#1206 Daniel 5 Part 1 Look, The Writing is on The Wall

 

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.

2 Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. 7 The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, 12 because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. 14 I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. 16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. 22 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk 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 know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

24 “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; 28 Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. 31  And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. Daniel 5 ESV

Daniel 5: 1-12 The Writing On The Wall

Herodotus, the historian, tells us this, the Medes and the Persians outside the city, and the night in which Belshazzar had his feast – and by the way, the night is marked for all history – the sixteenth day of Tishrei, 539 B.C., in October around the eleventh and twelfth of that year by our months, that night the Medes and the Persians built a damn on the Euphrates.

It flowed under the wall of the city. They diverted all of that water coming into the Euphrates, except a little shallow portion. They diverted it into a swampland. And when the water began to fall, in the midst of the banquet, it came down to be about to the knees or the waist of the soldiers. They marched underneath the wall on that shallow riverbed, went into the inside, killed the guards, threw open the gates, and the whole Medo-Persian army descended on that city in one fell swoop. - J Mac

King Belshazzar made a great feast - So, his city is under siege by the Medes and the Persians, and historians estimate that this is 4 months into the siege, yet Belshazzar is throwing a party. This is just like the times coming up to the flood, and again, pay attention, because it will be just like this at the end of the time of the gentiles. It was like this in Sodom and Gomorrah, Rome fell apart from within, it was like this for the king of Tyre, and we know of another drunk who chose to head quarter in this city, Alexander the Great. Why weren't they in a state of alarm? Well the wall around Babylon was some 87 feet thick, 350 feet tall and there were towers on it that went up another 100 feet. They thought they had enough food to last them 20 years, and it was no small spring that fed them, but the mighty Euphrates that passed underneath the wall and flowed through the city. I don't think Belshazzar's rationing skills are that good though, seeing that they are having a feast, I think a long siege would come down to a pound of human flesh. Bel is no Joseph.

…10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination. 12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.… Proverbs 18: 10-12

For a thousand of his lords - This is his government, those that watch over the kingdom, and everyone is okay with this, I guess Babylon is untouchable in their minds, too strong of a city. It says a lot about the structure and infrastructure here though, that even after the time of the Medes and Persians, Alexander would choose this place and these palaces for his own drunken orgies. Just make sure you have a designated driver, someone who is watching the enemy outside, ensuring that he stays outside. Belshazzar and his governors provided their own Trojan horse, barrels of wine mixed with poor judgment.

…3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, 5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.… Proverbs 31: 3-5

8In the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years. 9However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. 10So in the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri went in, struck Elah down, and killed him. And Zimri reigned in his place.… 1 Kings 16: 8-10

When he tasted the wine - Probably best understood as caught a buzz, got a bit drunk and emboldened. 

Vessels of gold and silver...that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem - Remember, this was an act of degradation on the part of Neb towards the God of Israel, that he thought that he was able to take the city by the power of his gods, and mostly we find in chapter 4, by his own strength. He wanted the Jews left in that city and the one's brought to the land of the Chaldeans to quit looking to the God of the temple in Jerusalem, and effectively to look to Neb. Now Belshazzar is referred to as a son of Nebuchadnezzar, and he will be again, but note, that Jesus is also referred to as a Son of David, there was no word for grandson, and Jesus came some 1,000 years later. Bel could be a son or a grandson. It is interesting too, that their are still books out there today that contest the validity of Daniel's historicity because historians thought that there was not enough evidence to verify the existence of this king Belshazzar, but archeology has shown this not to be the case.

For years and years, the critic says, “Daniel is wrong, because there is no Belshazzar, there is no historical record of such a man. And you can read books in the library today that say that Daniel was wrong because there is no Belshazzar – until something was found which archeologists call the Nabonidus cylinder, and in it is a record of Belshazzar, just as Daniel said. He was young, 36 years old about. He was decadent. He was dissolute. He was idolatrous. He was immoral. He was impious. He was unworthy. But he was the ruler who sat in the seat of royalty in Babylon the night it fell. - J Mac

I am going to include a link to J Mac's sermon on Daniel 5, I have listened to it at least 3 times, the nice thing about having an hour and 15 minute drive to work, but he covers an immense part of the history and it is just incredibly done. Divine Graffiti: The End of an Empire, a must listen or read for history and Bible buffs.

That the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines might drink from them - This is a worse act than that of his father originally bringing these things from the temple, for Neb did that before any real knowledge of God. I tremble at this, it sends shivers down my spine, that I was not brought up in the dark about these things, yet I openly defied God, joined the envelope pushing culture, challenged God's holiness, and am left to wonder, why would You save me? This was an act of open blasphemy toward the One true God, in a hall where people were following the mantra of eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you mad die. 

…31They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1: 31-32

They drank wine and praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone - They got lit, drinking out of the vessels from God's temple, and then praised idols, which God forbids. 

…4Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. 5They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; 6they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;…

…7they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats. 8Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them. 9O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.… Psalm 115: 4-9

…28‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ 29Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. 30Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.… Acts 17: 28-30

…7to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. 8I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. 9Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”… Isaiah 42: 7-9

Immediately, the fingers of a human hand appeared - Wow, now God owes no man anything but what He has declared by His word, which is that the wages of sin is death, and that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Belshazzar's actions show he is a sinner as all men, but also that he is not just dying merrily on his way like most fools, happy with their idols, wealth, entertainment, drunk on the pride of life, but no, he does all that and is also challenging God. God has already raised up Cyrus, and he is at the door, but this little man has challenged the God of Heaven, Who has said that another kingdom would come, has shown Himself able to take down the proud, but Bel doesn't like this Hebrew God, He is holy and not in line with Babylonian decadence and greed. But there is this hand, and Bel can't help but think, because of the thoughts in his own mind, the inward and open blasphemy, the God of the Hebrews is sending him a message, challenge accepted.

…2For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 2-4

Plaster of the wall - This was the same plaster on which the Babylonians would write about their great conquests and victories. God announces His impending judgment right at the place these pagans would otherwise look at and feel good about themselves. It is interesting that the skeptics (they simply can't leave this book alone!) write that plaster walls were unheard of in ancient Babylon. Robert Koldewey (1855-1925) was a German archeologist who been excavating at the site of Babylon in southern Iraq in 1899 and continued this work for 18 years. In addition to his discovery of a Ziggurat identified as the temple of the Babylon false god Marduk, also found a huge room (55' x 169') big enough to house Belshazzar's party and remarkably, the room had walls made with plaster. At the end of the room was a niche in the wall where he believed the king sat so he would be elevated above and visible to all the party guests. (From "The Excavations At Babylon" - Read Online - Hint: click dropdown for Page 104 and scroll back a couple of pages to read Koldeway's comments on this room including his comments on Belshazzar! - For description of plaster on the walls see Page 88-89. [London: MacMillan, 1914]). - Precept Austin

Then the king's color changed -  I bet, I have seen, oh shucks I have been the one myself, telling a funny story about someone, saying what I really thought about them when I was lit and then turned to see them there. The difference here is that while I was embarrassed in my situation, the person could be upset, but they weren't God, at worst they may yell, want to fight or fire me, but that's nothing compared to what God can do.

All his days the wicked man suffers torment,

the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.

21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;

when all seems well, marauders attack him.

22 He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;

he is marked for the sword.

23 He wanders about for food like a vulture;

he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

24 Distress and anguish fill him with terror;

troubles overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,

25 because he shakes his fist at God

and vaunts himself against the Almighty,

26 defiantly charging against him

with a thick, strong shield.

27 “Though his face is covered with fat

and his waist bulges with flesh, Job 15: 20-27

His thoughts alarmed him - To be sure, remember what happened to your father Neb?

His limbs gave way and his knees knocked together - I've seen this in a mother overwhelmed with grief and fear, looking at her child who had been hit by a car.

…16The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity. 17Every hand will go limp, and every knee will turn to water. 18They will put on sackcloth, and terror will overwhelm them. Shame will cover all their faces, and all their heads will be shaved.… Ezekiel 7: 16-18

Bing in the enchanters etc... - This is a level 5 emergency, hit the alarm, scream for all the intellectuals to come, send up the bat signal, surely if they put their heads together these great minds can figure it out and fix this. That hasn't been the story throughout the rest of the book. 

Shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck - A sign of royalty, a nice gift to those who care, and like Haman in Esther, I am sure these guys would love to be honored like that. Everything is for sale here, and you can buy loyalties even, but not integrity.

10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. 11Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.” 12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me… Numbers 24: 10-12

…14Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed. 15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.… 2 Peter 2: 14-16

And shall be the third ruler in the kingdom - There were now two rulers, Nabonidus and Belshazzar.

Third ruler in the kingdom - As explained earlier (Ruler #1) = Nabonidus, (Ruler #2) = his son Belshazzar, (Ruler #3) = The decipherer of the handwriting. See the Jew Mordecai's exaltation (after the evil Haman was exposed) to second in authority under Ahasuerus, the Persian king (Esther 3:1-note, Esther 10:2, 3-note) - Precept Austin

But they could not read the writing - Just like Pharaoh's wise men and magicians; they could make red water, add to the problem, but they could not resolve it. 

…19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.… 1 Corinthians 1: 19-21

They could not read the inscription - Four words in Aramaic, the trade language of that day. Commentaries speculate on why they could not even read their own language, but the reason is not clear. Whatever the reason, this truth clearly demonstrates the utter failure of the unbelieving world's ability (these were the best and brightest "spiritual" folks in the land and they fell flat on their face) to understand God's revelation of truth (1Co 2:14-note). - Precept Austin

The queen - She apparently was not at the banquet, but heard the commotion.  

The queen entered - This cannot be Belshazzar's wife for we see him celebrating with his wives and concubines (Da 5:2,3). Most commentators believe this is either the elderly surviving wife of Nebuchadnezzar or the wife of Nabonidus. In either event, she was old enough to have knowledge of the prophet Daniel. And also wise enough (and chaste enough) to not be in attendance of the king's sensual orgy. Other commentaries speculate that the queen was probably Nitocris, the queen-mother, widow of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar. - Precept Austin

In whom is the spirit of the holy gods - Not the gods you are worshiping, but actually the One that you are trying so hard to offend. You need someone who knows Him, not idols, not demons who stand behind such idols; you need a real prophet. Even heathens often recognize the superiority of the Holy God, yet think still that there are gods, yet He is eternal and the things they worship are made or only in the mind. Sometimes they recognize a good set of values to follow, like all men are created equal, and at other times there is contention.

1Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”… 2 Kings 5: 1-3

16One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” 18She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.… Acts 16: 16-18

Light...understanding...wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him - At this point Daniel had been a ruler in Babylon for quite some time, so it is sad, and we will see in the next blog that he is not unknown to, yet he has not been familiar with Daniel. After Neb passed it seems like Daniel has faded into obscurity, but I also think this would suit him well. As for Bel, what kind of king is not close to someone who was basically the Prime Minister under your father or grandfather? Bel is a play boy sort of king, not a great leader, and Daniel lives a much different life.

Ray Pritchard - When the party started, Daniel was nowhere to be found. No doubt he was in his room resting and praying. And why would they want Daniel in the first place? The world never invites the people of God to an orgy. After all, if you invite one of those narrow-minded, legalistic fundamentalists, sooner or later they are going to be offended and probably make a big scene. Better to leave them off the guest list altogether. But as we shall see, Daniel soon becomes the life of the party. (God’s Graffiti - Keep Believing Ministries) - Precept Austin

Made him chief - He was put over all the wise men, and many of them resented it and still do. Daniel never clamors for attention, isn't running to kiss the ring, but when all else fails and they need a grown up, a man of God, real wisdom, then he is remembered. Politicians never solve much except that thing which they work the most on, and that is the art of lying to get reelected. Once elected they are still not Daniel, and in times of crisis it shows, suddenly the outdated, the resented is once again needed to interpret something written in their own language, so plain that they cannot read it, nor can they understand. 

An extraordinary spirit (Aramaic = excellent as rendered in ESV) - How would you like this to be your reputation with the pagans? Peter alludes this "Daniel type behavior" exhorting the believers…

Keep your behavior (anastrophe) excellent among the Gentiles, (Why?) so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them (Know that the unbelievers have their eyes on you looking for a chink in your armor, but also seeing the indisputable evidence of a supernatural life!), glorify God in the day of visitation. (1Pe 2:12-note) - Precept Austin

He will show the interpretation - His reputation precedes him. He need not grovel to kiss any ring, only follow the One, true and living God, the eternal God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the One whose throne is in the heavens, above all this here.

…28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed. 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22: 28-29