DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 5.13

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Five

The Feast of Belshazzar

The Fall of Babylon

 

 

Introduction

The events of Chapter 5 came to pass in 539 B.C., many years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar (563 B.C.). King Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar’s grandfather, had been gracious to Daniel (cf. 2:48). But at this juncture, Daniel was most likely forgotten at court.

 

Nevertheless, after spending considerable years in retirement, the Queen Mother had brought to mind the gifted attributes of Daniel to Belshazzar. She was confident Daniel was the man who would decipher the mysterious writing on the wall at Belshazzar’s Ball.

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

 

The Fame of Daniel

At long last, following the counsel of the Queen, the King summoned Daniel. An aged man in his eighties entered the banquet hall. After stepping over the debris and empty wine bottles, Daniel came face to face with Belshazzar.

 

In a sober attempt, the king spoke first and asked him, “Art thou Daniel of the children of the captivity of Judah?” Notice, Belshazzar addressed Daniel by his Hebrew name instead of Belteshazzar. Perhaps the King tried to avoid using a name similar to his own. Not only that but by calling him Daniel, the King emphasized the fact that he was one of the Hebrew captives.

 

Furthermore, Belshazzar may have been aware of Daniel’s reputation, a remote conjecture at best. Ironically, however, Daniel was a worshipper, not of Bel, but of the God, Belshazzar had been dishonoring.

 

 

(Verse 14)

 

I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

 

Daniel’s Notoriety

It seems obvious; Belshazzar repeated what he heard about Daniel from the Queen Mother. The monarch highlighted four features of his reputation:

1. Daniel possessed the spirit of the gods

2. Daniel possessed deep insight

3. Daniel possessed discernment

4. Daniel possessed surpassing wisdom

 

 

(Verse 15)

 

And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing.

 

Unwise Men

Subsequently, Belshazzar reviewed the circumstances and the failures of the wise men of Babylon. They were unable to make known the interpretation of the inscription the mysterious fingers wrote on the plastered wall.

 

 

(Verse 16)

 

And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

 

The Reward

Moreover, the King mentioned specific attributes for which Daniel was renowned, i.e., his ability to interpret and solve difficult problems. Recall, the Queen disclosed these things to the King in Verse 12.

 

So, Belshazzar made an offer Daniel could not refuse. What the King bargained with the Chaldeans earlier, he now proposed to give Daniel the interpretation of the handwriting:

1. The acquisition of royal garments

2. The asset of a golden chain

3. The advancement to the third ruler of the Kingdom

 

Now consider the implications of his offer:

1. The position of royalty

2. The prosperity of royalty

3. The power of royalty

 

 

(Verse 17)

 

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

 

Daniel and the King

After listening to the King, Daniel abruptly declined his generous offer. Presumably, he considered them temporal, empty, and meaningless. It is conceivable Daniel supposed:

1. At his age, he was too old to return to the government

2. At this stage,  Babylon was about to fall to the Persians

Correspondingly, did not Daniel receive gifts, power, and position from Nebuchadnezzar on like occasion (cf. 2:48)?

 

At that moment Daniel responded with two suggestions:

1. The gifts be kept by the King

2. The gifts be given to someone else

In like manner, Daniel agreed to tell the interpretation of the handwriting on the wall. But first, he would recite highlights of Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion.

 

 

(Verse 18)

 

O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy [grand] father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour.

 

Daniel’s Sermon

Daniel commenced by conveying to Belshazzar a synopsis of how the Most High God of Israel dealt with his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar. First, he reminded the Monarch of God’s sovereignty:

1. The Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom

2. The Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar majesty

3. The Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar glory

4. The Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar  honour

Recall, it was the Most High God who placed Nebuchadnezzar on the throne (cf. 1:1-2).

 

 

(Verse 19)

And for the majesty (greatness) that He gave him (bestowed upon him) , all people, 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 set up; and whom he would he put down.

 

Secondly, Daniel gave Belshazzar a review of how God granted Nebuchadnezzar greatness and power over all the people, nations, and languages. Additionally, he had bestowed immense fear upon his subjects. And, by his sovereign monarchal authority, Nebuchadnezzar was able to sanction several things:

1. Whom he would, he slew

Nebuchadnezzar acted as an arbiter of execution

 

2. Whom he would, he kept alive

Nebuchadnezzar had absolute power over life and death

 

3. Whom he would, he set up

Nebuchadnezzar promoted people in places of trust

 

4. Whom he would, he put down

Nebuchadnezzar humbled and abased those at his command

 

 

(Verse 20)

 

But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.

 

Contrariwise, Daniel reminded Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree Dream, and how he boasted and esteemed himself over the Most High God (cf. 4:30; see Daniel Simplified study 4.27). Next, he proceeded to identify the King’s features leading up to his downfall:

1. His heart was lifted up with pride

a.  He was arrogant and puffed up in his heart

b.  (cf. Proverbs 11:2a; 16:5; Ezekiel 28:17)                         

 

2. His mind was hardened with pride

a.  He stubbornly adhered to his opinion

 

Assuredly, pride caused Nebuchadnezzar’s debasement:

1. He was deposed from his royal throne

2. He was dispossessed of his glory, i.e., honour and dignity

 

 

(Verse 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: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

 

In Retrospect

Subsequently, Daniel recapitulated the divine judgment placed upon Nebuchadnezzar as a result of his pride and rejection:

1. He was driven from mankind

2. His heart was made like wild beasts

3. His habitation was with donkeys

4. His diet was grass, like cattle

5. His body was drenched with heaven’s dew

 

 

(Verse 22)

 

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.

 

Regardless of whether Belshazzar heard how God dealt with Nebuchadnezzar from Daniel or the Queen, he did not heed Nebuchadnezzar's example. He refused to humble himself and accept Daniel’s God. Thus, Belshazzar had fallen into the same prideful heart that caused his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar to insanity.

 

 

(Verse 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 in 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.

 

The Indictment against Belshazzar

Despite the knowledge of his grandfather's recorded past, Belshazzar deliberately defiled the God of Heaven. Daniel explained:

1. Belshazzar had open contempt and blasphemed the God of Heaven (cf. 5:23a).

 

2. Belshazzar had profaned the Temple’s vessels by drinking wine from them along with his lords, wives, and concubines (cf. 5:2-3).

 

3. Belshazzar had openly mocked God by worshipping pagan deities made of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone. They were idols incapable of seeing or hearing (cf. 5:4). This act was forbidden by God, a condition of the Mosaic Covenant (cf. 4:28; see also Psalm 115:4-7; 135:15-17).

 

4. Belshazzar had not glorified the true God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways. Human lives are in His hands. Mankind has total accountability to the Creator God.

 

Man’s ways are contrary to God’s ways. Even though man is created in His image, the nature of God transcends that of man, and surpasses man’s understanding:

Isaiah 55:8-9 – For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Closing Thought

It is quite plausible those in attendance at Belshazzar’s Ball overheard and listened attentively to Daniel’s sermon to the King. But, it is certain from the text, Belshazzar gave no response to Daniel in his partially drunken-sober state. And, in all probability, his heart felt great heaviness, and at the same time, fear.

 

In the following episode, Daniel will reveal the meaning of the unknown handwriting to Belshazzar. From this, the King’s demise will be manifested.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. How did Belshazzar address Daniel?

2. What did Belshazzar hear and know about Daniel?

3. What was Belshazzar’s reward for the interpretation?

4. Why did Daniel refuse the gifts offered by the King?

5. What information did Daniel first give Belshazzar?

6. Why did Daniel review Nebuchadnezzar’s past to the King?

7. What was the main point of Daniel’s sermon to the King?

 

 

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DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 5.5

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Five

The Feast of Belshazzar

The Fall of Babylon

 

 

Introduction

In the previous study, King Belshazzar was carousing with his diplomats at a great feast honoring a chief god of Babylon in the Royal Ballroom. While seated at the banquet table, Belshazzar became very intoxicated. In his drunken stupor, he utilized the sacred Temple vessels to enhance the group’s licentiousness; and deliberately invoked God to provocation.

Pauli warns:

Romans 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

 

Meanwhile, at the height of pleasurable entertainment, the city of Babylon was besieged by the Medo-Persian army. And, the King wasn’t the least bit worried. Notwithstanding what transpired next caused the entire mood and character of the party to change.

 

 

1. The Feast of Belshazzar (v. 1)

2. The Folly of Belshazzar (Vv. 2-4)

3. The Furor of God (v. 5)

(Verse 5)

 

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

 

The Finger of God

At the same hour, amidst this pagan ceremony, suddenly:

1.  Something happened that made the dancing stop

2.  Something happened that made the music halt

3.  Something happened that made the immorality cease

 

Out of nowhere, by direct supernatural intervention, the fingers of a man’s hand emerged. And, it began to write a message in some unknown language. Everyone remained motionless as they gazed at the circle of light on the plastered wall adjacent to the lampstand. It is believed this candlestick was one of the Temple artifacts confiscated by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C.

 

Although detached from a man’s hand, it is obvious and widely agreed the fingers belonged to God. Other scriptural references of this phenomenon are as follows:

 

In the Old Testament

1. When Pharaoh’s magicians attributed the revelation of God’s power to the third plague:

Exodus 8:19 – Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

 

2. When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone:

Exodus 31:18 – And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

 

3. When God’s power is compared to the insignificance of man, David wrote:

Psalm 8:3-4 - When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?

 

In the New Testament

4. When Jesus responded to the infirmed who doubted His healing powers, Jesus spake:

Luke 11:20 – But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you.

 

5. When Jesus wrote in the dirt addressing those accusing the adulteress:

John 8:6 – This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.

 

6. When Jesus healed the man who was deaf:

Mark 7:33 - And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spit, and touched his tongue.

 

 

4. The Fear of Belshazzar (Vv. 6-9)

(Verse 6)

 

Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

 

As the King witnessed the disembodied fingers writing on the wall, he encountered some overwhelming experiences:

1. His countenance changed

a.  Literally, brightness; figuratively, cheerfulness

b.  Complexion - his face turned pale

 

2. His thoughts troubled him

a.  Sheer terror gripped his heart

b.  He was consumed by fear

 

3. His loins were uncontrolled

a.  He lost control of his bowels

b.  He soiled himself

c.  Isaiah prophesied God would call upon, and anoint a heathen king to do His will. Notice his direct reference to the Babylonian King:

Isaiah 45:1 - Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.

 

4. His knees knocked together

a.  His legs gave way

b.  He was unable to stand up

 

Incidentally, the book of Nahum uses similar expressions to describe the heart of every Ninevite trembling with fear in the face of their enemy:

Nahum 2:10 - She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

 

 

(Verse 7)

 

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

 

A Call for Help

In a desperate attempt to have the writing deciphered, Belshazzar screamed for the conjurers of the Empire. Recall, they were the same wise men sought out by his grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar:

1. The astrologers

2. The Chaldeans

3. The soothsayers

 

At the height of his emotions, Belshazzar offered a most exorbitant bounty for its meaning and interpretation. Three incentives included:

1. The possession of royal garments

a.  Purple or scarlet clothing was germane to nobility

b.  Purple was the royal colour of court Persians

c.  Purple precedent is notated in Esther:

Esther 8:15 - And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

 

2. The possession of a golden chain

a.  An award only a king could present

b.  An award to highly honor someone

c.  A decoration was once given by Pharaoh to Joseph:

Genesis 41:42 - And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.

 

3. The advancement to a top position in government

a.  Third ruler indicated political dignity

b.  Third ruler may be a title for an office of honor

c.  Third ruler suggested a triumvirate regency:

                                        i.    Nabonidus

                                     ii.    Belshazzar

                                   iii.    Third ruler [later Daniel (cf. 5:29)]

 

 

(Verse 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 thereof.

 

Just as in the days of Nebuchadnezzar (cf. 2:2-11; 4:7), God’s supernatural inscription confounded the wise men. They were inadequate and helpless to a message privy to the inspiration of Daniel.

 

A prior instance occurred when Pharaoh called upon Joseph and made him ruler over his household, and the land of Egypt:

Genesis 41:8 - And it came to pass in the morning that his (Pharaoh’s) spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

 

 

(Verse 9)

 

Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

 

The Reaction

Because of the inability of the wise men to interpret the writing, three circumstances surfaced:

1. The King became more alarmed

2. The King’s complexion changed

3. The King’s lords were confounded

 

 

(Verse 10)

 

Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.

 

The Queen

Enter the Queen. It is apparent the Queen, known as “Queen Mother,” is not a wife of Belshazzar, since all his wives were already in attendance (cf. 5:2). Contextually, and in all probability, the Queen was the widowed wife of Nebuchadnezzar. Additionally, in Eastern antiquity, the Queen Mother was an influential person. [cf. 1 Kings 15:13 (NKJV); Jeremiah 13:18 (NKJV)]. 

 

Her address to the King was protocol as she stood before him, “O king, live forever.” Confident to have a solution to his dilemma, she portends to advise the King not to be distressed.

 

 

(Verse 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, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

 

There is a Man

Speaking with conviction, the Queen Mother brought Daniel’s existence to the King’s attention. Noted: Belshazzar, not the legal king, but a man of debauchery, arguably would not have been obvious to Daniel. With the change of monarchs, it is evident he would have been in obscurity.

 

However, the Queen proceeded to cite Daniel’s credentials in the days of Nebuchadnezzar:

1. Daniel possessed the spirit of the holy gods

2. Daniel possessed the spirit of light (insight)

3. Daniel possessed the spirit of understanding

4. Daniel possessed the spirit of wisdom

 

She also credited Daniel’s promotion by Nebuchadnezzar to master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers (cf. 2:48).

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

 

Continuing to elaborate on Daniel’s qualifications, the Queen lists additional character references:

1. Daniel had an excellent spirit

2. Daniel had excellent knowledge

3. Daniel had an excellent understanding

4. Daniel was excellent at interpreting dreams (cf. 1:17)

5. Daniel was excellent in showing hard sentences

a.  The Hebrew phrase means dark sentences, an enigma, puzzle, proverb, or riddle

b.  The Hebrew phrase is also used in 1 Kings. When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s wisdom, she wanted to test him (cf. 1 Kings 10:1)

 

6. Daniel was excellent at dissolving doubts

a.  The ability to solve difficult problems

 

She had inadvertently elevated Daniel by itemizing all his abilities, accomplishments, and achievements. Accordingly, the Queen showed much respect to whom she was describing.

 

There is a man...Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar

The Queen Mother first referred to his Hebrew name, Daniel. Notwithstanding, she then identified him with the Babylonian name the prince of the eunuchs previously gave him (cf. 1:7). It appears coincidental, but there is a distinct play on names. Observe their meanings:

A. Belteshazzar (Bel protects his life)

B. Belshazzar (Bel protect the king)

C. Daniel (God is my judge)

 

Now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

 

 

Daniel, once again, will be called out of seclusion to stand before the king. This time he will face Belshazzar. The story unfolds in Study 5:13.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. What caused the banquet to halt?

2. What was Belshazzar’s reaction?

3. What was Belshazzar’s reward for the interpretation?

4. What is the meaning of Belshazzar’s name?

5. Who was the Queen?

6. What were some of Daniel's attributes?

7. Why was it necessary to call Daniel?

 

 

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