King Belshazzar’s Banquet
December 29, 2022
Commentary
There is a 36-year time gap between chapters 4 and 5. Nebuchadnezzar had been dead over 30 years and his grandson, Belshazzar sat on the throne of Babylon as co-ruler with his father, King Nabonidus, who was often absent, fighting Babylon’s enemies. With the city currently under siege by the Medes and the Persians, Belshazzar had invited 1,000 of his government officials to attend a night of feasting and drinking (v. 1). Belshazzar must have felt confident that Babylon could never be captured. It was surrounded by a moat, deep and wide. Its walls were 304 feet high and 76 feet thick, extending around a 55-mile perimeter. It had 100 bronze gates and 250 watchtowers. This city had not fallen to an invading army in over 1,000 years. Belshazzar’s own name would have been a source of confidence for him. Belshazzar = “Bel (or Marduk) has Protected the King”.
The feast reached a new level of wickedness, when Belshazzar commanded that the sacred vessels (which Nebuchadnezzar had carried from the temple in Jerusalem) should be brought to be used as drinking vessels (v. 3). As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (v. 4).
God immediately spoke in judgment, writing on the wall (v. 5). The hilarity of the party gave way to sudden hushed fear (v. 6). Belshazzar’s countenance was changed from happiness to dreadful fear. He was so terrified that his knees knocked together. God can bring low the proudest sinner in a moment. The king called for all his wise men, but none could read or interpret the mysterious handwriting (vv. 7-8). This only made Belshazzar more terrified, and his face grew paler (v. 9). At that point the queen (thought to be his mother, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar) appeared and suggested Daniel as an interpreter (vv. 10-12).
Application
It is very easy for me to feel secure in my way of life to the point I think I could never fall (I Corinthians 10:12). I must remember that it is only the Lord and His grace that will keep me from falling. My security is only in the Lord.
Daniel 5:1– 12 (NET)
1 King Belshazzar prepared a great banquet for 1,000 of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of them all. 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. 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. 4 As they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
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. 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. 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.
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. 9 Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. His nobles were completely dumbfounded.
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! 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. 12 Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Now summon Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”
Illustration: Monastery in Portugal Perched on a 3000 Foot Cliff
The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000-foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket is pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully loaded basket. One American tourist who visited the site got nervous halfway up the cliff when he noticed that the rope was old and frayed. Hoping to relive his fear he asked, “How often do you change the rope?” The monk in charge replied, “Whenever it breaks!” (Daily Walk, March 30, 1992).