THE HISTORICAL PORTION of the book of Daniel, consisting of chapters 3 to 6, is of utmost value and should be studied prayerfully and carefully by every child of God; for they present the great and fundamental principles on which God deals with both individuals and empires. There is no wonder that the Apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, spoke of the Sacred Writings of the Scriptures as being profitable for teaching, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work: "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." (II Tim. 3:16,17).

"Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden 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 therefrom. 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 lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone." (Dan. 5:1-4).

When Nebuchadnezzar died, his profligate son, Evil-Merodach, succeeded him on the throne of Babylon and reigned for less than two years. He was murdered by his brother-in-law, Neriglissar. He in turn was succeeded by his son Labashi-Marduk, who was overthrown by certain conspirators, chief among whom was Nabonidus, a native Babylonian. Nebonidus associated with himself his son, Belshazzar, in the government. Daniel speaks of Belshazzar as king, whereas Nebonidus was king. The true explanation of the facts was that probably Belshazzar was acting as his father's viceroy. Daniel speaks of Nebuchadnezzar as being Belshazzar's father. Whether or not Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar by the marriage of Nebonidus to a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, it is not possible to be positive. None of the contemporary tablets which record business transactions of the merchants of the city have the name of Belshazzar as king. "But this is to be expected since they would be dated in relation to the reigning king and not to a viceroy."

Daniel, chapter 5, is one of the most vivid, graphic, and dramatic chapters in the Book. One writer described the festival of Belshazzar in the following words: "It was clearly a scene of reckless abandon, of wanton folly, and of intolerable blasphemy, in which it was made suddenly and perfectly plain that the Almighty has not surrendered the control of the world or of the destinies of men."

Ancient oriental kings usually invited only the most important and highest dignitaries to their banquets. Belshazzar, on the other hand, invited a thousand of his nobles to this great banquet. Moreover, he invited his wives and his concubines.

From verse 1 we learn that Belshazzar drank wine before the thousand of his lords. According to the customs of the times, such banquets as this one were started by the worship of pagan gods. The fact that Belshazzar drank wine before the thousand seems to imply that he had drunk quite a bit of wine and that it was taking effect upon him. Some expositors think, however, that Belshazzar, when he first tasted the wine, ordered his servants "to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem," that he and his lords might drink therefrom. They therefore see a deliberate and wilful effort to defy and blaspheme God. Others think that he, being under the influence of wine, gave orders for bringing the vessels of the temple. Regardless of whether or not he, in his sober moments, gave the order to bring the vessels, or whether he was under the influence of liquor when he did so, he defied the true and living God.

"In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster 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 in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, 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. 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed" (vv. 5-9).

Suddenly in the midst of the banquet appeared the fingers of a man's hand, writing on the plaster of the wall over against the candlestick. The revelers were thrown into a panic when they came face to face with the supernatural. The miracle which was wrought was evidently accomplished by a celestial being who veiled his presence, allowing only the hand which was doing the writing to be seen. Belshazzar, terrified and trembling from head to foot, and with a changed countenance of bewilderment, called for the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers to be brought into the banquet hall, that they might read and interpret the handwriting on the wall. When they came into the presence of the king, he demanded of them to read the inscription and to interpret its significance. He promised that the one who could read and interpret the writing correctly should be clothed in royal purple, that a chain of gold be placed about his neck, and that he be made the third ruler in the kingdom. But no one was able to interpret and read the writing.

"Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spake and said, O king, live forever; 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, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12 forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation" (vv. 10-12).

The queen came into the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles when the entire audience was paralyzed with fear and expectation of what was about to be done. Who was this queen? Certainly she was not Belshazzar's wife, for his wives and his concubines were already in the banquet hall. It has been suggested that probably she was the queen mother, the wife of the late Nebuchadnezzar.

If this supposition be accepted as true, she was preeminently qualified to make the speech recorded in verses 10-12 of this chapter, for without a doubt she knew her husband as no one else knew him and was familiar with the historical facts concerning God's special dealings with her husband. Moreover, she knew of Daniel and of his being a true prophet of God Most High. What she said, therefore, and the advice which she gave were eagerly received by Belshazzar and quickly acted upon.

"Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, who art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? 14 I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in thee. 15 And now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. 16 But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom" (vv. 13-16).

When Daniel stood before King Belshazzar, the latter wanted to be certain that he was the Daniel of whom the queen mother had spoken, the one of whom he had heard that "the spirit of the holy gods" inspired. Moreover, he had heard that this Daniel could give interpretation and dissolve doubts.

Being convinced that the man standing before him was the true Daniel of whom he had heard, Belshazzar promised him that, if he would read the writing and make known to him the interpretation thereof, he (Daniel) would be clothed with purple, would have a chain of gold about his neck, and should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

What is the significance of the promise to make Daniel the third ruler of the kingdom? As we have already seen, Nebonidus was king, and Belshazzar was his viceroy. Then Daniel would be next in rank below Belshazzar.

"Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation" (v. 17).

One expositor explains why Daniel spurned Belshazzar's gifts and honors, whereas he accepted honors and position from Nebuchadnezzar: "Daniel contemptuously refused the gifts proffered by the impious king and treated Belshazzar with the utmost asperity. The gifts of a king whose doom was sealed were of little value. However, he would read and interpret the mysterious writing, but without regard to any gift that might be offered. He had previously accepted gifts and honors from Nebuchadnezzar, of whose repentance there had been no doubt, but nothing would he accept from an unrepentant, though fearful, Belshazzar."

"O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: 19 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 whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. 20 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: 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; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will" (vv. 18-21).

In this section of the chapter, verses 18-21, with boldness and directness Daniel speaks of Belshazzar, calling attention to God's dealing with Nebuchadnezzar. According to Daniel, God raised up Nebuchadnezzar from a lowly position in life to become an absolute monarch. God, so to speak, has a blueprint of the human family and the territories where each group should reside. His invisible hand is directing the movements of history, ruling and overruling all events and making everything work together in the carrying out of his plan of the ages. "The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 neither is he served by men's hands, as though be needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation" (Acts 17:24-26). The inspired writer of Psalm 135 informs us that God does His pleasure throughout the entire universe;

"For I know that Jehovah is great,
And that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, that hath he done,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
7 Who causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
Who maketh lightnings for the rain;
Who bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries" (Ps. 135:5-7).

God gave Nebuchadnezzar, "greatness, and glory and majesty." Because of such unlimited authority, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled at the presence of Nebuchadnezzar. On account of his having such absolute authority, he dealt with all according to his own pleasure and pride. When he became so very proud, God had to depose him for seven years until he knew that "the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will" (v. 21).

As the curse which fell upon the world changed nature to a certain extent, so God's curse fell upon Nebuchadnezzar, changing his thoughts and actions to those of a beast--for a seven year period. Thus Daniel held up the case of Nebuchadnezzar as a warning to Belshazzar, but the latter was impervious to truth and facts.

"And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy 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 from 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. 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed" (vv. 22-24).

Although Belshazzar had his father Nebuchadnezzar as a stern warning against pride, conceit, and self-sufficiency, he reached the point at which he did not hesitate to defy God Almighty. Like many people, Belshazzar learned his lesson the hard way. Setting his face like a flint against the Most High God, he sinned against light and did not hesitate to fling defiance in the face of God by giving the order that the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, be prostituted to an unholy use. Evidently his rejection of the light, which shown from God's dealing with Nebuchadnezzar, blinded his eyes so that he could not see facts and truths which were as clear as the noon-day sun.

"And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end; 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" (vv. 25-28).

Neither King Belshazzar nor anyone present could read the writing and give its interpretation. Why the difficulty? Some think the writing was Aramaic or Sumerian. Others think that it was not written in the usual contemporary style, but in an archaic type of Aramaic. Still others suggest that the difficulty lay in the arrangement of the letters and of the words. Since there is no positive evidence as to which position is the correct one, and since this uncertainty does not affect the import of the writing, we do well not to speculate. The word MENE is repeated, which means "numbered." TEKEL means Weighed" and PERES means "divided." It is quite evident that this writing is elliptical. This fact is seen by Daniel's reading an explanation, for the Prophet said that MENE means "God has numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end"; the word TEKEL means "Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting"; PERES, according to Daniel, means "divided." "Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." Some interpreters see in this last word a play on words, for Daniel said that the kingdom was given to the Medes and Persians.

"Then commanded Belshazzar, 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 in the kingdom" (v. 29).

When Belshazzar offered to heap honors upon Daniel, the prophet refused them. When, however, the prophet read and interpreted the writing, Belshazzar commanded that the honors be bestowed on Daniel. Was Daniel fickle in refusing the honors and then accepting them? Daniel could have politely refused the honors, but he could not reject them when the king commanded that these honors be bestowed upon him. "The laws of the Medes and Persians altereth not." He therefore accepted them because he was convinced that God overrules all events and makes them contribute to the carrying on of His eternal plans and purposes.