom since this king was sharing his rule with his father (coregents)
  
  

Daniel 5:8

“Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.”

 

Daniel 5:8

“came in all the king's wise men:”

• All of the king’s wise men were involved

“they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof”

• They may have been able to read the words but none of the king’s men could interpret the writing

 

Daniel 5:9

“Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.”

Daniel 5:9

“Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled,”

• The inability of the wise men to interpret the writings only worsened the king’s anxiety

“countenance was changed in him”

• Possibly turned pale 

 

Daniel 5:10

“Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:”

Daniel 5:10

“Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet”

• This was probably the queen mother since she came in uninvited which would have been very dangerous for a wife (see book of Esther)
• Also she was concerned over him worrying and turning pale as a mother would

 

Daniel 5:11

“There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;”

 

Daniel 5:11

“There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him”

• Daniel was probably retired when Nebuchadnezzar died
• This king probably did not know Daniel but his mother would have

 “in whom is the spirit of the holy gods;”

• Can be translated “Holy Spirit”

“in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him;”

• This queen appears to have known Daniel

 “whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers”

• Thy father: Nebuchadnezzar was actually his grandfather
• Master: Daniel is described here as the master of the magicians which was true but would also probably impress the king
  
  

Daniel 5:12

“Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.”

Daniel 5:12

“Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel”

• The queen is trying to convince her son that Daniel can solve this riddle
• This long description of Daniel’s abilities suggests that the king does not know Daniel

 

Daniel 5:13

“Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?”

Daniel 5:13

“Art thou that Daniel,”

• This can be translated “you are that Daniel”

“which art of the children of the captivity of Judah,”

• This suggests the king knew Daniel’s origin but not Daniel

 

Daniel 5:14

“I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.”

Daniel 5:14

“I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee”

• Notice that the king deletes the word “holy” from before gods
• This king did not respect Daniel’s God as being special as shown by his drinking out of God’s vessels

Daniel 5:15

“And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:”

Daniel 5:15

“And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me,”

• The king now explains the problem to Daniel

“but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:”

• His experts failed him
   

Daniel 5:16

“And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 5:16

“And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations”

• He heard of Daniel from his mother

“now if thou”

• The king does not really know if Daniel will be able to interpret these words or not

“shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

• This reward is meant to entice Daniel into cooperating
  
  

Daniel 5:17

“Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”

Daniel 5:17

“Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another;”

• Daniel did not want the king’s gifts
• Daniel had no respect for this king
• Daniel also knew this kingdom was doomed

“yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”

• Regardless of the gifts Daniel was going to explain the writings
  
  

Daniel 5:18

“O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:”

Daniel 5:18

“the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom,”

• Daniel is saying that God gave this kingdom to Belshazzar’s grandfather king Nebuchadnezzar
• Daniel is implying that the kingdom is God’s to do  with as He pleases  

 

Daniel 5:19

“And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.”

Daniel 5:19

“And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him:”

• Daniel is saying that the whole world was in awe of king Nebuchadnezzar who God chose and set up as king

 

Daniel 5:20

“But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:”

Daniel 5:20

“But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne,”

• When pride took over king Nebuchadnezzar’s mind, God took away his throne and his glory

 

Daniel 5:21

“And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.”

Daniel 5:21

“And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses”

• King Nebuchadnezzar was driven from his throne to live with the animals (because of insanity) which God allowed due to his pride

“till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.”

• He regained his sanity and his throne when he recognized that God was in charge
  of the world

 

Daniel 5:22

“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;”

Daniel 5:22

“thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart,”

• Belshazzar was guilty of the same sin that his grandfather committed

“though thou knewest all this;”

• Belshazzar did not learn from his grandfather’s experience but he knew about it

 

Daniel 5:23

“But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:”

Daniel 5:23

“But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven;”

• King Belshazzar deliberately chose to defy God

“have brought the vessels of his house before thee,”

• His pride had caused him to deliberately desecrate God’s holy vessels 

 “drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone,”

• Belshazzar not only drank from them but praised his false gods using God’s vessels

“the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:”

• Daniel is pointing out that God controls the king’s very life breath as well as his ways

 

Daniel 5:24

“Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.”

 

Daniel 5:24

“Then was the part of the hand sent from him;”

• The hand on the wall was there because of the king’s actions

“this writing was written.”

• This message is a direct result of your choices
   

Daniel 5:25

“And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”

Daniel 5:25

“this is the writing that was written,”

• Daniel is now going to tell them what the words are that were written

“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”

• Even if they could read these words they still would not understand the meaning
  
  

Daniel 5:26

“This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.”

Daniel 5:26

“This is the interpretation of the thing:”

• Daniel is now going to interpret the message

“MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.”

• MENE: means counted or numbered
• God has measured the number of days for your kingdom and has brought it to an end
• Note that this word MENE is given twice suggesting the importance of the message and emphasizing that the God they have blasphemed is the God in charge
  
  

Daniel 5:27

“TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”

Daniel 5:27

“TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances,”

• TEKEL: means “to weigh”

“art found wanting.”

• This kingdom was weighed by God and was found morally bankrupt and therefore “wanting”
   

Daniel 5:28

“PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Daniel 5:28

“PERES;”

• PERES: means “pieces” or “share” or “portion”
• Thy kingdom is divided,”
• “is”: suggests that the process is currently ongoing           and not a future event

“given to the Medes and Persians.”

• Your kingdom is divided into pieces and is given to the Medes and Persians now
  
  

 

Daniel 5:29

“Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 5:29

“they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation”

• The king ignored Daniel’s refusal of his gifts
• The king was drunk and would not let Daniel refuse him, especially in front of his friends

 

Daniel 5:30

“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.”

Daniel 5:30

“In that night”

• God’s justice is sure
• God’s justice comes on time

“Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.”

• Belshazzar was slain the very night that he chose to blaspheme God in front of his friends!
   

Daniel 5:31

“And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.”

 

Daniel 5:31

“And Darius the Median took the kingdom,”

• Darius king of the Medes slew Belshazzar and overthrew the Babylonian empire in 538 B.C.

“being about threescore and two years old.”

• Darius was 62 years old when he overthrew Babylon
• Darius reigned 1 year (they did not count the initial year of the takeover) and died 2 years after his conquest of Babylon

 

Summary

• Daniel chapter five tells the story of Belshazzar and his defiance of the God of heaven
• This story follows the prior story of his grandfather’s defiance of God and then his  repentance
• Belshazzar decides to have a party and chooses to desecrate God’s holy vessels by using them as drinking utensils
• As soon as they blasphemed God, God responded with a message on the wall:
• MENE,MENE,TEKEL,PERES
• Belshazzar first tried his wise men who could not interpret the message then called on Daniel
• Daniel interpreted the message:
• The message was:
• “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.”
• “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
• “Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
• The message was confirmed that very night when Darius the Mede captured Babylon and killed Belshazzar
  In the last days God’s temple will be blasphemed again by another immoral ruler
• In the last days God will once again destroy the blasphemers and their kingdom