5:1 King Belshazzar prepared a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of them all.

Belshazzar means “Bel protect the king.” Bel was another name for the Babylonian god Marduk.

To understand this chapter, it is important to understand the chronology of Babylonian kings.

First, King Nebuchadnezzar died about 561 B.C.

Second, Evil-merodach succeeded his father.

Third, Nergal-sharezer married one of Nebuchadnezzar’s daughters. Then, he murdered Evil-merodach and took the throne.

Fourth, Nergal-sharezer was succeeded by his young son.

Fifth, Nabonidus married another of Nebuchadnezzar’s daughters. He then killed Nergal-sharezer and took the throne. Nabonidus was the last king of Babylon. He spent most of his time away from the kingdom on foreign expeditions. When he was away on these expeditions, he left his son Belshazzar as co-regent in charge of the kingdom. While Father Nabonidus was away, Son Belshazzar hosted this great banquet.

For many years, there was no archaeological or historical evidence for Belshazzar. Skeptics claimed that the Bible was wrong and they were right. Then, the Nabonidus cylinder was found. The name of Bel-shar-usur (Belshazzar) was found on cylinders in which he was called the son of Nabonidus. It is now generally accepted that Belshazzar acted as a regent under his father, Nabonidus. Archeologists have excavated a large hall in Babylon 55 feet wide and 165 feet long that had plastered walls. Such a room would have been large enough to house a party of this size.

The skeptics no longer cite that Belshazzar never existed. It is important to note that the Word of God is always right and the skeptics are often liars. Their bias blinds them to the truth of history. Therefore, never place your faith in the writings of human modern secular historians. Most of them are writing for profit. They are not at all interested in truthful history from a divine viewpoint. They would rather deceive you and use their profits to buy a larger house and more luxurious swimming pool. It is materialism, not divine truth, which is their main motive.

During this feast General Gobryas of the Medes was besieging the city of Babylon from outside the walls. It was arrogant of Belshazzar to have a drunken feast when the enemy was outside the walls wanting to kill him. Maybe Belshazzar wanted to build up the morale of his soldiers? Maybe he thought that his city was impregnable? After all, the walls were 300 feet high and wide enough to ride four chariots on top. The Euphrates River ran under the walls and through the city, giving them a continuous drinking supply. They had enough food supply to last for twenty years.

The feast began with a cocktail party. Alcohol has brought down many nations. Many people talk about the drug problem in America. The real problem is alcohol. Over half of those killed in automobile accidents are under the influence of alcohol. Many millions of dollars are spent by Americans for alcoholic beverages. Many want to spend millions of dollars to solve the drug problem, but they refuse to give up their alcohol. This is hypocrisy.

5:2 While under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar issued an order to bring in the gold and silver vessels—the ones that Nebuchadnezzar his father had confiscated from the temple in Jerusalem—so that the king and his nobles, together with his wives and his concubines, could drink from them.

Belshazzar was not only defying the enemy outside, but he was also defying the King of the universe.

5:3 So they brought the gold and silver vessels that had been confiscated from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, together with his wives and concubines, drank from them.

Many pastors will teach sermons to their congregations about all of the dancing girls, songs, and wildness at this party. Scripture is silent on all of these issues.

5:4 As they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Belshazzar certainly had knowledge of his grandfather’s interactions with Jehovah. He must have known that he was committing blasphemy against Him.

Babylon had so many gods that it would take all night to toast all of them. Belshazzar was calling on these demonic false gods to deliver him from the Medes and Persians. They cloaked their sin as an act of worship and veiled their blasphemy in the name of religion.

5:5 At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. The king was watching the back of the hand that was writing.

This must have been quite a surprise to the party guests. God directly intervened in this blasphemous party. He was not even announced. He writes on the wall, just as Jesus wrote in the sand. God was challenged. He answered with the Hand that controls all men, and which none can restrain.

When modern skeptics challenge God, God will eventually respond. God is slow to anger and desires for all to be saved, so He is patient with skeptics. He gives skeptics plenty of time to repent and turn to God. If they refuse, the God will wait until the cup of wrath is full. Then, He will judge them and give them what they deserve.

5:6 Then all the color drained from the king’s face and he became alarmed. The joints of his hips gave way, and his knees began knocking together.

Belshazzar was not as arrogant and confident when this unwelcome hand arrived.

5:7 The king called out loudly to summon the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple and have a golden collar placed on his neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel was very accurate in his recording of history. Since Belshazzar’s father was the King and he was co-regent, the best that he could offer was third ruler in the kingdom.

5:8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its interpretation to the king.

This was the third time that the Babylonian satanists struck out.

5:9 Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. His nobles were completely dumbfounded.

This hand-of-God was a real party-pooper. No one was laughing and jesting anymore.

5:10 Due to the noise caused by the king and his nobles, the queen mother then entered the banquet room. She said, “O king, live forever! Don’t be alarmed! Don’t be shaken!

The queen mother was Nebuchadnezzar’s wife.

5:11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he proved to have insight, discernment, and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners.

In Aramaic, relationships were indicated with one word. Therefore, “father” could refer to a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, or a great-great-grandfather.

5:12 Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. Now summon Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”

The queen-mother was still alive. She still had a job to do. She was to introduce her grandson to Daniel.

5:13 So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

After Nebuchadnezzar died, it seems that Daniel was pushed out of office and forgotten.

5:14 I have heard about you, how there is a spirit of the gods in you, and how you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom.

Belshazzar was just as paganistic as his fathers.

5:15 Now the wise men and astrologers were brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation. But they were unable to disclose the interpretation of the message.

Daniel had been in this situation before.

5:16 However, I have heard that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.”

Belshazzar flatters Daniel.

5:17 But Daniel replied to the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its interpretation.

Rejecting a gift from a king is an insult. Besides, this reward would only be good for a few hours.

5:18 As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.

Daniel was an old man giving a sermon to a young, arrogant, and blasphemous king.

5:19 Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished.

Nebuchadnezzar was probably the most powerful pagan king who will ever live, except for the coming Antichrist.

5:20 And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him.

Nebuchadnezzar heard the truth and rejected it. Therefore, God removed him from the throne. Belshazzar had not learned this lesson from his grandfather.

5:21 He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.

Belshazzar was only king because God placed him in that very position. We only possess the citizenship, job, money, material possessions, and calling which God has graciously given us.

5:22 “But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, although you knew all this.

Germany rejected the Word of God through their higher criticism seminaries and they were given Hitler.

5:23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways!

Instead of thanking and worshipping God, Belshazzar blasphemed God by mocking him with the temple utensils.

5:24 Therefore the palm of a hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed.

Since Belshazzar mocked the one true living God, then the hand was sent to him.

5:25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEQEL, and PHARSIN.

When people say that someone cannot read the handwriting on the wall, they are referencing this verse.

5:26 This is the interpretation of the words: As for mene—God has numbered your kingdom’s days and brought it to an end.

Babylon’s number is up. Their kingdom will be coming to an end.

5:27 As for teqel—you are weighed on the balances and found to be lacking.

Babylon has not measured up to God’s standards.

5:28 As for peres—your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

The head of gold (Babylon) was to be removed. It was now time for the arms of silver (Medes and Persians) to come into place.

5:29 Then, on Belshazzar’s orders, Daniel was clothed in purple, a golden collar was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed third ruler in the kingdom.

The Book of Daniel is extremely accurate.  Archaeology has shown that Nabonidus was really the king and Belshazzar was second in command.

5:30 And in that very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed.

Xenophon was a Greek historian who described how the Medes took the city by detouring a canal of the Euphrates River back into its main channel and then letting the army sneak under the walls of the city.

5:31 (6:1) So Darius the Mede took control of the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.

Darius the Mede was the silver arms who replaced the golden head of Babylon. Isaiah 21 prophesied the fall of Babylon. In the future, another Babylon will fall by the hands of God (Rev. 18). This will end the tenure of the satanic world system. The satanic world system of human government started in Babylon and will end in Babylon.