CHAPTER 5 BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST. When Nebuchadnezzar died he was succeeded by his son Amel Marduk (Evil-Merodach - 2 Kings 25:27), who was then succeeded within two years by Nergal-shar-usur (Jeremiah 39:3; Jeremiah 39:13), Nebuchadnezzar's son-in-law. He only survived for four years and died leaving... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.' The abrupt introduction of the subject is typical of the author (compare Daniel 3:1; Daniel 4:1). Belshazzar (mentioned as Bel - shar - usur on cuneiform tablets, where he is always called ‘son o... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.' We are not told of any reason why he did this,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then they brought the golden vessels which were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood and of stone.' The b... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. And the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.' Excavation has revealed that the walls of the Babylonian palace were covered with white plaster so that any d... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then the king's face was changed on him, and his thoughts upset him greatly, and the joints of his limbs went slack and his knees smote one against another.' The effect on the king was dramatic. He was absolutely terrified. The picture is of someone in a blue funk. This serves to confirm that his... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers. The king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever will read this writing, and show me its interpretation, will be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third rule... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then all the king's wise men came in. But they could not read the writing or make its interpretation clear to the king. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed on him, and his lords were perplexed.' None of the wise men of Babylon were able to read and decipher the writ... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house. The queen spoke and said, “O king live for ever. Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and, in your father's d... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excelle... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him its interpretation.” Daniel politely states that he wishes for no reward. He is not here to benefit from what he... [ Continue Reading ]
“O you who are king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive. And wh... [ Continue Reading ]
“But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him, 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. He was fed with... [ Continue Reading ]
“And you his descendant, O Belshazzar, you have not humbled your heart; though you knew all this. But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine in them. A... [ Continue Reading ]
“Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed, MENEMENETEKELUPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: · MENE - God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end. · TEKEL - you are weighed in the balance... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then Belshazzar commanded and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler of the kingdom.' Belshazzar was faithful to his oath. He gave Daniel all the honours that he had promised, and his status was... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In that night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was slain, and Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty two years old.' The king was probably slain in what fighting there was, along with many of his lords, but in general the Persians followed an enlightened principle of mercy in... [ Continue Reading ]