Daniel 5:13-24

Daniel Refuses the King's Gifts

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13So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?

14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

15Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation.

16But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

17In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.

18As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.

19Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.

20But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.

21He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.

22But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

24Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Belshazzar offers Daniel royal clothing, a gold chain, and the third highest position in the kingdom if he can explain the inscription. Daniel tells him to keep the gifts or give them to someone else. He will still read and interpret the writing.

First, Daniel recalls Nebuchadnezzar’s history. The Most High gave that king his greatness and authority. When he became proud, he lost his throne and lived like an animal until he acknowledged that God rules over human kingdoms and appoints their rulers.

Belshazzar knew all this, yet he did not humble his heart. Instead, he exalted himself against the Lord of heaven. He drank from the temple vessels and praised idols that cannot see, hear, or understand. He failed to glorify the God who holds his very breath and all his ways. That is why God sent the hand that wrote on the wall. The inscription confronts a king who already had reason to know better.

Questions

1 What does the king offer Daniel?

AnswerHe offers royal clothing, a gold chain, and the rank of third ruler if Daniel explains the writing. These are the rewards previously announced for anyone who could explain the inscription.

2 How does Daniel answer the offer?

AnswerHe tells the king to keep the gifts or give them to someone else, while agreeing to read the writing. He will not let a reward determine whether he speaks the truth.

3 What history does Daniel place before Belshazzar?

AnswerHe recalls Nebuchadnezzar's greatness and humiliation. Belshazzar has known what happened when a ruler's heart became proud, but he has not learned from it.

4 What does Belshazzar fail to do?

AnswerHe fails to humble his heart before the Lord of heaven. He praises powerless idols while ignoring the God who holds his breath and governs his life.

What This Means for Us

Daniel does not rush to interpret the wall simply because the king is frightened. He first tells the truth about the king's history and responsibility.

Belshazzar's sin is intensified by knowledge. He has inherited a warning from the previous ruler and chooses pride with his eyes open.

Decide what truths your household already knows but avoids when they become inconvenient. A lesson remembered only as someone else's story has not yet become wisdom.

Prayer

LORD, keep us truthful when rewards are offered for pleasing speech. Give us humility to learn from history, courage to name pride, and gratitude for the breath and life that remain in Your hands. Amen.

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