Daniel Chapter 5 — The Writing on the Wall
During a lavish feast, King Belshazzar sees a mysterious hand writing on the wall, which Daniel interprets as a message of impending judgment and the fall of Babylon.
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Notable Verses
Daniel 5:23
“but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you... and you have not glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways.”
This verse summarizes Daniel's primary indictment against the king for his arrogance and spiritual negligence.
Daniel 5:27
“TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.”
This famous phrase describes the divine evaluation of Belshazzar's character and the reason for his downfall.
Chapter Summary
King Belshazzar holds a great feast for a thousand of his lords, using the sacred gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to toast pagan gods of gold, silver, and stone. During the festivities, a human hand appears and writes a mysterious inscription on the palace wall. The king is terrified, but none of his wise men can interpret the writing. At the queen's suggestion, Daniel is summoned. Daniel refuses the king's offers of wealth and power but agrees to interpret the message. He rebukes Belshazzar for his pride and failure to honor God, despite knowing how his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar was humbled. Daniel deciphers the words 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN,' explaining that God has numbered the kingdom's days, weighed the king in the balances and found him wanting, and divided the empire among the Medes and Persians. That same night, Belshazzar is slain, and Darius the Mede takes the kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
The words 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN' meant that God had numbered the days of Belshazzar's reign, weighed him in judgment and found him lacking, and decided to give his kingdom to the Medes and Persians.
Belshazzar was punished for his pride and for the sacrilegious act of using holy vessels from the Jerusalem temple to drink wine while praising pagan idols.
Daniel interpreted the writing after the king's enchanters and wise men failed. He was recommended by the queen, who remembered his wisdom during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Study Note
The Aramaic word 'Peres' used in the inscription functions as a pun, meaning both 'divided' and 'Persia,' the empire that conquered Babylon that very night.
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