Note: Events in this chapter take place about 25 years after those recorded in chapter 4.
Keep in mind, per Herodotus, the famous Greek historian known as “The Father of History,” records that Babylon was five miles square. Its wall were 86’ thick and 350’ high. Towers that served as watchtowers on the wall were another 100’ high or more. Entrance was through massive bronze gates, and it was surrounded by a deep moat. Water from the Euphrates River ran under its walls.
MacArthur notes: “From the Babylonian record of the time of Daniel, we have no less than 10,000 fragments to indicate to us the truthfulness of this tremendous prophecy.
Dan. 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus by Nitocris, who was the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar. He served as a co-regent with Nabonidus as the last kings of the great Babylonian empire. Historical evidence from the Nabonidus cylinders from Ur affirm Belshazzar as his son. Other cylinders indicate that Nabonidus lived in Arabia during at least part of his reign and left his son in charge in Babylon.
History indicates that the Babylonians were so sure of the invincibility of their city, that the king threw a huge feast for the nobility even while Cyrus and his armies were besieging the city. Wine appeared to be in abundance at this feast.
Dan. 5:2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
Dan. 5:3 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 princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
Belshazzar appeared to get drunk and cocky. He ordered his servants to serve the wine in the golden and silver vessels that his grandfather Neb had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. This was a direct affront to the God of Israel.
Those in attendance at this feast included the king, his princes, his wives and his concubines. (The word for lords and princes in verses 1 and 2 are the same.)
Dan. 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
In the ancient world, there were gods for everything. As they drank, the partygoers praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone. Maybe it is just a reference to the gods represented by images of the materials mentioned. Either way it was direct insult to the one true God.
Dan. 5:5 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.
“in the same hour” – I think this is referencing the hour that the vessels from the temple were brought out for use.
All of a sudden the fingers of a man’s hand appears and writes on the wall close to the candlestick so as to be easily seen. The king saw the mysterious hand write its message.
Dan. 5:6 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.
You could tell by the look on the king’s face that he was afraid. Evidently his legs were shaking and his knees were knocking. The loins is a reference to the area of the kidneys—maybe, as I’ve heard some preach, he lost control of his bodily functions. This specific response was predicted by the prophet Isaiah about 400 years earlier:
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….
Dan. 5:7 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.
Dan. 5:8 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.
Dan. 5:9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
Immediately, the king yells for his astrologers (conjurers, those who practice enchantment), the Chaldeans (professional astrologers, readers of the heavens), and the soothsayers (those who claimed to know the future); these three groups comprised the wise men of Babylon. Belshazzar promises the third position of authority in the kingdom to the man who can interpret the writing. (Nabonidus and Belshazzar were #1 and #2 respectively.) None of the wise men could interpret the writing. This really troubled the king; I would say he was terrified by this time. His countenance reflected his increasing terror.
Dan. 5:10 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:
Dan. 5:11 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;
Dan. 5:12 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.
“the queen” – Most commentators agree that this is a reference to Nitocris, the king’s mother. It would appear that the news of the mysterious handwriting on the wall traveled quickly throughout the palace. The queen must have come to see what was going on. Upon seeing her son in such a state, she tries to calm him down by telling him that there is a man in the kingdom who is so wise that his grandfather Neb had made him the master, the first in authority, of all the wise men of Babylon. (Seems to imply that he no longer held that position.) She was sure that he would be able to interpret the writing. She then identified the man as Daniel, whom the king had named Belteshazzar.
Dan. 5:13 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?
Dan. 5:14 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.
Dan. 5:15 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:
Dan. 5:16 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.
Belshazzar immediately sent for Daniel who soon appeared before the king. First, the king asks Daniel if he is the Jewish captive who had served his grandfather. He lets Daniel know that his reputation preceded him, and that he was considered as possessing the spirit of the gods and great wisdom. He informs Daniel that none of the wise men of the kingdom had been able to interpret the writing on the wall. He tells Daniel that he has heard that he can make interpretations and solve hard problems. Then he offers Daniel the position of third in the kingdom if he can interpret the message on the wall.
Dan. 5:17 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 lets the king know that he isn’t interested in position or rewards, but he will interpret the writing for the king. (Commentaries indicate that Daniel was taken captive circa 605 BC and Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC. So it would seem that Daniel was at least in his early 80’s at this time.)
Dan. 5:18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
Dan. 5:19 And for the majesty that he gave 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.
Dan. 5:20 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:
Dan. 5:21 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.
Before Daniel gives the interpretation to the writing on the wall, he teaches the king a little lesson. He tells him how “the most High God” was the One Who gave Neb, his grandfather, his position of power and great glory. He raised him up as a mighty king who was feared by the nations. He had the power to declare who would live and who would die and who would be given honored positions and who would be in subjection. He related how Neb developed such pride and arrogance that God took his throne away from him. Then he related how the king had lived as a beast of the field for 7 years, until he was ready to recognize that the most high God was the great ruler over men and gave kingdoms according to His choosing.
Dan. 5:22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
Dan. 5:23 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:
Daniel then boldly confronts the king with his own pride and contempt of God. Daniel had been part of this kingdom’s elite for a long time and knew that Belshazzar was aware of his grandfather’s history. In spite of the example that God had made of Neb, Belshazzar evidently had learned nothing from his grandfather’s experience and example. He had brazenly insulted the most high God by using the vessels that had been consecrated for God’s use in the temple at Jerusalem. They had used these precious vessels to get drunk and proceeded to give praise to false gods that could not hear, could not see, and could not think. He had totally ignored and shown great contempt for the one true God.
Dan. 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Daniel then informs the king that the hand had written a message to the king directly from the most high God.
It’s amazing to me that Daniel was able to continue with his harsh words against the king without endangering himself. This is probably an indication of how frightened the king was. He would listen to any attack on his character that might result in knowing the message on the wall. Then again, maybe the king was actually convicted as he recognized the truth of what Daniel said.
Dan. 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan. 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
Dan. 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan. 5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Mene = numbered – number is up, time is up
Tekel = weighed and wanting/deficient – does not measure up
Upharsin/Peres = split up or divided
Now Daniel gets to the actual message. God has decided to allow the Babylonian Empire to be conquered. The king has been determined as unfit for God’s purposes. The kingdom is to be divided between the Medes and the Persians. The Medes and Persians were in league with one another, but the Medes exercised the greater authority.
My daughter’s questions continue to help me recognize notes that would be helpful. Both Upharsin (v25) and Peres (v28) are translations of the same Hebrew word “prac,” which means to split up or divide.
Dan. 5:29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Belshazzar doesn’t question Daniel’s interpretation. He orders Daniel to be proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom according to his word.
Dan. 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Dan. 5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
That very same night Belshazzar was killed. According to Herodotus, Cyrus and his armies diverted the Euphrates River, dried up the channel that went under the wall and marched into the city when the water of the river was thigh high. The 62-year old Darius the Mede assumed control in Babylon after Cyrus and his armies conquered the city; Darius ruled from 539-536 BC.
Herodotus records the date as the 16th of Tishri, October 11-12, 539 BC.
Thinking—How does America today compare to Babylon before God judged her.
Both cultures are and were characterized with drunkenness, pleasure, immorality, idolatry, blasphemy, rebellion against God and corrupt leadership.
Dan. 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
Dan. 6:2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Darius evidently didn’t want to be bothered with anything but the most important issues, so he delegated authority over his kingdom to 120 princes (governors, lieutenants). Three presidents were placed in authority over the 120 princes, and Daniel held the highest authority level of the three presidents. The purpose of these ruling authorities was to ensure that Darius’ kingdom was prosperous and, as the NLT phrased it, “to watch out for the king’s interests.”
Dan. 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
It seems that Daniel always excelled in executing his responsibilities. This scripture states that the reason was “because an excellent spirit was in him.” I know that the Holy Spirit didn’t regularly indwell believers in the Old Testament, but certain people experienced the presence of the Spirit in their lives. One of the things David feared was for God to take the Spirit from him.
Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
I tend to think that Daniel possessed the presence of the Spirit for most of his life.
Darius recognized Daniel’s superiority and placed him in the position of authority under the king.
Dan. 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan. 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
True to human (the sin) nature, the other presidents and princes were jealous of Daniel and wanted to get him into trouble. They tried their best to find a reason to accuse him before the king, but they couldn’t. Why? Because he was faithful (sure, morally true, trustworthy). They finally figured out that the only possibility of finding fault with Daniel would be to figure out something that would require him to dishonor or break the law of his God—which they knew he would never do.
What a testimony! If only that could be true about me. I can’t imagine (well, maybe I can imagine…) living so that others could observe no error or fault in me. That’s one of the reasons I’m so looking forward to heaven. Never again will I have to deal with the sin nature. Finally, I will know that I am serving the Lord with a pure heart and won’t even be tempted by the flesh.
Dan. 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
Dan. 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan. 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Dan. 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
The presidents and princes represented the best and brightest in the land. They devised a plan that would appeal to King Darius’ ego and persuaded him to immediately sign the plan into law. Nebuchadnezzar was bound by no laws; he was the law. Darius, although king, was bound by the laws of the kingdom. (Remember, the statue in chapter two. Each kingdom was represented by more inferior materials going from head to toe.) The decree that the princes had prepared stated that no one in the kingdom could petition any God or man for 30 days other than the king. Anyone who disobeyed this decree would be thrown into a den of lions.
I noticed that verse 7 states that “all” the presidents of the kingdom were in on the plan. Obviously, it was “all” except Daniel, who held the highest position.
Dan. 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Daniel had a daily practice of kneeling down to pray and give thanks to God at his open windows that faced the direction of Jerusalem three times each day. Although Daniel knew about the decree, he did not change his practice. He continued to pray and give thanks to God three times a day as he always had.
We know that God has established authorities over us, and we are to honor those authorities—except when they go against God’s law or would cause us to deny Him the position of God in our life. Jesus exemplified this truth during His ministry. An example of this is Jesus’ continuing practice of performing miracles of healing on the Sabbath day in direct disobedience to the prevailing directives of the religious ruling authorities of His day.
Guzik records an important observation from John Walvoord, “This was not the act of a person courting martyrdom but the continuation of a faithful ministry in prayer which had characterized his long life.”
Dan. 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Dan. 6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Dan. 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
The other ruling authorities knew Daniel’s routine and couldn’t wait to catch him breaking the law—as they knew he would. As soon as they witnessed him continuing his daily prayers, they ran back to the king. They didn’t immediately blurt out their accusation because they knew that the king favored Daniel. First, they reminded the king of the decree and questioned him for confirmation of the contents of that decree. The king confirmed the truth of their statement and the fact that a king’s decree cannot be changed. When the king confirmed the decree, they made their accusation. They told the king that Daniel did not respect either him or his decree; he was still petitioning his God three times a day.
Dan. 6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Darius was trapped and he knew it. To his credit, he was very displeased with himself. He spent a whole day trying to figure out a way to spare Daniel from the punishment called for in the wording of the decree—but he could not.
Dan. 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Dan. 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
The schemers finally came back to the king and again reminded him that the law of the Medes and Persians as established by the king cannot be changed. So, Darius sent for Daniel to carry out the sentence. In an amazing statement of faith—Darius assured Daniel that the God whom he served continually would deliver him.
That is really a quite powerful statement. Darius must have heard of some of the happenings involving this God of the Jews since their captivity in Babylon. Because of Daniel’s testimony/example, he had no doubt of the power and ability of Daniel’s God.
Then Daniel was thrown into the den of lions.
Dan. 6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
The opening to the lions’ den was sealed with a stone; then it was marked with the seal of the king’s signet ring as well as the signets of his lords. A couple of commentaries indicated that the king’s signet guaranteed that no one could kill Daniel if he survived the lions.
Dan. 6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Dan. 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
Dan. 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Darius went back to the palace and spent the night fasting. (I guess that means he missed his evening meal and midnight snacks.) He must have had a practice of listening to soothing music at bedtime, but this night he did not. He just could not go to sleep. Very early the next morning the king rushed out to the den of lions. When he got there, he called out to Daniel in a voice that was obviously worried and grieved. His question was quite interesting—“O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”
Darius obviously recognized a difference in the God of Daniel and the gods represented by the idols of his own culture. He credited Daniel’s God with being the living God, which would seem to imply that other gods were not living. As the living God, He could be expected to have preserved the life of His servant. The question expressed the idea that he wanted to believe, but he just wasn’t sure.
Dan. 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan. 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Daniel answers with great respect for the king—the very opposite of what he had been accused. He assures the king that his God had sent His angel and had shut the lions’ mouths. He hadn’t even been hurt. Daniel assured the king that God had delivered him because he was innocent (pure of heart), neither had he intended offense to the king. He only intended to continue to honor God.
Dan. 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
The king was very happy for Daniel and commanded that he be taken out of the lions’ den. Once out of the den, they saw for themselves that Daniel had not been hurt in any way. The record rightly attributes his protection to his faith in his God.
Daniel’s statement seems to indicate that he knew he would be delivered. I’m afraid I would have been more like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I would have faith that God could protect; but I don’t think I could say that I would have faith that He would protect. I’m very aware of the fact that I have very little understanding of God and His purposes. Jesus said that if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could remove mountains. Because He said it, and the scripture contains examples of men that proved it, I know it is possible. I just wish I could attain that level of faith. “Lord, increase my faith.”
Dan. 6:24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
Again, the example is clear—our sin always impacts those we are closest to, those we claim to love. According to JFB, “Among the Persians, all the kindred were involved in the guilt of one culprit.” There must have been a lot of lions for the people to have been so completely mauled before ever hitting the bottom of the den.
Dan. 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Dan. 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
Dan. 6:27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
Although Darius couldn’t change the previous decree, he could sign into law a new decree. His kingdom included many nations and languages, and the decree was sent to them all. It commanded that all men in his kingdom were to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. He proclaimed Daniel’s God to be the living God who will never change nor will His kingdom ever be destroyed; His dominion/power/authority will last until the end. (How could he include the thought of forever and an ending regarding the same being?) Darius declared Daniel’s God’s ability to deliver, rescue, and work signs and wonders both in heaven and earth. Darius had witnessed this power himself by seeing Daniel delivered from the lions’ den.
I can’t help but wonder if Darius became a man of faith. That’s a pretty powerful statement.
Dan. 6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
The chapter ends by stating that Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius as well as in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. According to Easton’s Dictionary, Daniel probably died at Susa at around age 85.
David Guzik provides some helpful information regarding the fact that Darius the Mede is not mentioned by name in available historical records.
“It may be that Darius is an ancient official known as Gubaru in ancient documents, whom Cyrus appointed as ruler over Babylon immediately after its capture….In fact, "Darius" may be an honorific title meaning, "holder of the scepter. Ancient documents show that the man Gubaru had the power to make appointments, to assemble an army, to levy taxes, and to possess palaces. Gubaru (Darius) was, in a very real sense, the king over Babylon.”
Truthnet.org provides the following information.
“According to the Nabonidus Chronicle, as itemized by D.J. Wiseman, the following events occurred.
Babylon was conquered by Ugbaru, the governor of Gutium, who led the army of Cyrus and entered the city of Babylon on the night of Belshazzar’s feast. Nabonidus, who was Belshazzar’s father, had fled Babylon the day before only to be captured and later die in exile. When Babylon fell to Ugbaru on October 11, 539 B.C., Cyrus himself had remained with other troops at Opis, and not until eighteen day later, October 29, 539 B.C., did he actually arrive in Babylon. A man by the name of Gubaru was appointed by Cyrus to rule in Babylon. Eight days after the arrival of Cyrus, Ugbaru died.”