Daniel 5:1-12

Writing on the Wall

Read the passage

1Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.

2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

3Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

5At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing,

6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.

7The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.

9Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.

10Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.

11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,

12did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Belshazzar holds a feast for a thousand nobles. Under the influence of wine, he orders the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to be brought in. The king and his guests drink from them while praising gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Vessels from the house of God have become drinking cups at a feast honoring idols.

Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appear and write on the palace wall. Belshazzar turns pale; his knees knock together. He promises royal clothing, a gold chain, and the third highest position in the kingdom to anyone who can read and explain the inscription. None of his wise men can do it, and his terror grows.

The queen enters when she hears the outcry. She remembers Daniel’s wisdom and his ability to interpret dreams and solve difficult problems under Nebuchadnezzar. She urges the king to summon him. The feast ends this reading with a frightened king waiting for an answer his court cannot provide.

Questions

1 What does Belshazzar do with the temple vessels?

AnswerHe uses them at a royal party while praising other gods. The vessels are treated as trophies and drinking cups rather than as objects connected to Israel's worship.

2 How does the writing affect the king?

AnswerHe becomes terrified, his body weakens, and his thoughts alarm him. The confident feast changes instantly when an authority beyond the palace interrupts it.

3 What do the king's experts fail to do?

AnswerThey cannot read or explain the writing. Their titles and access to royal power do not give them the wisdom required for this moment.

4 Why does the queen remember Daniel?

AnswerShe remembers his understanding, wisdom, and ability to solve difficult problems under Nebuchadnezzar. She urges Belshazzar to summon him to explain the inscription.

What This Means for Us

Belshazzar treats what belongs to God as something he can use however he pleases. His guests join in, and their approval does nothing to make the feast right.

We can become careless with sacred things in quieter ways: making a joke of prayer, using a Bible verse to win an argument, or treating worship as a chance to be noticed. Reverence begins with remembering whom we are addressing. Give God your attention when your family reads and prays, even when familiarity makes it easy to rush.

Prayer

God of holiness and truth, keep us from using what is sacred to flatter ourselves. Give us humility when our confidence is interrupted, and wisdom that remains useful when status and expertise fail. Amen.

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