The king was not content to drink wine to his gods (v. 4, and see Rev. 9:20); he wanted to blaspheme the God of the Jews as well. So he had the sacred temple vessels brought in to be used at this idolatrous, blasphemous feast (see Dan. 1:2)

Please keep in mind that the Medes and Persians were already outside the gates of the city when this feast was in progress. So confident was the king that his fortress city was impregnable that he laughed at the invading armies

What a picture of our world today: judgment is about to fall, yet people are making merry and worshiping their false gods.

The guests apparently did not immediately see the mysterious hand appear, but the king looked over their heads and saw it on the opposite wall. Imagine how shocked the guests were when they saw their king trembling, his knees knocking together. Wine could not give him courage now; he was face-to-face with a message from God

The guests apparently did not immediately see the mysterious hand appear, but the king looked over their heads and saw it on the opposite wall. Imagine how shocked the guests were when they saw their king trembling, his knees knocking together. Wine could not give him courage now; he was face-to-face with a message from God

He had to know the meaning of the hand and the handwriting

He had to know the meaning of the hand and the handwriting

In fact, he offered the man who would explain it the position as third ruler of the land. (In a few hours Belshazzar would not even be alive and ruling himself.)

In fact, he offered the man who would explain it the position as third ruler of the land. (In a few hours Belshazzar would not even be alive and ruling himself.)

But Belshazzar was a careless youth (he was about thirty-five years old at this time) who was more interested in power and pleasure than in spiritual matters. No wonder his city fell.

But Belshazzar was a careless youth (he was about thirty-five years old at this time) who was more interested in power and pleasure than in spiritual matters. No wonder his city fell.

At any rate, she heard of the consternation in the banquet hall and came to advise the king. “O king, live forever,” she said (v. 10)—and he was going to be dead before the night was over. Then she told him about Daniel and how he had advised Belshazzar’s grandfather

At any rate, she heard of the consternation in the banquet hall and came to advise the king. “O king, live forever,” she said (v. 10)—and he was going to be dead before the night was over. Then she told him about Daniel and how he had advised Belshazzar’s grandfather

Before explaining the handwriting, Daniel preached a sermon to the king, using the king’s grandfather as his illustration. He warned the king about his pride and sin and reminded him that God judged Nebuchadnezzar severely. “And you knew all this,” Daniel exclaimed, “yet you persist in living such a wicked life. Now God has sent you a message of judgment and it is too late.” God gave Nebuchadnezzar a year to repent (4:28–33), but there was no year for Belshazzar to repent. He was doomed.

Before explaining the handwriting, Daniel preached a sermon to the king, using the king’s grandfather as his illustration. He warned the king about his pride and sin and reminded him that God judged Nebuchadnezzar severely. “And you knew all this,” Daniel exclaimed, “yet you persist in living such a wicked life. Now God has sent you a message of judgment and it is too late.” God gave Nebuchadnezzar a year to repent (4:28–33), but there was no year for Belshazzar to repent. He was doomed.

Now for the explanation. The words were in Chaldean. In Babylon a mina and a tekel were different weights; and the word peres simply means “to divide.” When the Babylonian magicians saw these words on the wall, they could not understand what they meant. But God gave Daniel the interpretation: “Numbered—weighed—divided.” Belshazzar’s days had been numbered and time was up; he had been weighed in God’s scales and found wanting; now his kingdom would be taken from him and divided by the Medes and Persians. And keep in mind that Darius was at the gates at that very hour

Now for the explanation. The words were in Chaldean. In Babylon a mina and a tekel were different weights; and the word peres simply means “to divide.” When the Babylonian magicians saw these words on the wall, they could not understand what they meant. But God gave Daniel the interpretation: “Numbered—weighed—divided.” Belshazzar’s days had been numbered and time was up; he had been weighed in God’s scales and found wanting; now his kingdom would be taken from him and divided by the Medes and Persians. And keep in mind that Darius was at the gates at that very hour

We find no evidence of repentance or concern. He kept his promise and made Daniel third ruler just as though his kingdom were to continue forever. The king’s pride, lust, indifference, and self-satisfaction led to his downfall.

We find no evidence of repentance or concern. He kept his promise and made Daniel third ruler just as though his kingdom were to continue forever. The king’s pride, lust, indifference, and self-satisfaction led to his downfall.

He would dig a canal that would reroute the Euphrates River and then smuggle his army into the city under the gates.

He would dig a canal that would reroute the Euphrates River and then smuggle his army into the city under the gates.