B. The Interpretation of The Handwriting On The Wall.
B. The Interpretation of The Handwriting On The Wall.
Belshazzar and his guests begin the blasphemy of actually drinking toasts to their idols in the vessels Nebuchadnezzar had carried off in 606 BC. Within the hour, they observe a hand writing of their doom on the banquet room wall. Belshazzar was so frightened “...so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” (Daniel 5:6)
“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:” (Daniel 5:10)
“Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and under-standing, 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.” (Daniel 5:12)
Again, “...the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers,” were consulted; and, again, they fail. The Queen “Mother” comes in and advises them to send for Daniel. Daniel had to be sent for, as he would not have connected himself with a “drunken banquet.”
When he arrives, Belshazzar offers to clothe him in scarlet with a gold chain of authority for his neck, and make him third ruler in the kingdom. Daniel observes the blasphemy and sternly informs the king he may keep his “gifts” and "rewards!” He then preaches Belshazzar, and all in attendance, a sermon,
“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 5:23)
“And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.” (Daniel 5:25)
You will notice these words are left un-translated in the King James Translation, and this is how the Prophet, Daniel, interpreted them.
“This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. (Daniel 5:26)
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Daniel 5:27)
PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:26-28)
Belshazzar was as good as his word and made Daniel the “third ruler” in a kingdom that would be ripped from his grasp in a few hours.
“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.” (Daniel 5:29)
Perhaps Belshazzar thought that if he were kind to Daniel, God would relent; but, it was too late! God will not be mocked! Darius, the Mede, and his armies had diverted the beautiful Euphrates River, and were, at that moment, marching silently into the city, and...
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” (Daniel 5:30)
The Greek Historian Xenophon records that Belshazzar was killed by two of his own noblemen, who had gone over to the Medes and Persians. This is the fulfillment of Daniel 2:39 a.