Daniel worksheet 5.2

Explanation of the writing on the wall

Teaching video by pastor David Guzik

Meaning of Daniel 5:10-31
The woman who speaks next does not seem to be one of Belshazzar’s wives or concubines. She is most likely the widow of a former king, or possibly the “queen mother.” She arrives at the banquet hall and suggests Belshazzar consult with Daniel. She refers to Daniel using phrases like those spoken by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:8). She notes Daniel’s ability to explain such things and encourages the terrified king to call the captive Hebrew. When Daniel arrives, the king once again promises great rewards if Daniel can explain what has happened (Daniel 5:10–16).

Few characters in Scripture exhibit as much raw courage as Daniel. As a captive of Babylon, in a hall surrounded by nobles, facing the king, and likely nearing eighty years old, one might expect Daniel to cower and choose delicate words. Instead, he begins by rejecting Belshazzar’s offer of payment. Then he briefly explains the incident when Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God (Daniel 4:28–33). Daniel ruthlessly proclaims that Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s descendant, has not learned the same lesson. Instead, he is rebellious, profane, and dishonorable (Daniel 5:17–23).

For that reason, says Daniel, God sent the hand to write a message for Belshazzar. This comes in the form of four words which are either Aramaic or derived from Aramaic language: mene mene tekel [and] parsin. Mene implies counting, tekel refers to weights, and parsin means separation or splitting. Daniel explains that these words are an omen. God has assessed Babylon, counted out its days, found it inferior, and planned to divide it. The nation will be conquered; Daniel subtly changes the last word from plural to singular to highlight how similar peres is to Paras, or Persia (Daniel 5:24–28).

Belshazzar makes good on his promise to give Daniel riches and honor. No other details of his reaction are given. Whatever he might have thought or said, the prophecy is fulfilled immediately. The king dies that very night; while the Bible does not say exactly how, it’s possible the city fell to a siege which had been ongoing. Daniel’s summary is extremely brief, skipping to the next important figure in his story (Daniel 5:29–31).

Daniel 5:13-15 (NKJV, originally written in Aramaic) says ¹³So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? ¹⁴I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. ¹⁵My wise men and enchanters have tried to read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning, but they cannot do it.

We see that God got attention when the party was interupted by the message on the wall.

Daniel 5:16-17 (NKJV) says ^{16I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 17Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.}

Q1 Daniel was called. What is offered by king Belshazzar to Daniel (verse 16)? And what compensation does Daniel ask (verse 17a)? But what he say to the king (verse 17b)?

Daniel 5:18-21 (NKJV) says ¹⁸Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. He killed those he wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to spare. He honored those he wanted to honor and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace. ²⁰But when his heart and mind were puffed up with arrogance, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. ²¹He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.

Daniel stresses the difference between Belshazzar and his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar.

Q2 Who had brought Nebuchadnezzar so much glory (verse 18-19)?

Q3 What was the reason that Nebuchadnezzar fell, according to Daniel’s description (verse 20)?

Q4 What was the painful result for Nebuchadnezzar (verse 21a)?

Q5 How was Nebuchadnezzar restored (verse 21b)?

Daniel 5:22-23 (NKJV) says
²²“You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. ²³For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny!

Q6 Daniel gives king Belshazzar a lesson. What are the highlights (verses 22-23)?

Daniel 5:24-28 (NKJV) says
²⁴So God has sent this hand to write this message. ²⁵“This is the message that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. ²⁶This is what these words mean: Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. ²⁷Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. ²⁸Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

For “Parsin”, other translations call it Upharsin or Peres, where Upharsin is plural and Peres is singular.

Q7 What are the three criteria that God uses to evaluate Belshazzar’s bad morals/habits/character?

Daniel 5:29-31 (NKJV) says
²⁹Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. ³⁰That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed. ³¹And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.

Q8 What three events took place on that very day? Were Daniel’s predictions/prophesies fulfilled?