Dan 5:1-30 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Dan 5:1-30: 5:1-30 Earthly kingdoms all pass away. As Nebuchadnezzar’s dream implied, Babylon would pass away and a new sovereign kingdom would take its place (2:39 ). After Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC , violence and debauchery increased in the palaces of Babylon until, during Belshazzar’s feast in 539 BC , even God’s holy vessels were polluted and defiled. God’s judgment came with lightning swiftness that night (5:30 ), and the next kingdom took over (see 2:32 , 39 ; 5:31 ). 5:1 Many years later: This chapter opens in October 539 BC (see study note on 5:30). • The name Belshazzar means “Bel Protects [the King]” (Bel was a Babylonian god). Nabonidus (556–539 BC ) placed his son Belshazzar on the Babylonian throne around 553 BC as ruler in his stead. Then Nabonidus moved to Tema in northwest Arabia, where he stayed for ten years. He returned to Babylon only in the unsuccessful attempt to oppose the Persians (cp. 5:30-31 ).

Summary for Dan 5:1-30: 5:1-30 ^a Earthly kingdoms all pass away. As Nebuchadnezzar’s dream implied, Babylon would pass away and a new sovereign kingdom would take its place (2:39 ^b). After Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC, violence and debauchery increased in the palaces of Babylon until, during Belshazzar’s feast in 539 BC, even God’s holy vessels were polluted and defiled. God’s judgment came with lightning swiftness that night (5:30 ^c), and the next kingdom took over (see 2:32 ^d, 39 ^e; 5:31 ^f). 5:1 ^g Many years later: This chapter opens in October 539 BC (see study note on 5:30).

• The name Belshazzar means “Bel Protects [the King]” (Bel was a Babylonian god). Nabonidus (556–539 BC) placed his son Belshazzar on the Babylonian throne around 553 BC as ruler in his stead. Then Nabonidus moved to Tema in northwest Arabia, where he stayed for ten years. He returned to Babylon only in the unsuccessful attempt to oppose the Persians (cp. 5:30-31 ^h).
Summary for Dan 5:2-4: 5:2-4 ⁱ The gold and silver cups from the Temple in Jerusalem had been taken into captivity along with the people (1:2 ^j), but previous Babylonian kings had not defiled them. They were eventually returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:7-11 ^k).

• predecessor (literally father): Belshazzar was the oldest son of Nabonidus; his relationship with Nebuchadnezzar is uncertain.

• While they drank from them they praised their idols: If Belshazzar had ever known of the honor Nebuchadnezzar had shown toward the Most High God decades earlier (Dan 4:34-37 ^l), he had long forgotten it. Two ancient Greek historians, Herodotus and Xenophon, record the all-night festivities, dancing, and excessive drinking that took place as the city was taken by Persia.
Summary for Dan 5:5-6: 5:5-6 ^m The supernatural hand shocked and terrified the carousers. Yet Belshazzar remained unrepentant (5:29 ⁿ; cp. Jer 38:19-24 ^o; Acts 24:25 ^p).
5:7 ^q Purple robes and a gold chain are associated with royalty and power.

• third highest: After Nabonidus and Belshazzar himself (see study note on 5:1).
5:8 ^r As before, the Babylonian wise men were unable to interpret the omen (cp. 2:4-11 ^s; 4:7 ^t; 5:15 ^u).
5:10 ^v the queen mother (literally the queen): She was probably Belshazzar’s mother, not his wife.

• Long live the king! was the standard greeting (also in 2:4 ^w); ironically, Belshazzar would die that night (5:30 ^x).

• Don’t be so pale and frightened: Cp. 1 Sam 28:20-25 ^y.
Summary for Dan 5:11-12: 5:11-12 ^z The queen mother reasoned that someone who had the spirit of the holy gods and could interpret dreams (see 1:17 ^aa) should also be able to interpret the writing.
5:15 ^ab None of the Babylonian wise men could break the heavenly code (cp. 2:27 ^ac; 4:7 ^ad). Only true wise men or prophets can interpret God’s messages. Daniel knew that it was the Spirit of God who enabled him to do so (cp. 2:28 ^ae; 5:24 ^af).
5:17 ^ag Daniel interpreted the writing but required no pay from the wicked king (cp. Gen 14:21-24 ^ah; 2 Kgs 5:15-16 ^ai).
Summary for Dan 5:18-21: 5:18-21 ^aj Daniel presented Nebuchadnezzar as an object lesson that should have guided his successors. Instead, Belshazzar had made the same mistake of exalting himself and dishonoring the Most High God.
5:20 ^ak A rebel against God characteristically has a heart and mind that are puffed up (or hardened) with arrogance (see Exod 7:13 ^al; Josh 11:20 ^am; Isa 14:3-5 ^an). Nebuchadnezzar was brought down when he became puffed up with arrogance, and Belshazzar would be as well.
5:21 ^ao the Most High God rules ... and appoints anyone he desires: God had taught Nebuchadnezzar this lesson, and it was the heart of God’s message to Belshazzar. God would appoint a new ruler that very night (5:30-31 ^ap).
Summary for Dan 5:25-28: 5:25-28 ^aq Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin: These Aramaic units of measure are used on a balance to weigh quantities of goods being bought and sold. Belshazzar knew the words, but Daniel explained what they meant in this context. The God of Israel measures kings and kingdoms in the balances of justice and righteousness (cp. 4:27 ^ar).
5:26 ^as Mene means ‘numbered’: In this context, it means “reckoned, scrutinized.”
5:27 ^at Tekel means ‘weighed’—you ... have not measured up: Babylon’s king would be destroyed because he did not measure up to God’s demand for righteousness and mercy (see 4:27 ^au; 5:22-24 ^av).
5:28 ^aw Parsin means ‘divided’ (or halved): The Babylonian Empire would be divided and given to two peoples, the Medes and the Persians.
5:29 ^ax Instead of responding to the message, Belshazzar honored Daniel.

• proclaimed the third highest ruler: Daniel did not desire the honor, and in a few hours it would be meaningless. God would reward Daniel in due time (12:13 ^ay).
5:30 ^az The conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians ushered in a new era of Persian dominance.