Daniel 5 - Handwriting on the wall

 Daniel 5

Nebuchadnezzar is no longer the king of Babylon. How did it pass from Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar?

Nebuchadnezzar died after a 43-year reign.

Successors

1. His son, Evil-Merodach 561BC to 559BC (described in 2 Kings 25:27-30 and Jeremiah 52:31-34) ruled for only two years. Showed kindness and lifted Jehoiachin, king of Judah out of prison after 37 years. Jehoiachin ate at the kings table the rest of his life. May have angered a lot of Babylonians and his political enemies. He was assassinated by his brother-in-law Neriglassar, because his rule was arbitrary and licentious. 

2. Neriglassar 558-555 BC (mentioned as Nergalsharezer in Jeremiah 39:3, 13) ruled for four years until he died a natural death. Not a direct blood heir, only heir through his wife, Nebuchadnezzar's daughter. Was probably a general in Nebuchadnezzar's army.

3. His son, Laborosoarchod, 9mo 555 BC only a child and of diminished mental capacity, ruled for only nine months when he was beaten to death by a gang of conspirators.

4. The conspirators appointed Nabonidus, one of their gang, to be king. 555-538 BC He ruled until Cyrus the Persian conquered Babylon. But spend his time in Arabia instead of Babylon. He neglected Marduk and elevated the moon God, Sin to higher status. This angered the priestly class. His own mother as a priestess to the Sin God!

5. What about Belshazzar the king (last king of Babylon)? He was the son of Nabonidus who seemed to leave the day to day ruling of Babylon to his son, Belshazzar. May be seen as crown prince.  Was in power during Dan 5.

Dan 5:1-4 

(Date: 539BC, possible Oct 11th)

1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at 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 of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 

1. Large feast by Belshazzar w thousand of his lords

2. Thousand - could be literal but prob a very large number 

Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine,  And the cattle upon a thousand hills.

2Pe 3:8 But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

3. Drink or drink wine - 5x's

vs1 - drink

Vs2 - tasted wine, drink (wine) therefrom

Vs3 - drank from them

Vs4 - drank wine

4. Belshazzar commands the gold/silver vessels (which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem temple) be brought out and drank from. (2Kings 24 & 25) (2Chr 36)(Dan 1:2)

5. Wonder if these had ever been brought out before now?

6. Praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, wood, stone? Significance? 

*Seemed to have gods ascribed to these items?

They are worshiping that which has been created...

1. Rom 1:25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature (creation) rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Significance of praising these items (or the created) while drinking out of the silver/gold vessels? Similar to this verse?

1. Rev 9:20 And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:

Dan 5:5-8

5 In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king's countenance was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 8 Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation. 

1. The king sees the fingers of a hand writing on the wall of the palace

(Fingers of God illuminated by the candlestick (people of God)

2. Upon seeing this, the kings brightness was altered. His thoughts were alarming.

3. The joints of his loins were loosened? 

Maybe the doubts of his vigour unraveled? Pooped himself?

4. His knees knocked together?

Wobbly? Knees gave out?

Panic attack???

5. Call in the wisemen. Same as Dan 4:7 (Nebuchadnezzar)

6. Kings says "whoever can read and interpret this will be:"

1. Clothed in purple

2. Given chain of gold around neck

3. Elevated to third ruler in the kingdom

***Who are first two rulers in the kingdom?

1. Nabonidus

2. Belshazzar

7. Kings wisemen can not read or interpret the writing.

Daniel 5:9-12

9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. 10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. 11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12 forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. 

1. Then Belshazzar was "greatly troubled".

I've heard of these things happening to Nebuchadnezzar, but I never "dreamed" they would happen to me.

2. It repeats "this countenance was altered" (same as Dan 5:6).

His brightness was altered.

Nobles are confused.

3. Queen arrives and says that phrase that we've seen those addressing the king seem to state: 

"Oh king live forever"

(Is the queen representative of the "harlot queen"? Is 47:1-3 Is 49:23, Jer 13:17-18)

4. Have you considered Daniel? 

1. Spirit of holy gods

2. In thy father's days, light, understanding and wisdom

3. As wisdom of the gods

4. Nebuchadnezzar made him chief of wisemen

**Do you think he is still " chief of the wisemen?" Why?

5. Excellent spirit

6. Sense and understanding in interpreting dreams

7. Declares hard riddles

8. Dissolving of doubts

(Same as "loosen joints" in Dan 5:6) 

Belshazzar

• vs6 "joints H7001 of his loins H2783 were loosed H8271"

Daniel

• Vs12 "dissolving H8271 of doubts H7001"

*Now call Daniel in!!

Daniel 5:13-16

13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, who art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? 14 I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in thee. 15 And now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. 16 But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

1. Daniel brought in

**King seems to speak in awe of Daniel!

2. Art you "that Daniel"?

It suggests that he is no longer working as the head of the wisemen. Prob in his early 80's. (If 15 yrs old in 604BC, and this is 539BC)

BUT…

Also Dan 1:21 "And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Which would have been the king of the Medes/Persians who take the city that very night.

3. Belshazzar reiterates the words of the Queen in vs 13-14.

4. States "The wisemen were brought in to read and interpret but we're unable." 

5. Can you read and interpret it?

6. If so, "you'll be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold and be third in the kingdom."

Dan 5:17-21

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: 19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 21 and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts', and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will.

1. Remember how Daniel reacted after hearing Nebuchadnezzar's dream, but before interpreting it (in Dan 4:19)?

-he was "stricken dumb"

-his thoughts troubled him

-said "let the dream be to them that hate you"

It's a little different here!

2. Daniel rejects the gifts. (Vs 17) Why?

3. He begins the interpretation not by reading the handwriting on the wall. But by reviewing Nebuchadnezzar's plight from Chapter 4. Why?

-Daniel is setting the foundation of the interpretation. Belshazzar followed in Nebuchadnezzar's footsteps. Great pride

Interpretation

Dan 5:22-25

22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this, 23 but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine from them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified. 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 

1. Daniel doesn't hesitate to state Belshazzar's sin: PRIDE

2. Seems as if Belshazzar is even more guilty cause he already knew Nebuchadnezzar's story.

3. But drinking out of the vessels seems to make him guilty of an even greater sin.

Nebuchadnezzar sin: 

1. pride; the most High rules in kingdom of men and setteth over it whomever he will.

Belshazzar sin seems greater:

What is Belshazzar's sin according to Daniel?

1. pride; had known (via Nebuchadnezzar) the most High rules in kingdom of men and setteth over it whomever he will. (vs22)

2. Lifted up himself against the Lord of Heaven by drinking wine from gold /silver vessels (vs23)

3. And he praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, stone which can't see, hear, nor know. (vs23)

4. Didn't glorify God in whose hand thy breath and ways are in. (vs23)

4. Any ideas why a hand is sent?

5. Mene, mene, tell, upharsin (vs23)

Numbered, numbered, weighed and divisions.

6. Wonder why "mene" is mentioned twice? 

-words are written in Aramaic, the language of the day

Mene (2x's) - numbered, weight or measurement

Tekel - to balance or weigh

Upharsin - to divide, break in two

***Aramaic words, and may be literally rendered, "he hath numbered, he hath numbered"; that is, God hath certainly, perfectly, and exactly numbered; "he hath weighed", God hath weighed thee, Belshazzar; "and they divide the kingdom"; 

Dan 5:26-31

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end; 27 TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28 PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Meaning

1. God hath numbered thy kingdom and brought it to an end

2. You are weighed in the balances and found wanting

3. Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians

***How did Daniel know that the kingdom was given to the Medes and Persians based on the writing???

4. Imagine how Belshazzar might feel at this point? Considering he was already "greatly troubled"?

5. He still clothed Daniel with purple, with a chain of gold and made him proclamation that he should be the third ruler in Babylon

6. Wonder if Belshazzar would be given a "year" (like Nebuchadnezzar) before the sentence would be carried out?

7. Died that night by Medes/Persian troops

8. Darius the Mede was succeeded the kingdom at age 62.

***Cyrus' (via his generals) takes the city and gives it to his Uncle Darius, king of the Medes

The taking of Babylon and the death of Belshazzar

After describing the preparation made to take the city by draining off the waters of the Euphrates, so as to leave the channel dry beneath the walls for the amy of Cyrus, and after recording the charge which Cyrus gave to his generals, he adds, “And indeed those who were with the generals said that it would not be wonderful if the gates of the palace should be found open, “as the whole city that night seemed to be given up to revelry”

He then says that as they passed on, after entering the city, “of those whom they encountered, part being smitten died, part fled, and part raised a clamor. But those who were with the general also raised a clamor as if they also joined in the revelry, and going as fast as they could, they came soon to the palace of the king. But those who were with the generals being arrayed, found the gates of the palace closed, but those who were appointed to go against the guard of the palace fell upon them when drinking before a great light, and were quickly engaged with them in hostile combat. Then a cry arose, and they who were within having asked the cause of the tumult, the king commanded them to see what the affair was, and some of them rushing out opened the gates. As they who were with the general saw the gates open, they rushed in, and pursuing those who attempted to return, and smiting them, they came to the king, and they found him standing with a drawn sabre - And those who were with the generals overpowered him, and those who were with the king were slain - one opposing, and one fleeing, and one seeking his safety in the best way he could. And Cyrus sent certain of his horsemen away, and commanded that they should put to death those whom they found out of their dwellings, but that those who were in their houses, and could speak the Syriac language, should be suffered to remain, but that whosoever should be found without should be put to death.

Implications of Daniel 5?