The Handwriting on the Wall
A mysterious hand suddenly writes on the plastered wall of the palace while the king watches, and Belshazzar's color drains as terror overtakes him. He hastily offers purple, a gold chain, and the rank of third ruler to anyone who can read and interpret the inscription, but all the wise men fail completely. The writing from beyond human power turns the scene from drunken boasting to helpless panic.
A5t 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.
Hearing the commotion, the queen enters and counsels the king not to be overcome with fear. She reminds him of Daniel, the man in whom an extraordinary spirit, insight, and wisdom were found in Nebuchadnezzar's day, and she points to his proven ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. In the middle of Babylon's failure, memory turns toward the servant of God who alone can speak with clarity.
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. 12Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, did 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.”