1. Nebuchadnezzar died in 563 and was succeeded by his son Evil-Marodach (Akkad. Amel-Marduk, "man of Marduk"), who released the captive Jewish king, Jehoiakin, from prison and have him a place of honor at the court (2Kgs.25:27-30).
2. But two years later Evil-Marodach was assassinated by his brother-in-law, General Neriglissar (Akkad. Nergal-shar-usur, "Nergal, protect the king!"), who had served under Nebuchadnezzar, when Jerusalem was destroyed (587-586).
3. Neriglissar died just four years later (556), and his son Labashi-marduk, who succeeded him, was murdered nine months later (556).
4. This revolt placed its leader Nabonidus (Akkad. Nabu-naid, "Nebo is exalted") on the throne.
5. He does not seem to have been related to the royal house by blood but apparently married a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar in order to legitimize his seizure of the throne.
6. He may have been a member of the wealthy merchant class, therefore being supported by the commercial interests.
7. A devoted worshipper of the moon-god, Sin (Sumerian Nanna), he was the son of a high priestess belonging to his cult.
8. Intensely interested in the history of Mesopotamia , he seems to have collected a museum of artifacts from earlier ages, consisting partly of dedicatory and building inscriptions of bygone dynasties and partly of early statutes taken from various temples throughout his dominions.
9. After securing firm control of Haran, he restored the great temple of the moon-god there and also contributed to the temple of Nanna in Ur.
10. For commercial and military advantage, he devoted much attention to North Arabia and Edom, which he conquered in 552.
11. During the last ten years of his life, he seems to have spent most of his time in Teima, and important Edomite or North Arabian capital (possibly for reasons of health), and left the central administration to the charge of his son Belshazzar in Babylon itself¾ the situation still obtaining during his final year of the Chaldean Empire, 539 BC.
12. Back in the 550s Nabonidus apparently supported the revolt of Cyrus of Ashan against his father-in-law, Astyages, king of Media.
13. But after Cyrus had taken over the control of the Medo-Persian domains and attained astonishing success against the Lydian kingdom in Asia Minor, it was inevitable the Cyrus would look south toward Mesopotamia for his next conquest, especially since Nabonidus had been an ally of King Croesus of Lydia.
14. The Medo-Persian forces soon vanquished the Babylonian troops near Opis.
15. The Nabonidus-Cyrus Chronicle, according to a corrected reading in ANET 305-6 states: "In the month of Tashritu, when Cyrus attacked the army of Akkad in Opis on the Tigris, the inhabitants of Akkad revolted, but he (Nabonidus) massacred the confused inhabitants. The 15^th day, Sippar was seized without battle, Nabonidus fled. The 16^th day, Gobryas (Ugbaru), the governore of Gutium and the army of Cyrus entered Babylon without battle."
16. Apparently Nabonidus had commanded the troops in the field, while Belshazzar headed the defense of Babylon itself.
17. Meeting with reverses, Nabonidus retreated south toward his retreat at Tema (or Teima), leaving the Persians free access to the captial.
18. Concerning this same campaign, Herodotus reported in (I.190-91): "A battle was fought at a short distance from the city, in which the Babylonians were defeated by the Persian king, whereupon they withdrew within their defenses. Here they shut themselves up and made light of his seige, having laid in store of provisions for many years in preparation against the attack."
19. Babylon was considered impregnable because of its magnificent fortifications.
20. Earlier in the same book Herodotus described its as 120 stadia , surrounded by a large moat, and defended by a wall 50 royal cubits wide and 200 royal cubits high (330 ft.), with 100 strongly fortified gates.
21. As we shall see, the Persian troops could take the city only by a surprise strategem.
22. Later on, in the reign of Darius I (522-486), Herodotus said the young Darius was compelled to subdue the Babylonians, who did not recognize his claim to the throne.
23. Since Cyrus had never dismantled Babylon’s fortifications, the besiegers faced essentially the same problem in 539.
24. Herodotus writes: "The Babylonians, however, cared not a whit for his [Darius’s] siege. Mounting upon the battlements the crowned their walls, they insulted and jeered at Darius and his might host. One even shouted to them and said, ‘Why do you sit there, Persian? Why don’t you go back to your homes? Till mules foal you will not take our city.’"
25. The same attitude may have characterized the defenders in Belshazzar’s day, especially since the city had not been stormed by invaders in over a thousand years.
26. At any rate, these besieged Babylonians were completely unconcerned about the enemy forces encamped outside their walls.
27. If the Nabonidus-Cyrus Chronicle is correct about the fall of the city taking place on the 16^th of Tishri (sometime in September), then Belshazzar’s feast must have taken place on 15 Tishri.
28. Whether it was on the young king’s birthday, or whether it was some major event in the Babylonian religious calendar, Daniel does not say.
29. The banquet was limited to the Chaldean aristocracy (1000 nobles)¾ along with the king’s wives and concubines (note that the wise men were called to solve the emergency).
30. Unkown to them, Cyrus’s resourceful commander, Ugbaru (referred to in the Chronicle as governor of Gutium), had diverted the waters of the Euphrates to an old channel dug by a previous ruler (Queen Nitocris, according to Herodotus I. 184), suddenly reducing the water level well below the river-gates.
31. Before long the Persian troops would come wading in at night and clamber up the river-gate walls before the guards could respond.

VERSE 1 Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles (@l;a] yhiAnb'r>b.r;l. br; ~x,l. db;[] aK'l.m; rC;av;l.Be [proper noun Belshazzar; "Bel has proteced the king" + noun m.s.w/art. melek + Peal perf.3.m.s. abad make; "held" + noun m.s.abs. lechem feast; in Heb used for food + adj.m.s. abs. rab great + prep. l w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. rabreban lord, noble + adj.s.abs. alap a thousand], and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand [htev' ar'm.x; aP'l.a; lbeq\l'w> [waw w/prep. l w/prep. qabel before + adj.s.w/art. alap a thousand + noun m.s.w/art. chamar wine; used similar to the rare Hebrew chemer; also used for the wine to be given for the temple offering (libations) in Ezr.6:9; 7:22 + Peal part.m.s.abs. shetah drink; cp. mishteh banquet/feast]).

VERSE 2 When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem (~l,v.Wrybi yDI al'k.yhe-!mi yhiWba] rC;n<d>k;Wbn> qPen>h; yDI aP's.k;w> ab'h]D; ynEam'l. hy"t'y>h;l. ar'm.x; ~[ej.Bi rm;a] rC;av;l.Be [proper noun Belshazzar + Peal perf.3.m.s. amar command; "gave orders" + prep. b w/noun m.s.abs. te-em taste + noun m.s.w/art. chamar wine + prep. l w/Haphel infin.constr. atah come; bring + noun m.p.constr. ma-an vessel + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. kesap silver + rel di that + Haphel perf.3m.s. nepaq come forth "had taken" + proper noun Neb + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abba father + prep. min from + noun m.s.w/art. hekal temple + rel di which + prep. b w/proper noun Jerusalem], so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them [Hten"xel.W Htel'g>ve yhiAnb'r>b.r;w> aK'l.m; !AhB. !ATv.yIw> [waw w/Peal impf.3m.p. shetah drink + prep. b w/3m.p.suff. "from them" + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + waw w/noun m.p.w/3m.s.suff. rabreban noble + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. shegal king’s wife; used only in the plural in Dan.5:3,23 + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. lechenah concubine]).

VERSE 3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple (al'k.yhe-!mi WqPin>h; yDI ab'h]d; ynEam' wytiy>h; !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. edayin then + Haphel perf.3m.p. attah come; bring + noun m.p.constr. ma-an vessel + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + rel di that + Haphel perf.3.m.p. nepaq go out + prep. min from + noun m.s.w/art. hekal temple], the house of God which was in Jerusalem [~l,v.Wrybi yDI ah'l'a/ tybe-yDI [rel di + noun m.s.constr. bayith house + noun m.s.w/art. elah God; word used for God in BA + rel di which + prep. be w/proper noun Jerusalem]; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them [Hten"xel.W Htel'g>ve yhiAnb'r>b.r;w> aK'l.m; !AhB. wyTiv.aiw> [waw w/def.art. w/Peal perf.3m.p. shetah drink + prep be w/3m.p.suff. "from them" + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. rabreban noble + noun f.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. shgal king’s wife + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. lechanah concubine]).

VERSE 4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone (art. w/Peal perf.3m.p. chetah drink + noun m.s.w/art. chamar wine + waw w/Pael perf.3.m.p. whebach laud, praise + prep. l w/noun m.p.constr. elah god + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. kesaph silver + noun m.s.w/art. nechash copper/bronze + noun m.s.w/art. parzel iron + noun m.s.w/art. a wood + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. eben stone]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-4

1. This chapter records the event is in the immediate background to the fall of the Babylonian Empire to the Persians.
2. The very last official event on the calendar of the Chaldean rulers was this state-sponsored banquet in the palace of the last king to sit on the throne, Belshazzar.
3. He was a descendent of Nebuchadnezzar through one of his daughters.
4. The guests of honor (sic) were the ruling elite of 1000.
5. In attendance were wives and concubines and of course the many servants present.
6. The time had come for the offering of toasts and libations to the gods of the pantheon.
7. Instead of exercising the proper concern for the danger at the very gates of the city, the leadership was engaged in a glorified drinking party.
8. Wine flowed like water (abuse of one of God’s gifts) and the king’s inhibitions ran low.
9. Into his intoxicated brain came the idea to bring out the gold and silver vessels that had sat all these years in the temple treasury after having been plundered by Nebuchadnezzar 46 years earlier 586 to 539).
10. This decision on the part of Belshazzar indicates the total lack of appreciation for the past and a total disregard for the history of his grandfather.
11. It shows how rapidly people forget the past that could have at least helped them to show discretion with regard to the present.
12. But Babylon had grown fat and indifferent to the things that had made them great.
13. The king showed no respect for the historical record and the example of his ancestor.
14. He ordered that these sacred vessels (they were still sacred even though they had no been used in sacred worship for almost ½ a century) be brought into the great hall to toast the gods of Babylon.
15. Belshazzar began to regale his guests by mocking Yahweh, whose reputation Nebuchadnezzar’s decrees and proclamations had honored a few decades before.
16. He praised Marduk, Bel, Nebo, Isthar, and the pantheon at large.
17. He drank from the sacred vessels and his guests followed suit.
18. The pagan gods are described from the Hebrew perspective as "the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone."
19. To the Hebrews these materials were all the substance the pagan gods possessed; except a figments of pagan imagination.
20. They were in a word, a fiction.
21. For the citizens of Babylon this is what their leadership sank to behind closed doors.
22. The king had glorified himself and he totally laced the qualities that made his grandfather great.
23. He couldn’t even keep the Persians from the gates and was left the security of Babylon to subordinates.
24. He should have been engaged in talks designed to eliminate the threat.
25. But the time for self-glorification had come to and end!

VERSE 5 Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace (aK'l.m; yDI al'k.yhe lt;k.-yDI ar'yGI-l[; aT'v.r;b.n< lbeq\l' !b't.k'w> vn"a/-dy: yDI !['B.c.a, Îhq'p;n>Ð ¿Wqp;n>À ht'[]v;-HB; [prep. be w/3m.s.suff + noun f.s.w/art. sha-ah moment = "Suddenly" + Peal perf.3.m.p. nepaq go out; "emerged" + noun f.p.abs. esba finger + rel di + noun f.s.abs. yad hand + noun m.s.abs anash man + waw w/Peal part.f.p.abs. ketab write + prep. l w/prep. qabel before; "opposite" + noun f.s.w/art. nebrashta lampstand + prep. al on + noun m.s.w/art. gir plaster; lime plaster + rel di + noun m.abs. ketal wall + noun m.s.w/art. hekal palace, temple + rel. di + noun m.s.w/art. melek], and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing [hb't.k' yDI hd'y> sP; hzEx' aK'l.m;W [waw w/noun m.s.w/art. melek + Peal part.m.s.abs. chazah see + noun m.s.abs. pas palm of the hand + noun f.s.w/art. yad hand + rel di + Peal part.f.s.abs. ketab write]).

VERSE 6 Then the king's face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him (HNEWlh]b;y> yhinOyO[r;w> yhiAnv. yhiwOyzI aK'l.m; !yId;a/ [adv. edayin then + noun m.s.w/art. melek + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. ziw brightness; "face" + Peal perf.3m.p.w/3.m.s.suff. shanah change; "grew pale" + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. ra-yon thought + Pael impf.3.m.p.w/3m.s.suff. behal alarm], and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together [!v'q.n" ad'l. aD' HteB'kur>a;w> !yIr;T'v.mi Hcer>x; yrej.qiw> [waw w/noun m.p.constr. qetar knee joint; "hip" + noun m.s.w/art. w/3m.s.suff. harats loin, hip joint + Hithpael part.m.p.abs. shera loosen + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. arkubah derivation uncertain; "knees"; vb means to mount/ride + adj.f.s.abs. da this + prep. l w/adj.f.s.absl da this + Peal part.f.p.abs. neqash knock (of knees)]).

VERSE 7 The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners (aY"r;z>g"w> ÎyaeD'f.K;Ð ¿ayED'f.K;À aY"p;v.a'l. hl'['h,l. lyIx;B. aK'l.m; areq' [Peal part.m.s.abs. qera call + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + prep. b w/noun m.s.abs. chayil strength; army; "aloud" + prep. l w/Haphel infin.constr. alal come in + prep. l w/noun m.p.w/art. ashaph conjurer + noun w/art. Kashdai Chaldean; here for the priest class + waw w/Peal part.m.p.abs. w/art. gezar cut; "diviners"]).

The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, "Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom (jl;v.yI at'Wkl.m;b. yTil.t;w> HreaW>c;-l[; ab'h]d;-ydI Îak'ynIm.h;w>Ð ¿ak'n>AMh;w>À vB;l.yI lb,b' ymeyKix;l. rm;a'w> aK'l.m; hnE[' [Peal part.m.s.abs. anah answer + noun m.s.w/art. melek + waw w/Peal part.m.s.abs. amar say + prep. l w/noun m.p.constr. chakkim wise men + proper noun Babel + rel. di + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.abs. anash man + rel di + Peal impf.3m.s. qera read aloud + noun m.s.w/art. ketab a writing + adj.m.s. denah this + waw w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. peshar interpreation + Pael impf.3m.s.w/1c.s.suff. hawah explain + noun m.s.w/art. argewan purple + Peal impf.3m.s. lebesh be clothed + noun m.s.w/art. hamnika necklace + rel di + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + prep. al upon + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s. sawwar neck + waw w/adj.m.abs. telat third + prep be w/noun f.s.w/art malku kingdom + Peal impf.3m.s. shelet have power/authority])."

VERSE 8 Then all the king's wise men came in (aK'l.m; ymeyKix; lKo Î!yLi['Ð ¿!ylil]['À !yId;a/ [adv. edayin then + Peal part.m.p.abs. alal come in + noun m.s.abs. kol all + noun m.p.constr. chakkim wise men + noun m.s.w/art. melek], but they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king [aK'l.m;l. h['d'Ahl. ÎHrev.piWÐ ¿ar'v.piWÀ areq.mil. ab't'K. !ylih]k'-al'w> [waw w/neg la + Peal part.m.p.abs. kehal be able + noun m.s.w/art. ketab writing + prep. l w/Peal infin.constr. qera read aloud + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. peshar interpretation + prep. l w/Haphel infin.constr. yeda know; "make known" + prep. l w/noun m.s.w/art. melek]).

VERSE 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed (lh;B't.mi ayGIf; rC;av;l.be aK'l.m; !yId;a/ [adv. edayin then + noun m.s.w/art. melek + proper noun Belshazzar + adj.m.s.abs. sega grow great + Hithpaal part.m.s.abs. behal alarm], his face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed [!yviB.T;v.mi yhiAnb'r>b.r;w> yhiAl[] !yIn:v' yhiwOyzIw> [waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ziw brightness; "face" + Peal part.m.abs. shanah change + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. rabreban noble + Hithpall part.m.p.abs. shebash confuse; "were perplexed"]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 5-9

1. The party had been going on for hours and the guest were feeling no pain as they were regaled with the young king’s humor and bravado.
2. Suddenly without any prelude whatsoever a silent hand appeared and began writing on the palace wall.
3. The king was probably one of the 1^st to notice it.
4. Gradually the great hall became deathly silent.
5. And, just as suddenly as the hand appeared, the hand vanished, leaving just four highly visible words on the wall.
6. In great consternation the besotted Belshazzar stared at the words, his face ashen and his knees knocking together.
7. The music stopped and the dancing girls stood motionless; the service people were transfixed as well.
8. All activity ceased and the party atmosphere vanished as did the hand.
9. Only the glaring cryptic message was the focus of every person in the hall.
10. Clearly it was a portent of something that was probably not good!
11. The sacrilegious antinomian setting attested to that.
12. The king soon sent for the wise men to appear and unravel the message.
13. This took some time as the revelers waited nervously.
14. Whether the characters were in symbols unlike any known to the wise men, the text does not indicate.
15. Certainly there is no indication that when the king asked Daniel to translate them, he did so from some unknown language, though the English reader may gain that impression.
16. Later on Daniel read them off as Aramaic, the lingua franca of the capital.
17. Perhaps the words, thought written in standard Aramaic characters, simply did not convey any intelligible meaning.
18. At any rate the diviners and cipher experts argued among themselves and finally came up with nothing (v.8).
19. This in spite of the great inducement for decoding the words, and a top spot in the government.
20. Belshazzar could offer nothing higher than third ranking in the government, since he himself was a viceroy under his father, Nabonidus.
21. Once again, as it was in Nebuchadnezzar’s day, the wise men of Babylon were unable (or unwilling) to interpret the supernatural message.
22. This further tormented the king as noted by the deterioration of this facial composure.
23. He was from the moment he saw it he was a basket case.
24. His nervous system was in a state of semi-paralysis.
25. His nobles were affected with mental paralysis.

VERSE 10 The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles (ÎtL;[;Ð ¿tl;l][;À ay"T.v.mi tybel. yhiAnb'r>b.r;w> aK'l.m; yLemi lbeq\l' at'K.l.m; [noun f.s.w/art. malkah queen + prep. L part. Qabel front; because + noun f.p.constr. millah word + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. rabreban noble + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr. bayith house; "hall" + noun m.s.w/art. mishteh banquet + Peal perf.3f.s. alal come in]; the queen spoke and said, "O king, live forever [yyIx/ !ymil.['l. aK'l.m; tr,m,a]w: at'K.l.m; tn"[] [Peal perf.3f.s. anah answer + noun f.s.w/art. malkah queen + waw w/Peal perf.3f.s. amar say + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.abs. alam perpetuity + Peal imper.m.s. chayah live]! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale [ANT;v.yI-la; %yw"yzIw> %n"Ay[.r; %Wlh]b;y>-la; [neg. al + pael impf.3m.p.w/2m.s.suff. behal alarm + noun m.s.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. ra-yon thought + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. ziw brightness; "face" + neg. al + hithpaal impf.3.m.s.juss. shanah change; "be pale"]).

VERSE 11 "There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods (HBe !yviyDIq; !yhil'a/ x;Wr yDI %t'Wkl.m;B. rb;G> yt;yai (adv itay there is + noun m.s.abs. gebar man + prep b w/noun f.s.constr. w/2m.s.suff. malku kingdom + rel di + noun both s.abs. ruach spirit + noun m.p.abs. elah god + adj.m.p.abs. qaddish holy + prep beth w/3m.s.suff.; "in whom"]; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him [HBe tx;k;T.v.hi !yhil'a/-tm;k.x'K. hm'k.x'w> Wnt'l.k.f'w> Wryhin: %Wba] ymeAyb.W [waw w/prep beth w/noun m.p.constr. yom day + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abba father + noun f.s.abs. nahiru illumination + waw w/noun f.s.abs. sakletanu insight; from "consider/contemplate" + waw w/noun f.s.abs. chokmah wisdom + prep kaph w/noun f.s.constr. chokmah wisdom + noun m.p.abs. elah god + hithpeel perf.3f.s. shakach forget; "were found" + prep beth w/3m.s.suff. "in him]).

And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners (aK'l.m; %Wba] Hmeyqih] !yrIz>G" !yaiD'f.K; !ypiv.a' !yMijur>x; br; %Wba] rC;n<d>k;bun> aK'l.m;W [waw w/noun m.s.w/art. melek king + proper noun Neb + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abba father + adj.m.s.abs. rab great; "chief" + noun m.p.abs. chatom chartom magician-astrologer; perhaps an Egyptian loanword through Hebrew + noun m.p.abs. ashap conjurer; similar to BH + noun gentilic abs. Kashadai Chaldean; caste of priest + peal part.m.p.abs. gezar cut, determine; "diviners" + Haphel perf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. qum stand; "appointed" + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abba father + noun m.s.w/art. melek king]).

VERSE 12 "This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar (rC;av;j.l.Be Hmev.-~f' aK'l.m;-yDI laYEnId'B. HBe tx;k;T.v.hi !yrIj.qi arev'm.W !d'yxia] ty:w"x]a;w: !ymil.x, rV;p;m. Wnt'l.k.f'w> [D;n>m;W hr'yTiy: x;Wr yDI lbeq\-lK' [noun m.s.constr. kol all + part. qabel because + rel di + noun both s.abs. ruach spirit + adj.f.s.abs. yattir surpassing, extraordinary + waw w/noun m.s.abs. manda knowledge + waw w/noun f.s.abs. sakletanu insight + pael part.m.s.abs. peshar interpret + noun m.p.abs. chelem dream + waw w/noun f.s.constr. achawayah explanation + noun m.p.abs. achidah riddle; cognate to Heb chidah + waw w/pael part.m.s.abs. shera lossen; "solving" + noun m.p.abs. qetar knee joint; difficult questions + hithpeel perf.3f.s.s shakach forget; "was found" + prep. beth w/3m.s.suff. + proper noun Daniel + rel di + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + peal perf.3m.s. shum name + proper noun Belteshazzar]).

Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation (hwEx]h;y> hr'v.piW yreq.t.yI laYEnID' ![;K. [adv ke-an now + proper noun Daniel + hithpeel impf.3m.s.juss. qera call; "summoned" + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. peshar interpretation + haphel impf.3m.s. chawah explain; "declare"])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 10-12

1. Before examining this part of the episode, we need to revisit the miracle of the handwriting on the wall.
2. Clearly, the king saw, not the "back" of the hand but rather the "palm" of the hand.
3. This is clear from the word choice in verse 5.
4. The Hebrew noun is sP; which means "palm."
5. His initial view was that of "fingers" emerging and writing in the light of the lampstand affixed to the plaster wall.
6. For this to be normal, which is with the palm facing down as in regular writing, the fingers and palm had to appear on the opposite side of the wall.
7. This means the wall had to be made translucent (admitting and reflecting light) at least in the area of the inscription.
8. So the king did not see a severed hand, rather he saw fingers through the wall as well as the palm of a man’s hand.
9. The fingers did the writing, as there is no mention of a writing instrument.
10. The inscription left on the wall was therefore written backwards as if trying to read something someone had written on the other side of a glass pane.
11. This, in part, explains the difficulty the "experts" had with respect to even translating the text (cf. v.8) let alone interpreting it!
12. All this let the king a nervous wreck.
13. Word (probably through servants) got back to the queen mother (Nabonidus’ wife?), who in all probability was Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter.
14. She, then, serves as a "useful idiot."
15. As she had not considered the possibility that the writing contained bad news.
16. At least Belshazzar looked upon the event as a bad omen.
17. Her greeting to the king, "O king, live forever," unwittingly mocks the setting.
18. Furthermore, her words of consolation in verse 10 were not in reality what the dire situation inside the banquet hall and outside the gates of the city called for.
19. She coddles this idiot of a king to the very end!
20. She seeks to protect him from the harsh realities of his dissolute person.
21. In fact, his shaken demeanor exactly fit the situation at hand.
22. The king was about to lose both his life (and soul) and kingdom, and here is his mother telling him everything is okay!
23. She proceeds to inform him of the existence of a man in the kingdom whom was eminently qualified to unravel the mystery of the cryptic text.
24. Here is the "useful idiot" part.
25. She knew of Daniel and his supernatural abilities from her days as a young girl in Nebuchadnezzar’s court.
26. After the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel’s importance to the royal court declined rapidly.
27. And for the next 23 years he was largely ostracized from the affairs of state.
28. During those years he moved into his 80’s.
29. Those were years of instability in the leadership of the empire.
30. The lessons of the past were lost on the new leaders who were only interested in their own aggrandizement.
31. Yet Daniel remained faithful to the God of his fathers.
32. She introduced the aged Jewish seer as one truly inspired "of the holy gods."
33. The queen illustrates one who recognized the value in Daniel to her father but she herself remained uncommitted with respect to the God he served.
34. She echoes Nebuchadnezzar’s own appraisal of him half a century earlier (4:8).
35. Because of Daniel’s extraordinary abilities, she informs her son, Nebuchadnezzar promoted him over the cadre of experts within the department of state.
36. This valuable individual Belshazzar should have known about had he been a serious student of his grandfather’s illustrious reign!
37. To her credit she emphasizes the fact that it was Belshazzar’s "father" Nebuchadnezzar who made Daniel "chief" of the wise men of Babylon.
38. She states this fact three times in v.11 ("your father"; "King Nebuchadnezzar your father"; "your father the king").
39. One can see that she was very much attune to the reputation and exploits of this Daniel, "whom the king named Belteshazzar."
40. She goes to special lengths in verses 11 & 12 to describe Daniel’s prowess in "knowledge, and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving difficult problems."
41. This is quite a sell considering her apparent unwillingness to face the reality of the current crisis.
42. Deep down she knew there wasn’t anyone who could in any way match her father Nebuchadnezzar.
43. The political and spiritual answers were right there before any who wanted to know.
44. It is sad when individuals are so close yet so far from the person or persons who can show them the way, both for this life and the one to come.

VERSE 13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king (aK'l.m; ~d'q\ l[;hu laYEnID' !yId;aBe [prep beth w/adv. Edayin then + proper noun Daniel + hophal perf.3m.s. alal come in + part. Qadam before + noun m.s.w/art. melek king]).

The king spoke and said to Daniel (laYEnId'l. rm;a'w> aK'l.m; hnE[' [peal part.m.s.abs. anah answer + noun m.s.w/art. melek + waw w/peal part.m.s.abs. amar say + prep lamedh w/proper noun Daniel], "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah [dWhy>-!mi ybia; aK'l.m; ytiy>h; yDI dWhy> yDI at'Wlg" ynEB.-!mi-yDI laYEnId' aWhÎ-T.n>a;Ð ¿hT'n>a;À [pro.indep.2m.s. antah you + pro.indep.3m.s. hi he; "Are you that?" + proper noun Daniel + rel. di + prep min from + noun m.p.constr. bar son + noun f.s.w/art. gelu exile + rel di + proper noun Jehudah + rel di + haphel perf.3m.s. atah come; bring + noun m.s.w/art. melek + noun m.s.constr.w/1c.s.suff. abba father + prep min from + proper noun Judah])?

VERSE 14 "Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you (%B' !yhil'a/ x;Wr yDI Î%l'[]Ð ¿%yIl;[]À t[em.viw> [waw w/peal perf.1c.s. shama hear + prep al w/2m.s.suff.; "about you" + rel di + noun both s.abs. ruach spirit + noun m.p.abs. elah god + prep beth w/2m.s.suff. "in you"], and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you [%B' tx;k;T.v.hi hr'yTiy: hm'k.x'w> Wnt'l.k.f'w> Wryhin:w> [waw w/noun f.s.abs. nahiru illumination, insight + waw w/noun f.s.abs. sakletanu insight + waw w/noun f.s.abs. chokmah wisdom + adj.f.s.abs. yattir pre-eminent, surpassing + hithpeel perf.3f.s. shakach forget; "have been found" + prep beth w/2m.s.suff.]).

VERSE 15 "Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me (aY"p;v.a' aY"m;yKix; ym;d'q' WL[;hu ![;k.W [waw w/adv ke-an now + hophal perf.3m.p. alal come in + part w/1c.s.suff. dadam before + noun m.p.w/art. chakkim wise men + noun m.p.w/art. ashap conjurer] that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me [ynIt;[ud'Ahl. Hrev.piW !Arq.yI hn"d> hb't'k.-yDI [rel di + noun m.s.w/art. ketab writing + adj.m.s.abs. denah this + peal impf.3m.p. qera call; "read" + waw w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. peshar interpretation + prep lamedh w/haphel infin.constr.w/1c.s.suff. yeda know], but they could not declare the interpretation of the message [hy"w"x]h;l. at'L.mi-rv;P. !ylih]k'-al'w> [waw w/neg la + peal part.m.p.abs. kehal be able + noun m.s.abs. peshar interpretation + noun f.s.w/art. millah thing; "message" + prep lamedh w/haphel infin.constr. hawah explain; declare, explain]).

VERSE 16 "But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems (arev.mil. !yrIj.qiw> rv;p.mil. !yrIv.Pi ÎlWKytiÐ ¿lk;WtÀ-yDI Î%l'[]Ð ¿%yIl;[]À t[em.vi hn"a]w: [waw w/pro.1c.s. anah I + peal perf.1c.s. shema hear + prep al w/2m.s.suff.; "about you" + rel di + peal impf.2m.s. yekil be abel + noun m.p.abs. peshar + prep lamedh w/peal infin.constr. peshar interpret + waw w/noun m.p.abs. qetar knee joint; difficult questions; cognate idea is to tie a knot + prep lamedh w/peal infin.constr. shera lossen; "solve"]).

Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me (ynIt;[ud'Ahl. Hrev.piW areq.mil. ab't'K. ÎlWkTiÐ ¿lk;WTÀ !he ![;K. [adv ke-an now + part hen if + peal impf.2m.s. yekil be able + noun m.s.w/art. ketab writing; "inscription" + prep lamedh w/peal infin.constr. qera read aloud + waw w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. peshar interpretation + prep lamedh w/haphel infin.constr.w/1c.s.suff. yeda know], you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck [%r'aW>c;-l[; ab'h]d;-ydI Îak'ynIm.h;w>Ð ¿ak'n>AMh;w>À vB;l.ti an"w"G>r>a; [noun m.s.w/art. argwan purple, scarlet + peal impf.2m.s. lebesh be clothed + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. hamnika necklace; Persian loan word + rel di + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + prep al upon + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. saww-ar neck], and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom [jl;v.Ti at'Wkl.m;b. aT'l.t;w> [waw w/adj.m.s.abs. telat third + prep beth w/noun f.s.w/art. malku kingdom + peal impf.2m.s. shelet have authority])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 13-16

1. Belshazzar summoned Daniel and met him, perhaps for the first time.
2. He questions him with respect to his history and race.
3. He plays the role of the master but it is Daniel that holds all the cards!
4. In verse 14 he seems to take credit for finding Daniel and recites what the now absent queen mother told him.
5. His pride and bravado have been smashed yet he tries to keep up appearances.
6. The king must ask for help and admits that his wise men are useless in the face of the writing on the wall that mocks his pride and stupidity.
7. He is compelled to admit that the wise men of Babylon are useless to him.
8. Like Nebuchadnezzar before him, he faces the reality of the spiritual bankruptcy of the vaunted wise ones.
9. He must defer to a man who represents a completely alien spirituality.
10. From the moment the Persians appeared at the gates he was under the sin unto death.
11. All he has is a position that was in forfeiture.
12. He plays the fool to the last drop.
13. Unlike his grandfather he is incapable of moving forward in his eternal quest for answers that can save him from a far greater loss than loss of kingship and life.
14. All of this worked for his ill.
15. Better he had never been born.
16. He repeats his hollow offer of a position of third ruler in the empire with its external insignias.
17. He is like a pauper offering riches.

VERSE 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king (aK'l.m; ~d'q\ rm;a'w> laYEnId' hnE[' !yId;aBe [prep beth w/adv edayin then + peal part.m.s.abs. anah answer + proper noun Daniel + waw w/peal part.m.s.abs. amar say + part qadam before + noun m.s.w/art. melek king], "Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else [bh; !r'x\a'l. %t'y"B.z>b'n>W !y"w>h,l, %l' %t'n"T.m; [noun f.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. mattena gift + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + peal impf.3f.p.juss. hawa come to pass; "keep" + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. nebizbah reward + prep lamedh w/adj.m.s.abs. orchan another]; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him [HNE[id>Aha] ar'v.piW aK'l.m;l. areq.a, ab't'K. ~r;B. [part beram nevertheless + noun m.s.w/art. ketab writing + peal impf.1c.s. qera read aloud + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.w/art. melek + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. peshar interpretation + haphel impf.1c.s.w/3m.s.suff. yeda know]).

ANALYSIS: VERSE 17

1. Daniel knew that Belshazzar’s honors would be short-lived but more to the point is the fact he did not want anything to do with this moral and spiritual reprobate.
2. He insults him and tells him to keep his "gifts" and give his "rewards" to someone else.
3. Daniel had passed the obscurity test and now made the most of the setting God had for him.
4. Daniel was especially incensed by what he observed in this hall of shame.
5. The empire he had faithfully served Nebuchadnezzar under was but a shadow of its past dynamic.
6. He wanted no part of it and so disclaimed all promotions.
7. There is a time to accept gifts and a time not to.

VERSE 18 "O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father (%Wba] rC;n<d>k;bun>li bh;y> hr'd>h;w> ar'q'ywI at'Wbr>W at'Wkl.m; Îha'L'[iÐ ¿ay"L'[iÀ ah'l'a/ aK'l.m; ÎT.n>a;Ð ¿hT'n>a;À [pro.2m.s. anta you + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + noun m.s.w/art. elah God + adj.m.s.w/art. illay Most High, Highest + noun f.s.w/art. malku sovereignty + waw w/noun f.s.w/art. rebu greatness; "grandeur" + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. yeqar honor + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. hadar majesty, honor + peal perf.2m.s. yehab give; "granted" + prep lamedh w/proper noun Neb + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. abba father]).

VERSE 19 "Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him (Hle-bh;y> yDI at'Wbr>-!miW [waw w/prep min w/noun f.s.w/art. rebu granduer, greatness + rel di which + peal perf.3m.s. yehab give; "bestowed" + prep al upon w/3m.s.suff.], all the peoples, nations and men of every language feared and trembled before him [yhiAmd'q\-!mi !ylix]d'w> Î!y[iy>z"Ð ¿!y[ia]z"À Awh] aY"n:V'liw> aY"m;au aY"m;m.[; lKo [noun m.s.abs. kol all + noun m.p.w/art. am people + noun f.p.w/art. ummah nation + waw w/noun f.p.w/art. lishshan tongue, language + peal perf.3m.p. hasa come to pass + peal part.m.p.abs. zua fear + waw w/peal part.m.p.abs. dechal fear; "trembled" + prep min + part qadam before]; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive [axem; hw"h] abec' hw"h]-ydIw> hw"h]-ydIw> ljeq' aw"h] abec' hw"h]-yDI [rel di + peal perf.3m.s. hawa come to pass; "whomever" + peal part.m.s.abs. tseba desire + peal perf.3m.s. hawa come to pass + peal part.m.s.abs. qetal kill + waw w/rel di + peal perf.3m.s. hawa come to pass + peal part.m.s.abs. tsebas desire + peal perf.3m.s hawa come to pass + aphel partm.s.abs. haya live]; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled [lyPiv.m; hw"h] abec' hw"h]-ydIw> ~yrIm' hw"h] abec' hw"h]-ydIw> [waw w/rel di + peal perf.3m.s. hawa come to pass; "whomever" + peal part.m.s.abs. tsebas desire + peal perf.3m.s. hawa come to pass + aphel part.m.s.abs. rum rise + waw w/rel di + peal perf.3m.s. hawa come to pass + peal part.m.s.abs. tsebas desire + peal perf.3m.s. hawa come to pass + aphel part.m.s. shapel be low, be humbled]).

VERSE 20 "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly (hd'z"h]l; tp;q.Ti HxeWrw> Hbeb.li ~rI ydIk.W [waw w/prep kaph w/rel di; literally: "and according to this" + peal perf.3m.s. rum rise + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. lebab heart + waw w/noun both s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ruach spirit + peal perf.3f.s. teqep grow strong + prep lamedh w/haphel infin.constr. zud be presumptuous; "that he behaved arrogantly"], he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him [HNEmi WyDI[.h, hr'q'ywI HteWkl.m; aser>K'-!mi tx;n>h' [hophal perf.3m.s nechet descend; "was deposed" + prep min from + noun m.s.abs. korse throne; like Heb kisse + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. malku royalty + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. yeqar honor; "glory" + haphel perf.3m.p. adah pass on; "taken away" + prep min w/3m.s.suff.]).

VERSE 21 "He was also driven away from mankind (dyrIj. av'n"a] ynEB.-!miW [waw w/prep min + noun m.p.constr. bar son + noun m.s.w/art. anash man + peil perf.3m.s. terad chase away; like Heb tarad], and his heart was made like that of beasts [ÎwyWIv;Ð ¿ywIv.À at'w>yxe-~[i Hbeb.liw> [waw w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. lebab heart + prep im with + noun f.s.w/art. chesa beast + peil perf.3m.s. shewah become like], and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys [HreAdm. aY"d;r'[]-~[iw> [waw w/part im with + noun m.p.w/art. arad wild donkey; cp. Job.39:5 + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. medor dwelling place]).

He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven ([B;j;c.yI Hmev.GI aY"m;v. lJ;miW HNEWm[]j;y> !yrIAtk. aB'f.[i [noun m.s.w/art. asab grass + prep kaph w/noun m.p.abs. tor young bull + pael impf.3m.s.s te-em feed + waw w/prep min w/noun m.s.abs. tal dew + noun m. dual w/art. shemayin heaven + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff geshem body + hithpaal impf.3m.s. seba wet, dip; "drenched"] until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes [ÎHl;[]Ð ¿HyEl;[]À ~yqeh'y> hBec.yI yDI-!m;l.W av'n"a] tWkl.m;B. Îha'L'[iÐ ¿ay"L'[iÀ ah'l'a/ jyLiv;-yDI [d;y>-yDI d[; [part ad until + rel di + peal perf.3m.s. yeda know + rel di + adj.m.s.abs. shllit authority; "ruler" + noun m.s.w/art. elah God + adj.m.s.w/art. illay Most High + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr. malku "realm" + noun m.s.w/art. anash man + waw w/prep lamedh w/interrog man + rel di = "whomever" + peal impf.3m.s. tsebas desire + haphel impf.3m.s. qum rise; "sets over" + prep al w/3m.s.suff. "over it"]).

VERSE 22 "Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this (T'[.d;y> hn"D>-lk' yDI lbeq\-lK' %b'b.li T.l.Pev.h; al' rC;av;l.Be HreB. ÎT.n>a;w>Ð ¿hT'n>a;w>À [waw w/pro.2m.s. anta you + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bar son + proper noun Belshazzar + neg la + haphel perf.2m.s. shapel be low; "humbled" + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. lebab heart + noun m.s.constr. kol all + part qabel before + rel di + noun m.s.constr. kol + adj.m.s.abs. dena this + peal perf.2m.s. yeda know]),

VERSE 23 but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven (T'm.m;Art.hi aY"m;v.-arem' l[;w> [waw w/part al over; "against" + non m.s.abs. mareh lord + noun m. dual w/art. shemayin heaven + hithpolel perf.2m.s rum "exalted yourself"]; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them [!AhB. !yIt;v' ar'm.x; %t'n"xel.W %t'l'g>ve Î%n"b'r>b.r;w>Ð ¿%yIn:b'r>b.r;w>À ÎT.n>a;w>Ð ¿hT'n>a;w>À Î%m'd'q'Ð ¿%yIm;d'q'À wytiy>h; Htey>b;-ydI aY"n:am'l.W [waw w/prep lamedh w/noun m.p./art. ma-an vessel + rel di + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bayit house; "His house" + haphel perf.3m.p. atah come; bring + part qadam before + waw w/pro.2m.s. antah you + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. rabreban noble + noun f.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. shegal king’s wife + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. lechenah concubine + noun m.s.w/art. chamar wine + peal part.m.p.abs. shetah drink + prep beth w/3m.p.suff.]; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand [T'x.B;v; !y[id>y" al'w> !y[im.v'-al'w> !yIz:x'-al' yDI an"b.a;w> a['a' al'z>r>p; av'x'n> ab'h]d;w>-aP's.k; yhel'alew> [waw w/prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr. elah god + noun m.s.w/art. kesap silver + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + noun m.s.w/art. nechash bronze + noun m.s.w/art. parzel iron + noun m.s. w/art. a wood + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. eben stone + rel di + neg la + peal part.m.p.abs. chazah see + waw w/neg la + peal part.m.p.ab.s shema hear + waw w/neg la + peal part.m.p.abs. yeda know; "understand" + pael perf.2m.s. shebach laud, praise]).

But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified (T'r>D;h; al' Hle %t'x'r>ao-lk'w> HdeyBi %t'm.v.nI-yDI ah'l'alew> [waw w/prep lamedh w/noun m.s.w/art. elah God + rel di + noun f.s.const.w/2m.s.suff. nishmah breath; only here in Daniel; same has Heb "breath of lives" + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yad hand + waw w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun f.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. arach way, course of life + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. him + neg la + pael perf.2m.s. chadar glorify]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 18-23

1. Daniel prefaced his interpretation of the inscription with a homily declaring the reason for judgment upon the king and his kingdom.
2. He begins by reviewing the fairly recent history of Nebuchadnezzar in being humbled by God and the happy outcome of that experience.
3. Firstly, he makes mention of the One who bestowed upon Belshazzar’s grandfather "sovereignty, grandeur, and glory, and honor (v.18).
4. The "Most High God" is clearly not the God of the Babylonians but the true and living God of the Hebrew race.
5. It is the God that Belshazzar has rejected and dishonored.
6. Belshazzar surely had heard of his exploits from an early age but chose not to regard His greatness and grace.
7. Nebuchadnezzar’s greatness (or "grandeur") was of such a kind, Daniel goes on to report in v.19, that the nations far and wide feared him because he had life and death power over the peoples under his sway.
8. His word was final and his will carried sure reward and punishments upon those he ruled.
9. All this the Most High "bestowed" upon this man.
10. Yet, Daniel reminds the young monarch, Nebuchadnezzar let this go to his head.
11. Pride and presumption became his besetting sin.
12. He sinned in the face of hard evidence he possessed about the surpassing greatness of the God of the Hebrews.
13. Daniel does not make specific mention of the evidence Nebuchadnezzar had with respect to the true and living God (chaps. 2 & 3).
14. For this sin God removed "his royal throne" and stripped him of his kingly "glory" (v.20).
15. In a series of five statements concerning the fate of Nebuchadnezzar Daniel reviews the fall and punishment of the king (v.21).
16. He mentions his banishment from human association; his mental insanity; his association with "wild donkeys"; his diet of grass/herbage; and, his exposure to the elements.
17. The mention of the "wild donkeys" adds a detail not seen in chap.4.
18. This debasing condition, he concludes in his historical sketch, was until such time as Nebuchadnezzar was willing to acknowledge the Most High and His sovereignty over the political realm.
19. In verses 22 & 23 Daniel applies the lost lesson on Belshazzar and his present predicament.
20. Belshazzar, he charges, is guilty of the same arrogance, but unlike his grandfather, he did not humble himself, in spite of the fact "you knew all this!"
21. Daniel accuses him of sinning in the face of incontrovertible proof that the Most High had so acted towards the king.
22. This was a matter of public record and there were living witnesses (like Daniel) who could verify every detail.
23. Belshazzar is accused of gross malfeasance towards himself and his responsibility toward his subjects.
24. Nebuchadnezzar’s sin was manifest in the way he abused his authority toward his subjects by putting himself above the moral law.
25. Belshazzar manifested his arrogance against "the Lord of Heaven" by desecrating the sacred artifacts (v.23).
26. This profane and premeditated in at a state-sponsored banquet was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
27. His actions urged on by his excessive drinking was a direct challenge to the God of heaven and the historical lesson he had before him.
28. Daniel uses the stage God gave him to point out the lie that is behind all idolatry.
29. The idols they were toasting had eyes but could not see, had ears but could not hear.
30. They were fictions that could not understand anything.
31. Daniel goes on to affirm that the God Belshazzar defied held his life-breath (or soul) in His power and is the determiner of all of life’s fortunes or misfortunes.
32. This was the culmination of a life spent under negative volition and its twin intellectual dishonesty.
33. For Belshazzar and his kingdom this was the final straw and the immediate reason for the hand sent by God to write Belshazzar’s epitaph.

VERSE 24 "Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out (~yvir> hn"d> ab't'k.W ad'y>-ydI aS'P; x;y:liv. yhiAmd'q\-!mi !yId;aBe [prep beth w/adv edayin then + prep min from + part.w/3m.s.suff. qadam before + peil perf.3m.s. shelach send + noun m.s.w/art. pas palm of the hand + rel di + noun f.s.w/art. yad hand + waw w/noun m.s.w/art ketab writing, inscription + adj.m.s.abs. dena this + peil perf.3m.s. resham inscribe; "written out"]).

VERSE 25 "Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN (!ysir>p;W lqeT. anEm. anEm. ~yvir> yDI ab't'k. hn"d>W [waw w/adj.m.s.abs. denah this + noun m.s.w/art. ketab a writing + rel di + peil perf.3m.s. resham inscribe + noun m.s.abs. mene or mina; same as Hebrew; usually 50 shekels made a mina; unit of money; here as a word play on mana "to number" + noun m.s.abs. mina repeated + noun m.s.abs. teqel shekel; a word play on "to weigh" + waw w/noun m.p.abs. peres half-shekel; a word play on "to divide"]).'

VERSE 26 "This is the interpretation of the message: 'MENE' -- God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it (Hm;l.v.h;w> %t'Wkl.m; ah'l'a/-hn"m. anEm. at'L.mi-rv;P. hn"D> [adj.m.s.abs. denah this + noun m.s.abs. peshar interpretation + noun f.s.w/art. millah word; "message" + noun m.s.abs. mina + peal perf.3m.s. menah number + noun m.s.w/art. elah God + non f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. malku kingdom + waw w/haphel perf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. shelem be finished]).

VERSE 27 "'TEKEL' -- you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient (rySix; T.x;k;T.v.hiw> ay"n>z:amob. hT'l.yqiT. lqeT. [noun m.s.abs. teqel shekel + peil perf.2m.s. teqal to weigh + prep beth w/noun m.p.w/art. mo-zanya scale + waw w/hithpeel perf.2m.s. shckach forget; "found" + adj.m.s.abs. chaser lacking]).

VERSE 28 "'PERES' -- your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians (sr'p'W yd;m'l. tb;yhiywI %t'Wkl.m; ts;yrIP. sreP. [noun m.s.abs. peres half-mina + peil perf.3f.s. peras divide + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. malku kingdom + waw w/peil perf.3f.s. yehab give + prep lamedh w/ noun gentilic abs. Mada Mede + waw w/proper noun paras Persia (Gk) or Parsa])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 24-28

1. Daniel then translated and interpreted the four words on the wall (v.25).
2. The first two were identical: mene, meaning "numbered," "counted out," "measured" (passive participle of mena, "to number").
3. This signified that the years of Belshazzar’s reign had been counted out to their very last one, and it was terminated (v.26).
4. Observe that even if the court diviners had been able to make out the three consonants m-n-‘ correctly, they still would have not known what vowel points to assign them.
5. For example, it could have been read as mena or mina¾ a very heavy weight equivalent to sixty Babylonian shekels.
6. The second word (v.27) was "Tekel" (teqel, cognate with the Hebrew "shekel" coming from teqal, "to weigh").
7. Following after a m-n-‘ (which might mean a "mina" or "maneh"), "Tekel" would look like "shekel" (a weight of sliver or gold slightly over eleven grams).
8. But Daniel explained it as a passive participle teqil ("weighed") and applied it to Belshazzar himself.
9. God found him deficient in the divine scales and therefore rejected him.
10. The third word is peres, which is derived from a root peras, meaning "to divide."
11. Daniel read it as a passive participle (peris, "divided") and interpreted it to mean that Belshazzar’s kingdom, the Babylonian Empire, had been divided or separated from him and given over to the Medes and Persians besieging the city.
12. This word too might have been taken as meaning a monetary weight, like the two words preceding it; for the Akkadian parsu meant "half mina," and this may have been borrowed into Aramaic with that meaning.
13. But more likely, as Eissfeldt and others have argued, it means "half shekel," since the root simply indicates division into two parts; and the usage in each individual language would determine what weight was expected would be something lighter than the shekel, namely, "a half-shekel."
14. If then, all that the diviners could make out of the strange inscription on the wall was "Mina, mina, shekel, and half-shekels" (reading uparsin), then they might well have conveyed no intelligible message.
15. Daniel, however, inspired of God, was able to cipher the intended sense of the cryptic message by giving them the passive participle vowel pattern in each case.
16. On the very important third word, p-r-s ("half shekel"), has a very direct bearing on chapter 6.
17. The same radicals that spell out peres furnish the root for the word "has been divided."
18. But furthermore p-r-s also points to the word for "Persian," Paras.
19. This means that the author of this Book believed that the kingdom that followed right after the Babylonian was the Persian, without any intervening, independent Median Empire.
20. Nothing could be plainer, in the light of this triple wordplay, than that the author understood the Persians to be the dominant element in empire number two, with the Median kingdom as number two is devoid of support in the text of Daniel itself.
21. The important consequence of this identification of the combined Medo-Persian Empire as the second kingdom in Daniel’s series of four (set forth in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream-image in chap.2) is that the third kingdom must be the Greek one; therefore, the fourth empire must be the Roman Empire¾ which, of course, did not actually take over the Near East till 63 BC, a century after the Macedonian uprisings.
22. Therefore, this handwriting on the wall demolishes the Maccabean date hypothesis, which insists that nothing in Daniel prophesies any event later than the death of Antiochus Epiphanes in 164 BC, a hundred years before Pompey annexed Palestine-Syria into the Roman Empire.

VERSE 29 Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck (HreaW>c;-l[; ab'h]d;-ydI Îak'ynIm.h;w>Ð ¿ak'n>AMh;w>À an"w"G>r>a; laYEnId'l. WvyBil.h;w> rC;av;l.Be rm;a] !yId;aBe [prep beth w/adv edayin then + peal perf.3m.s. amar command, say + proper noun Belshazzar + waw w/haphel perf.3m.p. lebesh be clothed + prep lamedh w/proper noun Daniel + noun m.s.w/art. argewan purple + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. hamnika necklace + rel di + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + prep al upon + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. saww-ar neck], and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom [at'Wkl.m;B. aT'l.T; jyLiv; awEh/l,-yDI yhiAl[] WzrIk.h;w> [waw w/haphel perf.3m.p. keraz make a proclamation; used only here + prep.al w/3m.s.suff. + rel di + peal impf.3m.s. hawah come to pass + adj.m.s.abs. shallit having authority + adj.m.s.abs. teliti the third (in a series) + prep beth w/noun f.s.w/art. malku kingdom]).

VERSE 30 That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain (Îha'D'f.k;Ð ¿ay"D'f.k;À aK'l.m; rC;v;al.Be lyjiq. ay"l.yleB. HBe [prep beth w/3m.s.suff. + prep beth w/noun m.s.w/art. leyla night; as in Heb + peil perf.3m.s. qetal kill + proper noun Belshazzar + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + noun gentilic abs. Kashdai Chaldean]).

VERSE 31 So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two (!yTer>t;w> !yTivi !ynIv. rb;K. at'Wkl.m; lBeq; Îha'd'm'Ð ¿ay"d'm'À vw<y"r>d'w> [waw w/proper noun Darius + noun gentilic abs. Mede + pael perf.3m.s qebel receive + noun f.s.w/art. malku + prep kaph w/noun m.s.abs. bar son + noun f.p.abs. shasnah year + adj.s.abs. shittin sixty + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. teren two]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 29-31

1. Whatever Belshazzar’s motives (fear, sick approbation) he promoted Daniel even though the interpretation was not something he wanted to hear.
2. Probably the whole scene and Daniel’s God-given authority awed the young king.
3. Possibly he thought that Daniel’s God might relent and not carry out the predictions contained in the writing on the wall if he made Daniel his prime minister.
4. To the very end he hardened his prideful heart and paid the ultimate price.
5. This was his very last official act and Daniel was the last man to be promoted in the Babylonian Empire!
6. As hollow as this promotion was it still serves to show that God can promote even under circumstances that seem totally against such an event.
7. It is God who promotes and demotes and that is one of the great lessons of this book.
8. It wasn’t Belshazzar’s great sin of blasphemy that did him in, it was his negative volition in the face of monumental evidence that did him it.
9. After all, Nebuchadnezzar overcame this deficit (pride) and went on to even greater glory.
10. As all this was going down in the "hall of shame" the Persian troops were moving stealthily under the cover of darkness toward the royal palaces.
11. Herodotus (1. 191) recorded the following: "Hereupon the Persians who had been left for the purpose at Babylon by the river-side, entered the stream, which had now sunk so as to reach about midway up a man’s thigh, and this got into the town. Had the Babylonians been apprised of what Cyrus was about, or had they noticed their danger, they would never have allowed the Persians to enter the city, but would have destroyed them utterly; for they would have made fast all the street-gates which gave upon the river, and mounting upon the walls along both sides of the stream, would so have caught the enemy as it were in a trap. But, as it was, the Persians came upon them by surprise and took the city. Owing to the vast size of the place, the inhabitants of the central parts (as the residents at Babylon declare), long after the outer portions of the town were taken, knew nothing of what had chanced, but as they were engaged in a festival, continued dancing and revelling until they learnt the capture but too certainly."
12. Verse 30 tersely reports that Belshazzar was slain that same night.
13. As translated in Barton (p 483), the Nabonidus-Cyrus Chronicle states that after Cyrus had entered Babylon on 3 Marcheswan (Oct/Nov), "in the month of Marcheswan, on the night of the 11^th, Gobryas into…he son of the king was killed."
14. On the basis of this rendering, which was actually dependent on questionable conjectures filling in gaps in this fragmentary inscription, it could be argued that v.30 was in error when it state that Belshazzar (who would presumably have been "the king’s son") was killed that very night the city was taken.
15. But the corrected translation in ANET 306 reads: "In the month Arashumnu [Marcheswan] on the night of the 11^th day, Gobryas [i.e., Ugbaru] died. In the month of (Arahshamnu, the …nth day, the wi)fe of the king died."
16. In other words, the cuneiform traces of the word "of the king" suggest "wife" rather than "son."
17. Hence the charge of inaccuracy cannot be sustained on the basis of the text.
18. Verse 31 (which the MT quite justifiably takes as v.1 of ch. 6) indicates that the government of Babylon was entrusted to a Darius the Mede at the age of sixty-two.
19. This marked the fulfillment of Daniel’s prediction that the Babylonian Empire would pass under the yoke of the Medo-Persian Empire, as kingdom-number-two in the four-kingdom series.
20. "Darius the Mede" is to be identified with Gobryas of Herodotus’s account, though Herodotus seems to have confused two different generals bearing similar names: Ugbaru and Gubaru.
21. The Nabonidus Chronicle clearly distinguishes between the two, as Witcomb (p. 11) brings out: "The 15^th day (of Tashritu or Tishri), Sippar was seized without battle. Nabonidus fles. The 16^th day Ugbaru, the governor of Gutium, and the army of Cyrus entered Babylon, green twigs were spread in front of him¾ the state of peace was imposed upon the city. Cyrus sent greetings to all Babyon. Gubaru, his governor, installed sub-governors in Babylon…In the month of Arahshamnu, on the night of the 11^th day, Ugbaru died."
22. Because of the resemblance between Ugbaru and Gubaru, earlier Assyriologists supposed that they referred to the same man.
23. But the syllable GU is written quite differently from UG in Akkadian cuneiform.
24. Thus the passage just quoted makes it quite clear that while Ugbaru who engineered the capture of Babylon, he lost his life to a fatal illness less than a month later (Babylon was taken on 12 October 539, and Ugbaru died on 6 November).
25. It was not Ugbaru, then but Gubaru whom Cyrus appointed vice-regent of the Chaldean domains on 29 October.
26. The Nabonidus Chronicle and other cuneiform texts of that era indicate that he continued on as governor of Babylonia for at least fourteen years, even though Cyrus may have taken over the royal title at public coronation service two years later.
27. Presumably urgent military necessity drew Cyrus away from his newly subdued territories to face an enemy menacing some other frontier.
28. Until he could get back and assume the Babylonian crown with appropriate pomp and ceremony, it was expedient for him to leave control of Babylonia in the hands of a trusted lieutenant like Gubaru.
29. A.T. Olmstead (The History of the Persian Empire [Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1948], p. 7) puts it: "In his dealings with his Babylonian subjects, Cyrus was ‘king of Babylon, king of lands’…But it was Gobryas the satrap who represented the royal authority after the king’s departure."
30. The name "Darius" was both a name and a title, somewhat like "Caesar" or "Augustus" became in the Roman Empire.
31. It is apparently related to "dara" ("king" in Avestan Persian), thus Old Persian Darayavahush may have meant "The Royal One."
32. It was only natural that this honorific title be used of the official viceroy of the Medo-Persian Empire in this account, rather tan his personal name.
33. Completely decisive objections stand in the way of interpreting the figure of Darius the Mede as a garbled confusion with Darius I, the son of Hystaspes, sometimes called "the Great," who began to reign in 522.
34. Darius I was obviously a young man, under thirty, at the time he took over the throne.
35. Darius the Mede was sixty-two when he began to rule.
36. Darius I was of a Persian royal line because of his father, Hystaspes, ws of the Achaemenid dynasty; the vicegerent Darius was a Mede, Ahasuerus.
37. Darius I won the throne in a coup d’etat; Darius the Mede "received" (Aram. Qabbel, "took over") the royal authority from one who was empowered to invest him with it¾ presumably Cyrus himself.
38. Daniel 9:1 states that he "was made ruler" (Heb. Homlak) over the realm of the Chaldeans¾ a term never applied to one who seizes the sovereignty by force of arms but rather to one who is appointed to kingship by a higher authority.
39. All this fits Gubaru perfectly, and it is only reasonable to conclude that he was the one referred to in Dan.5:31 as "Darius the Mede."
40. As Whitcomb (p. 35) points out, the statement in 6:28¾ "and the reign of Cyrus the Persian"¾ may very well imply that both of them ruled concurrently, with the one subordinate to the other.
41. It would seem that after he had taken care of more pressing concerns elsewhere, Cyrus himself later returned to Babylon (perhaps a year or two afterward) and formally ascended the throne in an official ceremony.
42. It was in the third year of Cyrus’s reign (presumably as king of Babylon) that Daniel received the revelations in chapters 10-12.
43. Yet it is also evident from the cuneiform records referred to above that Gubaru continued to serve as governor of Babylon even after Cyrus’s death.
44. The tablets dating from 535 to 525 contained warnings that committing specified offenses would entail ""he guilt of a sin against Gubaru, the Governor of Babylon and of the District beyond the river [i.e., the regions west of the Euphrates]" (Whitcomb, p. 23).