Bible Chapter Summary
Daniel 5 Summary
The Writing on the Wall
Belshazzar the king hosts a great feast and, emboldened by wine, commands that the golden and silver vessels taken from Jerusalem's temple be brought so he and his lords may drink from them while praising gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone. Suddenly, fingers of a man's hand appear and write upon the palace wall. The king's countenance changes in terror, and he offers rewards to anyone who can read and interpret the writing, but his wise men cannot. The queen reminds him of Daniel, whom Nebuchadnezzar found to have an excellent spirit and understanding. Daniel is brought before Belshazzar and declines the rewards, instead rebuking the king for not humbling his heart though he knew of Nebuchadnezzar's fall, and for lifting himself against the Lord of heaven. Daniel reads the inscription MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN and interprets it: God has numbered and finished the kingdom, the king is found wanting, and the kingdom is divided to Medes and Persians. That very night Belshazzar is slain and Darius the Median takes the kingdom.
Key themes
Key verses
Daniel 5:23
“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 in 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:”
Daniel 5:25-28
“And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
Daniel 5:30-31
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.”
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