Daniel 5

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.