Daniel 5
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CHAPTER 5
The Writing on the Wall (5:1–31)
1–4 Over twenty years have passed since the end of the last chapter; this highlights the fact that Daniel has selected only certain events to include in his book, events that especially portray the great ongoing conflict between the God of Israel and the many false gods of the pagan nations.
The great banquet described in this chapter took place in 539 B.C.—literally on the last day of the Babylonian Empire’s existence. Before the night was over, the Persian army under the leadership of Cyrus would capture Babylon in a surprise attack and kill King Belshazzar, the last Babylonian ruler14 (verses 1,30).
At the banquet, Belshazzar gave orders to bring out the gold and silver goblets that had been in the temple in Jerusalem and had been taken away by Nebuchadnezzar (verse 2). Belshazzar and his guests then proceeded to drink from these goblets, which in fact were the property of Israel’s God. To make matters worse, those present at the banquet praised the gods of gold and silver (verse 4). In this way they insulted the God of Israel and set the stage for His immediate and dramatic intervention.
5–9 Suddenly . . . fingers were seen writing something on the wall (verse 5). Belshazzar was frightened and called his wise men to tell him what the writing meant (verses 6–7). Belshazzar promised that the one who understood the writing would be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom—after his father and himself. But no one could understand the writing (verse 8).
10–16 The queen (the queen mother, either the wife or daughter of Nebuchadnezzar) remembered that Daniel had the ability to interpret dreams and explain riddles, and she suggested that he be called in to read the writing on the wall (verses 1012). So Daniel was brought before the king; he was by this time about eighty years old. Belshazzar offered to make him the third highest ruler in the kingdom if he could tell him the meaning of the writing (verse 16).
17–24 After he had read the writing and before explaining what it meant, Daniel gave Belshazzar a stern rebuke. He first described how Belshazzar’s “father” Nebuchadnezzar had learned to humble himself before the Most High God of Israel (verses 18–21). But Belshazzar had not humbled himself; instead, he had set himself against the true God by using His holy goblets and praising false gods (verses 2223). Therefore God sent the hand that wrote the inscription on the wall (verse 24).
25–28 The inscription consisted of three words, the first one appearing twice. All three words referred to weights or measurements; the words were: “numbered,” “weighed,” and “divided.” The meaning of the first word was: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end (verse 26). The second word meant: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting (verse 27); that is, Belshazzar had not “measured up” to God’s standard. The third word meant that the Babylonian Empire would be divided among the Medes and Persians (verse 28).
29–31 Belshazzar couldn’t have liked what Daniel said, but he kept his promise to make him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. Perhaps he reasoned that if Daniel was his “prime minister,” then God would not bring down His judgment upon Babylon.
But that very night the “writing on the wall” came true. Belshazzar was slain and Darius the Mede took over his kingdom15 (verses 30–31).
The historical and spiritual importance of the events described in this chapter is very great. The Babylonian Empire symbolizes the “powers of this world.” And yet, at one stroke, those “powers” can fall. The Babylonians did not believe that Cyrus king of Persia would overcome them. But a century and a half earlier, the prophet Isaiah knew that Babylon would fall to Cyrus, because God had revealed it to him (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). Let the leaders of the world know that their rising and their falling is in God’s hands. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly (1 Thessalonians 5:3)—just as it came upon Babylon, the greatest power of its day.