Daniel Interprets the Handwriting
Belshazzar questions Daniel about his identity and reputation, recounting what he has heard about Daniel's wisdom after the failure of the wise men. He repeats the offer of purple, a gold chain, and third place in the kingdom if Daniel can interpret the writing. Daniel answers by rejecting the rewards and signaling that he will speak the truth to the king without being bought by royal favor.
S13o 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.
Daniel rehearses Nebuchadnezzar's history: the Most High gave him sovereignty, he exercised vast power, but when pride hardened his heart he was deposed and humbled until he acknowledged that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. Daniel then turns directly on Belshazzar, accusing him of refusing humility despite knowing this history, of exalting himself against the Lord of heaven, and of profaning the temple vessels while praising senseless idols instead of glorifying the God who holds his breath and ways. Because of this deliberate defiance, God Himself has sent the hand to write the sentence against 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.
Daniel reveals the inscription and interprets its terms as a layered verdict from God. The kingdom has been numbered and brought to its end, Belshazzar has been weighed in the scales and found deficient, and the kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians. The words reduce Babylon's grandeur to a brief accounting before divine justice.
25Now this is the inscription that was written: 26And this is the interpretation of the message: 27TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
Belshazzar still orders Daniel to be clothed in purple and honored as third ruler, but the reward is hollow because the judgment falls immediately. That very night Belshazzar is slain, and Darius the Mede receives the kingdom. The chapter closes by showing that God's word does not merely warn; it executes the transfer of kingdoms in history.
29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, 31and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.