🔸Daniel 4 and 5: Comparison and Contrast
•Both chapters talk about arrogant and selfish Babylonian kings.
•In Daniel 5:18-22 , Daniel reminds Belshazzar the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness. This links the two chapters together.Â
•They both talk about how Babylonian kings lost power. But while Nebuchadnezzar's fall in Daniel 4 was short-lived and for the best, Belshazzar's fall was permanent and meant to punish him.
•Why was King Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment temporary? Why was there room for repentance for Nebuchadnezzar and not for King Belshazzar? The reason is provided in Daniel 5:18-22. Even though Belshazzar knew everything about his grandfather's life, he chose to make fun of it on purpose. Because he didn't change his mind and become humble, God shut the door of probation for both Babylon and him. Things didn't need to be this way. In Jeremiah 51:9 it says:
“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies.”
•At the end of time, it will be shown that Babylon could have changed her mind, but she refused to, even when there was a lot of light of truth shining on her (Revelation 16). The kings and countries of the world at the end of time can learn from what Nebuchadnezzar and his grandson went through. The story of Nebuchadnezzar shows what might have been, but the story of Belshazzar shows, in a sad way, what will happen.
Daniel 5 verse 1 to 6
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
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.
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.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
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.
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.
🔸“Belshazzar the king”
According to historians, Nebuchadnezzar had died in 562 B.C., leaving his son Evil-Merodach [Amel-Marduk] to take over the kingdom 562-560 B.C. He was succeeded by Neriglissar 560-556 B.C., who was succeeded by his son Laborosoarchod who ruled for 9 months. Nabonadius ruled next 556-539 B.C. with the last three years, 541-539 B.C. co-jointly with his son Belshazzar. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah 27:6-8 where Babylon would rule until his son and his son’s son, as Nabonadius was Nebuchadnezzar’s son and Belshazzar therefore his grandson.
🔸“In the same hour”
The word "hour" comes from the Chaldean word "sha'ah," which means "a moment." They began to drink wine and praise their gods in the vessels that were meant for worshiping God. At the same time, the sentence was read. We can learn from this that mixing real and fake worship is not only bad, but it can also cause someone to lose their probation.
Daniel 5 verse 7 to 12
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.
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.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
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:
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;
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.
🔸“Third ruler in the kingdom”
Above all of this they were to be promoted to third ruler in the kingdom. But why third and not second? Nabonadius, Belshazzar’s father, was still ruling at the time, though he was absent. This made Belshazzar the second in charge, thus the next person would naturally be below him in the third position.
🔸“The queen”
This is obviously not one of Belshazzar’s wives, as they were with him at the banquet Vs 2-3. If we look at what knowledge she has of Daniel, in the days of Belshazzar’s father/grandfather Nebuchadnezzar, it is quite possible that this is Nebuchadnezzar’s wife. Plus she would be about the only one, unsummoned, to be allowed to come into him without being killed.
Her recommendation to the king was that of Daniel. The reason being that in him is an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts.
Daniel 5Â verse 13 to 23
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?
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.
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:
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.
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.
18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
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.
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:
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.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
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:
🔸“I heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee”
Daniel is brought to the king. The king gets to the most important part after a few short words. He agrees that the wise men failed to read and understand what was written on the wall. He also says that Daniel is smart about what's going on and gives Daniel the same prize that was given to the wise men.
🔸“O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this”
Daniel talks about how great Nebuchadnezzar was and how proud he was when he was at his highest level.
Nebuchadnezzar was punished because he was too proud to recognize that the God of heaven is in charge of everything and made him great.
He tells Belshazzar that he too has not humbled his heart but has lifted it up against the Lord of Heaven by defiling the vessels of God through their worship of other gods. Another quick note: compare the order of the metals in verse 23 to verse 4. Gold and silver are now in the wrong place, which seems to mean that Babylon's kingdom is over and the Medes and Persians have taken over.Â
Daniel 5 verse 24 to 31
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
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.
30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
🔸“The writing”
⏩Mene
God, Who holds the kingdom of Babylon in His hand and has power to set up kings and pull them down, has numbered the kingdom and finished it. He finished the ruling days of the kingdom of Babylon.
⏩Tekel
Weighed in the balances and found wanting. God had weighed Babylon in the balances and found it wanting of righteousness, for it was in rebellion against the God of heaven. God also weighs each of our actions (1 Samuel 2:3) and brings even the secret things into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 12:14) As Peter says “what manner of persons ought ye to be”, and in answering this he says to “be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:11, 14. Let us not be found wanting on the day of our visitation.
⏩Peres
This is the singular root word for Upharsin. When used in the plural form it means pieces. We thus could say thy kingdom is broken into pieces. God had finished the kingdom of Babylon and divided it between the Medes and Persians.
🔸“Darius the Median took the kingdom”
According to historians, Darius went to see his nephew Cyrus the Persian and asked him to attack Babylon. He said yes, so he went out and took over the city.
And when he saw how big Babylon was, he knew there was no way to break down the walls or climb them. When Cyrus heard about the feast, he chose to change the course of the Euphrates River so that his army could march in when the water level was low enough. After this was done, his troops marched in. They would have had to march out the other side of the river because there were walls and gates on both sides. Two gates had been left open, though.
On gaining access to the inside of the city, they quickly subdued it and put the king to death. Thus ending the short reign of Babylon over the then known world. Cyrus gave the rulership to his uncle Darius out of respect for his seniority, but Darius only ruled for two years.