Daniel Chapter 5
Daniel Chapter 5 — The Fall of Babylon and the Hand of God
Daniel 5:1–4 (NKJV) — "Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 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 which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 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. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone."
A Blasphemous Feast Before Judgment
Belshazzar, the final ruler of Babylon, throws an extravagant party for his nobles even as the city is under threat. His arrogance is heightened by his use of sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple to toast false gods. Though described as Nebuchadnezzar's "father," Belshazzar was likely his descendant or successor — a common use of the term in ancient cultures.
Babylon’s walls were formidable, but no defense can stand when God’s judgment is decreed. Belshazzar mocked the true God and reveled in idolatry, mirroring the spirit of many today who indulge in sin while ignoring imminent danger.
Daniel 5:5 (NKJV) — "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."
The Divine Message Appears
God interrupted the revelry with a supernatural act — a hand appeared and wrote on the wall. This shocking moment gave birth to the phrase "the writing on the wall," symbolizing a sudden and unavoidable judgment.
Daniel 5:6–9 (NKJV) — The king is terrified. His knees knock, and he calls for astrologers and soothsayers. He promises riches and high office to whoever can interpret the message, but none can.
The King's Panic and the Futility of Worldly Wisdom
Belshazzar is undone in an instant. Despite his wealth and power, he has no understanding and no peace. His terror reveals a guilty conscience, and his counselors, though richly rewarded, cannot help him.
Daniel 5:10–12 (NKJV) — The queen remembers Daniel and recommends him, recalling his wisdom, spirit, and ability to interpret.
Daniel Remembered
The queen mother — likely Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter — points the king to Daniel, who had faded from prominence. Her words reflect deep respect for Daniel’s God-given insight.
Daniel 5:13–16 (NKJV) — Daniel is brought in. The king offers him royal honors if he can interpret the writing.
Daniel Called to Speak Truth
Though Belshazzar praises Daniel’s reputation, he still views him as a captive of Judah. He offers worldly rewards, but Daniel stands unmoved by earthly gifts.
Daniel 5:17–23 (NKJV) — Daniel rebukes the king. He recalls Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and humbling and declares that Belshazzar knew all this, yet still exalted himself, profaned holy vessels, and glorified idols.
A Bold Rebuke to the Proud
Daniel’s tone is firm and fearless. Belshazzar’s sin is not ignorance but arrogance. He failed to honor the God who holds his life. This confrontation underscores the seriousness of rejecting God’s revealed truth.
Daniel 5:24–28 (NKJV) — "Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 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; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."
The Verdict from Heaven
Each word is a divine sentence:
MENE — God has numbered Babylon’s days.
TEKEL — Belshazzar has been judged and found lacking.
PERES — The kingdom will be divided and conquered.
Though veiled to the Babylonians, the message is clear to God’s prophet. No empire, however grand, can escape the sovereign hand of judgment.
Daniel 5:29 (NKJV) — Daniel is rewarded with royal honors, made third ruler in the kingdom.
Earthly Rewards for Eternal Truth
Belshazzar honors Daniel, though the reward is short-lived. Daniel’s faithfulness is unwavering, whether in obscurity or royal recognition.
Daniel 5:30–31 (NKJV) — "That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old."
The Fall of Babylon
God’s word is fulfilled immediately. While Belshazzar feasted, the Medo-Persian army entered the city through the diverted Euphrates. Babylon fell in a single night. Darius (likely Gubaru) assumes control under Cyrus.
Isaiah 44:28–45:1 (NKJV) and Jeremiah 51:57–58 (NKJV) had foretold this moment centuries earlier.
Final Lessons
God’s judgment comes suddenly and surely.
Pride leads to destruction.
Earthly kingdoms fall, but God’s rule is eternal.
Every man is accountable to the God who holds his breath.
James 4:6 (NKJV) — "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Daniel 5 — The Fall of Babylon and the Handwriting on the Wall
Introduction: The Final Night of a Kingdom
Daniel 5 records the final hours of the Babylonian Empire under King Belshazzar. A drunken feast, sacrilegious defiance, supernatural judgment, and the sudden collapse of a mighty empire are the backdrop for this powerful narrative. This chapter teaches vital lessons about accountability, divine justice, and the finality of God’s decrees.
I. Daniel 5:1–4 — The Profane Feast
“Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords…”
Key Observations:
Belshazzar holds a lavish banquet while the Medo-Persian army is outside the city.
He defiles the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple, mocking the God of Israel while praising idols.
Theological Reflection — Profaning the Holy:
Belshazzar’s sin was not merely drunkenness—it was sacrilege. He knowingly desecrated holy items, demonstrating contempt for the God of Israel. In Baptist theology, we understand holiness as that which is set apart for God's purposes. This act reveals Belshazzar’s arrogance and spiritual blindness.
Application: In the New Testament era, the temple is the believer's body (1 Corinthians 6:19). To defile what God has made holy—whether our lives, worship, or doctrine—is to repeat Belshazzar’s error.
II. Daniel 5:5–9 — The Handwriting on the Wall
“In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared…”
Key Observations:
God interrupts the revelry with a supernatural sign.
The hand writes mysterious words that no one can interpret.
Belshazzar is visibly shaken—his fear is immediate and uncontrollable.
Doctrinal Insight — General Revelation Turns to Judgment:
God breaks into history to communicate in unmistakable judgment. Here we are reminded that divine revelation carries moral accountability. God had given Babylon knowledge through Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, but Belshazzar rejected it.
Romans 1:18–21 tells us that those who suppress truth in unrighteousness are without excuse. Belshazzar is not judged in ignorance, but in rebellion.
III. Daniel 5:10–16 — Daniel Is Summoned
“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God…”
Key Observations:
The queen mother reminds Belshazzar of Daniel.
Daniel is called, though neglected for years, because no one else can interpret the writing.
Theological Reflection — Faithfulness in Obscurity:
Daniel is now likely in his 80s. He has been pushed aside, yet his reputation endures. His consistent integrity makes him the only one qualified to speak in a moment of crisis.
As Baptists, we affirm the priesthood of all believers, and with it comes the call to faithfulness even when unnoticed. Daniel did not strive for power; he stood firm in truth and was ready when called (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2).
IV. Daniel 5:17–24 — Daniel Rebukes the King
“You knew all this, but you have not humbled your heart…”
Key Observations:
Daniel refuses rewards and speaks boldly.
He reminds Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling in Daniel 4.
He accuses Belshazzar of willful pride and blasphemy.
Doctrinal Emphasis — Judgment According to Knowledge:
Belshazzar had access to God’s past dealings with his grandfather. He willfully ignored history, truth, and revelation. Judgment falls not just because of ignorance, but because of deliberate rebellion.
“To whom much is given, from him much will be required” (Luke 12:48). In Baptist theology, we reject the notion of inherited guilt, but we affirm inherited responsibility—especially among those exposed to God’s Word.
V. Daniel 5:25–28 — The Interpretation: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin
“God has numbered your kingdom and finished it…”
Key Meanings:
Mene: God has numbered your days.
Tekel: You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Theological Reflection — Divine Finality:
Once the divine decree is issued, there is no reversing it. The patience of God has an end. This reminds us of Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Belshazzar had no opportunity to repent. The judgment was not a warning—it was the sentence. This is a solemn reminder that grace rejected becomes wrath justly delivered.
VI. Daniel 5:29–31 — The Sudden Fall of Babylon
“That very night Belshazzar… was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom…”
Key Observations:
The city falls that very night.
The Medo-Persian army entered by diverting the Euphrates and walking under the walls.
Historical Note:
This is a remarkable confirmation of predictive prophecy. Isaiah 13, 44, and Jeremiah 51 all predicted the fall of Babylon to the Medes. God’s Word proves true in history and in judgment
