B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: Daniel 5 - Belshazzar’s Feast and the Hand Writing
on the Wall
SCRIPTURE READING: Daniel 5:1-31
GOLDEN TEXT: Daniel 5:5
1. Who was the king of Babylon at this time? (Daniel 5:1). How many people did he invite to his great feast?
Note: The events in this chapter occurred in the year 539 B.C., twenty three years after the conclusion of the events in Daniel 4.
According to an Archaeological Note in Halley’s Bible Handbook on page 344: "Until 1853 no mention of Belshazzar was found in Babylonian records; and Nabonidas (555-538 B.C.), was known to have been the last king of Babylon. .... But in 1853 an inscription was found in a cornerstone of a temple built by Nabonidas in Ur to a god, which read: "May I, Nabonidas, king of Babylon, not sin against thee. And may reverence for thee dwell in the heart of Belshazzar, my first-born, favorite son." From other inscriptions it has been learned that Nabonidas, much of the time, was in retirement outside of Babylon, and that Belshazzar was in control of the army and the government, co-regent with his father, and that it was he who surrendered to Cyrus. This explains how Daniel could be "third ruler" in the kingdom."
In verse 2 it mentions Belshazzar and then it says "his father Nebuchadnezzar". The word father is the Chaldean word ‘ab’ which could be translated as father, grandfather, or relative.
Belshazzar’s father was Nabonidas and Nebuchadnezzar was his grandfather.
In verse 10 it mentions the queen. Belshazzar was a co-regent king, the actual king was his father Nabonidas and the queen would have been his wife, which would have been Belshazzar’s mother.
2. While he tasted the wine, what did Belshazzar command to be brought in that was from the Temple that had been in Jerusalem? (Daniel 5:2).
3. What did the king and his guests do with these items from the Temple? (Daniel 5:3).
4. As the king and his guests drank the wine who did they praise? (Daniel 5:4).
5. What happened within the same hour? (Daniel 5:5).
6. Did the king’s expression, composure and demeanor change when he saw the handwriting on the wall? (Daniel 5:6). Was he frightened enough for his knees to knock?
7. Who did the king request to be brought in before him? (Daniel 5:7). What reward was offered for the person who could tell the king the interpretation of the handwriting on the wall?
8. All of the king’s wise men came in before him, but were any able to give the interpretation? (Daniel 5:8).
9. Was the king greatly troubled by all of this? (Daniel 5:9).
10. Who came into the banquet hall to give the king some advice? (Daniel 5:10).
11. What was the advice that the queen gave to the king? (Daniel 5:11). Was this man the chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers? Who was it that gave this man his position?
12. Did this man have an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, and the ability in interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas? (Daniel 5:12). Who was the king going to call for?
13. What question did the king ask Daniel? (Daniel 5:13).
14. What did the king say of Daniel? (Daniel 5:14).
15. Did the king tell Daniel that the wise men had been brought in before him, that they should read this writing and make known to him its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing? (Daniel 5:15).
16. What reward did the king offer Daniel if he could read the writing and make known the interpretation? (Daniel 5:16).
17. What was Daniel’s response regarding the gifts? (Daniel 5:17).
18. Who did Daniel say it was that gave Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom, majesty, glory and honor? (Daniel 5:18).
19. Did all nations fear the power of King Nebuchadnezzar? (Daniel 5:19).
20. Did Daniel review a little of King Nebuchadnezzar’s history of him being deposed from his throne because of his pride and arrogance? (Daniel 5:20).
21. Was King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart like a beast and was he driven from men and did he dwell among the wild animals? (Daniel 5:21).
22. Did Daniel tell Belshazzar that he also was not humble either? (Daniel 5:22).
Note: In this verse Daniel uses the phrase: "But you his son, Belshazzar." Daniel is saying that Belshazzar was related to Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar had to be the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar in order to fulfill a prophecy made by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 27:6-7.
23. Who was Belshazzar’s heart lifted against? (Daniel 5:23). Who is it that holds a person’s breath in his hand?
24. Who sent the fingers of the hand to do the writing on the wall? (Daniel 5:24).
25. What was the inscription written on the wall? (Daniel 5:25).
26. Did Daniel give the interpretation? (Daniel 5:26). What was the meaning of MENE?
27. What was the meaning of TEKEL? (Daniel 5:27).
28. What was the meaning of PERES? (Daniel 5:28).
29. What rewards did Belshazzar give to Daniel? (Daniel 5:29).
30. What happened that very night to Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans? (Daniel 5:30).
Note: It appeared that Babylon was impenetrable and couldn’t be overthrown. It was surrounded by huge walls and according to ancient historians the walls were 60 miles in perimeter and 100 feet tall. The Euphrates River flowed through the center of the city.
31. Did God prophesy that Babylon would be overthrown by a man He called by name? (Isaiah 45:1-3). What was his name? Did God say that He would open the double doors so that the gates would not shut?
Note: Cyrus was able to turn the Euphrates River before it reached the city of Babylon and when the river was low enough his armies went through the river gates and conquered Babylon. God’s prophecies were fulfilled and Babylon fell.
Scriptures
Scripture Reading:
The Writing on the Wall
(Daniel 5:1-30 NKJV) Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. {2} While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. {3} Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. {4} They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. {5} In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. {6} Then the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. {7} The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." {8} Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. {9} Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished. {10} The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. {11} "There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father; your father the king; made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. {12} "Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation." {13} Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? {14} "I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. {15} "Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. {16} "And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." {17} Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. {18} "O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. {19} "And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. {20} "But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. {21} "Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses. {22} "But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. {23} "And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. {24} "Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. {25} "And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. {26} "This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; {27} "TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; {28} "PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." {29} Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. {30} That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.
Golden Text:
Golden Text:
(Daniel 5:5 NKJV) In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.All Questions: See Scripture Reading.
31. (Isaiah 45:1-3 NKJV) "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held; To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: {2} 'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. {3} I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.