Drunken Feast of Belshazzar:
The Writing on the Wall
Daniel 5
Daniel 5:1
“Belshazzar the king
made a great feast for
a thousand of his
lords, and drank wine
in the presence of the
thousand.”
The King’s Feast
Daniel 5:2
“While he tasted the
wine, Belshazzar gave
the command to bring
the gold and silver
vessels which his father
Nebuchadnezzar had
taken from the temple...”
The King’s Feast
Daniel 5:2
“... which had been in
Jerusalem, that the king
and his lords, his wives,
and his concubines
might drink from them.”
The King’s Feast
Daniel 5:3
“Then they brought the gold
vessels that had been taken from
the temple of the house of God
which had been in Jerusalem; and
the king and his lords, his wives,
and his concubines drank from
them.”
The King’s Feast
Daniel 5:4
“They drank wine, and
praised the gods of gold
and silver, bronze and iron,
wood and stone.”
The King’s Feast
Belshazzar’s
Extravagant Feast
• He is the present king in Babylon.
– “King of the Chaldeans” (5:30)
• External evidence all speaks of Belshazzar as the “son
of the king.”
• His father was Nabonidus.
• Leadership was entrusted to him, as his father was
away on another campaign, probably in Tema.
• Belshazzar shared co-regency with his father,
Nabondius, but he was subordinate to his father.
Belshazzar’s
Extravagant Feast
• Nabondius was king, and Belshazzar was the
king’s son.
• The populace regarded him as the king.
• Called and managed as a king.
• Desecrated the Temple vessels—disrespectful
conduct.
• Royal feasts of oriental antiquity were
extravagant.
Belshazzar’s
Irreverent Conduct
• The wine-induced drunkenness, along with the
lasciviousness with the concubines, resulted in an
orgy.
• Insulting to the God in heaven!
• Blasphemous and irreverent conduct.
• Used the vessels dedicated to use in the house of
God to arrive at a drunken stupor and praise their
pagan idols!
Belshazzar’s
Irreverent Conduct
• The vessels had been brought to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar—Belshazzar’s grandfather. (Ezra
1:7-11)
• The orientals used the word father in eight different
ways.
• It was used in the sense of an “ancestor.”
• Drunken Revelry is offensive to the God of
Heaven!
• Loss of the sense of things being holy is always a
sign of moral rottenness and inward decay!
Daniel 5:5
“In the same hour the fingers of a
man's hand appeared and wrote
opposite the lampstand on the
plaster of the wall of the king's
palace; and the king saw the part
of the hand that wrote.”
Writing Hand
Daniel 5:6
“Then the king's countenance
changed, and his thoughts
troubled him, so that the joints of
his hips were loosened and his
knees knocked against each
other.”
Writing Hand
The Writing Fingers
• The pale king
• King’s terror is brought about by the
writing of the armless hand’s fingers on
the wall.
• King’s color changed.
• He was literally and absolutely terrified!
• His hips loosened and his knees knocked
together!
Daniel 5:7
“The king cried aloud to
bring in the astrologers, the
Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers. The king
spoke, saying to the wise
men of Babylon...”
Cries for Counselors
Daniel 5:7
“... Whoever reads this writing,
and tells me its interpretation,
shall be clothed with purple and
have a chain of gold around his
neck; and he shall be the third
ruler in the kingdom”
The Reward
Daniel 5:8
“Now all the king's wise
men came, but they
could not read the
writing, or make known
to the king its
interpretation.”
Powerless
Powerless Wise Men
• Powerless wise men
• “A third ruler in the kingdom”
– “One of three”
– Nabonidus, Belshazzar, Daniel
• Purple—color of royalty
• Necklace—ornament worn by prominent ranking
persons
• Reward is great, but the ability of the wise men is
not up to the task!
Daniel 5:9
“Then King Belshazzar was
greatly troubled, his
countenance was changed,
and his lords were
astonished.”
Lords Astonished
The King Is Troubled
• Perplexed lords
• King and his lords are all the more
bothered when they see the inability of
the Chaldean wise men to interpret the
writing.
• “Thrown into confusion”
• Whole party became a tumult!
Daniel 5:10
“The queen, because of the words
of the king and his lords, came to
the banquet hall. The queen spoke,
saying, ‘O king, live forever! Do not
let your thoughts trouble you, nor
let your countenance change.’”
The Prudent Queen
Daniel 5:11
“There is a man in your
kingdom in whom is the
Spirit of the Holy God. And in
the days of your father, light
and understanding and
wisdom, like the wisdom of
the gods...”
The Prudent Queen
Daniel 5:11
“... were found in him; and
King Nebuchadnezzar your
father-your father the kingmade him chief of the
magicians, astrologers,
Chaldeans, and
soothsayers.”
The Prudent Queen
Daniel 5:12
“Inasmuch as an excellent spirit,
knowledge, understanding,
interpreting dreams, solving riddles
and explaining enigmas were found in
this Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called,
and he will give the interpretation.”
The Prudent Queen
The Prudent Queen
• This is the queen-mother, not Belshazzar’s wife.
– Nitocris, wife of Nabonidus; daughter of
Nebuchadnezzar.
• Verse 2 tells us the wives were already there.
• In verse 11, the queen speaks in such a way as to
suggest a mother speaking to her son, rather than a
wife to her husband, the king.
The Prudent Queen
• She was cognizant of past events previously
unknown to Belshazzar. (either mother or
grandmother)
• Stored in her memory were facts concerning the
relationship that existed between Nebuchadnezzar
and Daniel.
• Good indicator she was his daughter.
• She was high-ranking and entered the banquet hall
of her own accord.
The Prudent Queen
• Her language was similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s—
she spoke highly of Daniel.
– “Excellent spirit” (able to interpret) 1 Kings 10:1
– “Knowledge” (able to solve riddles) Numbers 12:8
– “Understanding” (able to give meaning) Psalm 49:4
Daniel 5:13
“Then Daniel was brought in before
the king. The king spoke, and said
to Daniel, ‘Are you that Daniel who
is one of the captives from Judah,
whom my father the king brought
from Judah?’”
Daniel Before the King
Daniel 5:14
“I have heard of you, that the
Spirit of God is in you, and
that light and understanding
and excellent wisdom are
found in you.”
Daniel Before the King
Daniel 5:15
“Now the wise men, the
astrologers, have been brought in
before me, that they should read
this writing and make known to me
its interpretation, but they could
not give the interpretation of the
thing.”
Daniel Before the King
Daniel 5:16
“And I have heard of you,
that you can give
interpretations and explain
enigmas. Now if you can
read the writing and make
known to me its
interpretation...”
Daniel Before the King
Daniel 5:16
“... you shall be clothed with
purple and have a chain of
gold around your neck, and
shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom.”
Daniel Before the King
Daniel Before the King
• King’s request and promised reward
• King avoids Daniel’s Babylonian name—
similar to his own
• “I” king’s introduction reveals a tone of
haughtiness and arrogance in his heart.
• He is skeptical—”if…”
Daniel 5:17
“Then Daniel answered, and said
before the king, ‘Let your gifts be
for yourself, and give your rewards
to another; yet I will read the writing
to the king, and make known to him
the interpretation.’”
Daniel Desires No Reward
Daniel’s Conduct
• Prophet’s reply and rejection…
– Not due to rudeness
– Contemptuousness
– Arrogance
• Prophet’s rejection of the reward
– Is not due to fear or deceit
– No desire for worldly gain, or position and advantage
– He had other values and standards
Daniel’s Conduct
• Prophet’s conduct…
– Come what may, he will declare the truth.
– “Things and power” will not alter his words.
• The man of God is free from the bondage of these
things!
• The prophet promises to “read the writing” and
make the “interpretation known” to the king…
Daniel 5:18
“O king, the Most High God
gave Nebuchadnezzar your
father a kingdom and
majesty, glory and honor.”
Daniel Reminds the King…
Daniel 5:19
“And because of the majesty
that He gave him, all peoples,
nations, and languages
trembled and feared before
him. Whomever he wished,
he executed...”
Daniel Reminds the King…
Daniel 5:19
“... whomever he wished, he
kept alive; whomever he
wished, he set up; and
whomever he wished, he put
down.”
Daniel Reminds the King…
Daniel 5:20
“But when his heart was
lifted up, and his spirit was
hardened in pride, he was
deposed from his kingly
throne, and they took his
glory from him.”
Daniel Reminds the King…
Daniel 5:21
“Then he was driven from the
sons of men, his heart was
made like the beasts, and his
dwelling was with the wild
donkeys. They fed him with
grass like oxen...”
Daniel Reminds the King…
Daniel 5:21
“... and his body was wet with
the dew of heaven, till he
knew that the Most High God
rules in the kingdom of men,
and appoints over it
whomever He chooses.”
Daniel Reminds the King…
Daniel Recalls…
• Daniel reminds the king of his grandfather’s
greatness and his pride
• Manifests the difference in power in Nabonidus and
Belshazzar
• Though not equal in greatness to his father,
Belshazzar had become proud, before Him who is
able to “abase the proud”
• Nebuchadnezzar’s experience related--“until he
knew that Ruler is God.”
Daniel 5:22
“But you his son, Belshazzar,
have not humbled your heart,
although you knew all this.”
Daniel’s Rebuke
Daniel 5:23
“And you have lifted yourself up
against the Lord of heaven. They
have brought the vessels of His
house before you, and you and your
lords, your wives and your
concubines, have drunk wine from
them...”
Daniel’s Rebuke
Daniel 5:23
“... And you have praised the gods of
silver and gold, bronze and iron,
wood and stone, which do not see or
hear or know; and the God who
holds your breath in His hand and
owns all your ways, you have not
glorified.”
Daniel’s Rebuke
Daniel’s Rebuke
• Daniel reproves Belshazzar
• Belshazzar had not taken the past to heart.
• He knew these things but had not humbled his
heart.
• “Lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven.”
• Vaunted the God of heaven
• Praised gods which “were not gods”
• Failed to glorify the one true God who held
Belshazzar’s life in His hands!
Daniel’s Rebuke
• Literally, Belshazzar’s life was in God’s hands!
– Job 20:20; Acts 17:26
• He owned all of his ways.
– Jeremiah 10:23; Acts 17:28
• Idols of wood and stone and ”finely spun
philosophies” were little more than pure stupidity.
• They were creations of the minds and hands of
men.
Daniel 5:24,25
“Then the fingers of the hand
were sent from Him, and this
writing was written. And this
is the inscription that was
written: MENE, MENE,
TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
Daniel Interprets
Daniel Solves the Riddle
• Reading of the riddle
• Writing was “inscribed”—recorded or
written
• Writing sent from God
• Inscription apparently was still on the wall.
• “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
Daniel Solves the Riddle
• Explanation of “MENE, MENE, TEKEL,
UPHARSIN.”
• Original probably…
– MENE, MENE,TEKEL, UPERES
• Appeared only as “consonant.”
• Inscription of the words possibly names of weights:
– “MENE”—Mina or Maneh
– “TEKEL”—Hebrew shekel
– “PERES”—Half-mina or Maneh
Daniel 5:26,27
“This is the interpretation of each
word. MENE: God has numbered
your kingdom, and finished it;
TEKEL: You have been weighed in
the balances, and found wanting.”
Daniel Interprets
Daniel 5:28
“PERES: Your kingdom has
been divided, and given to
the Medes and Persians.”
Daniel Interprets
Daniel Solves the Riddle
• “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
• MENE—Numbered. God has numbered the days
(length or duration) of the kingdom and brought it to
an end (finish).
• TEKEL—Thou (Belshazzar) art weighed in the
balances and found wanting (lacking, deficient in
moral worth).
• PERES—Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the
Medes and the Persians.
Daniel Solves the Riddle
• “Divided” does not mean that the Babylonian
kingdom would be divided between the Medes and
Persians.
• The kingdom would be dissolved or destroyed by
the united effort of the Medes and the Persians
under Cyrus.
• The Medes are mentioned before the Persians
here, but from the time of Cyrus onward the
Persians are named before the Medes.
– Esther 1:3,14,18,19
Daniel Solves the Riddle
• In the word PERES (divided), there is an allusion to
“PARAS” (Persians), which apparently indicates that
the domination power in breaking (dividing or
dissolving) Babylon would be Persia.
• Characters may be obscure, but the interpretation
of Daniel is clear.
• The kingdom of Babylon is doomed!
• The proud king’s festive night ended in death!
Daniel 5:29
“Then Belshazzar gave the
command, and they clothed Daniel
with purple and put a chain of gold
around his neck, and made a
proclamation concerning him that
he should be the third ruler in the
kingdom.”
The King Keeps His Word
The King Keeps His Word
• Belshazzar keeps his word—he promotes Daniel
• This is a royalty must! The king merely fulfills his
word.
• This shows he believed Daniel. Had he not, he
would have had him put to death.
• No contradiction of his refusal (vs.17). This is the
king’s doing—not at Daniel’s request!
Daniel 5:30,31
“That very night Belshazzar,
king of the Chaldeans, was
slain. And Darius the Mede
received the kingdom, being
about sixty-two years old.”
Words Fulfilled!
Daniel’s Words Fulfilled!
• Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was slain
that very night.
• Murdered that night (Jeremiah 51:39)
• Festivity of the night of “drink, dread, and
death”
• No mention of any battle
• In perfect keeping with the historical facts.
Daniel’s Words Fulfilled!
• The city fell…
– Fell during the celebration of a festival
– Fell without a battle. Cyrus redirected the
flow of the river.
– The king was murdered in his palace by a
soldier named Bobyras.
– Darius the Meade—Persian kingdom—
second part of the image in Daniel 2!
Babylonian Rulers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nabopolassar (625 B.C.)
Nebuchadnezzar (604 B.C.)
Evil-Merodach (562 B.C.)
Nergal-shar-usar (560 B.C.)
Labash-Marduk (556 B.C.)
Nabonidus {Beltshazzar} (555 B.C.)
Babylon fell in 539 B.C.