MPV Commentary

Belshazzar's Impious Feast; the Handwriting on the Wall

Interpreted by Daniel of the Doom of Babylon and Its King.

1. Belshazzar was a joint king with his father, Nebuchadnezzar, but subordinate to him. The Babylonian account suppresses facts that cast discredit on Babylon, such as Belshazzar's death in the city during its capture. Xenophon describes Belshazzar as "impious" and illustrates his cruelty by mentioning that he killed one of his nobles for striking down game before him.

2. Belshazzar made a heaven-sent infatuation when his city was being besieged by Cyrus. The fortifications and abundant provisions in the city led the king to despise the besiegers. He departed from his usual way of feasting apart from his nobles, as seen in Esther 1:3.

3. While under the effects of wine, men will do what they dare not do when sober. Belshazzar's father was Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel does not mention other kings who reigned between Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar, such as Evil-merodach.

4. The wives and concubines were present at the feast, which was unusual in Eastern culture where women of the harem are kept in strict seclusion. Xenophon confirms Daniel's account of a feast where the concubines were present.

5. This act was not one of necessity or for honor's sake but in reckless profanity. Belshazzar praised and shouted praises to "gods," which being of gold, "are their own witnesses" (Isaiah 44:9), confuting the folly of those who fancy such to be gods.

6. In the same hour, God admonished him by "fingers coming forth," the invisibility of Him who moved them heightening the awful impressiveness of the scene. The writing on the wall was a warning from God.

7. Queen Nitocris, Belshazzar's grandmother or wife of Nebuchadnezzar, remembered and repeated Nebuchadnezzar's language (Daniel 4:8-9, 18). She deferred to Daniel as a master of the magicians.

8. The king sought counsel from Daniel in similar circumstances, and Daniel was promoted by Nebuchadnezzar to be "master of the magicians." Belshazzar might easily be ignorant of Daniel's services.

9. The captivity of Judah refers to the captive Jews residing in Babylon.

10. Not inconsistent with Daniel 5:29, for here he declares his interpretation of the words is not from the desire of reward. The honors in Daniel 5:29 were doubtless urged on him without his wish.

11. God gave Belshazzar a vast empire, but it was not his own birth or talents that gave him this power. To make him unlearn his proud thought was the object of God's visitation on him.

12. A purely absolute monarchy (Jeremiah 27:7).

13. The heart of Belshazzar was made like beasts, and he desired to dwell with them. He erred not through ignorance but through deliberate contempt of God.

14. Thou hast erred not through ignorance, but through deliberate contempt of God, notwithstanding that thou hadst before thine eyes the striking warning given in thy grandfather's case.

15. The part of the hand was the fore part, the fingers. It was sent from God as a warning to Belshazzar.

16. Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin means "numbered, weighed, and dividers." God hath fixed the number of years of thine empire, and that number is now complete.

17. The Egyptians thought that Osiris weighed the actions of the dead in a literal balance. The Babylonians may have had the same notion, which would give a peculiar appropriateness to the image here used.

18. Peres means "dividers" or "severed," referring to the similar word "Persia." It was divided among the Medes and Persians.

19. Belshazzar clothed Daniel with scarlet as a distinction, restoring him to a similar rank to what he had held under Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:48). Godly fidelity is often rewarded even in this life.

20. The king having promised was ashamed before his courtiers to break his word. He perhaps also affected to despise the prophecy of his doom as an idle threat.

21. Herodotus and Xenophon confirm Daniel as to the suddenness of the event. Cyrus diverted the Euphrates into a new channel and, guided by two deserters, marched by the dry bed into the city while the Babylonians were carousing at an annual feast to the gods.

22. As to Belshazzar's being slain, compare Isaiah 14:18-20; 21:2-9; Jeremiah 50:29-35; 51:57.

23. Darius the Median was Cyaxares II, the son and successor of Astyages (569-536 B.C.). Though Koresh, or Cyrus, was leader of the assault, yet all was done in the name of Darius; therefore, he alone is mentioned here.

24. This agrees with Xenophon as to Cyaxares II.