The Handwriting on the Wall

Daniel 5:1 according to the historians Xenophon and Herodotus this feast happened October 12 539 BC. 30 years had passed since the death of Nebuchadnazzer… a new king was on the throne… and Daniel the prophet was an old man [probably 80 years old].

We know the date of the feast because it is also the night the Persian army broke into the city of Babylon and conquered the kingdom. As prophesied Babylon's days were ended [compare with verse 30].

Belshazzar Lost to History

Until the last half of the 1800's the figure of Belshazzar was considered to be a fictional character,  just one more example of biblical ineptitude and error. There was no mention of him in any ancient history books. History indicated Nabonius was the king of Babylon at that time. Which is true.

But, in the past century archaeologists digging in Babylon have uncovered abundant evidence of Belshazzar existence... newly found and translated Babylonian tablets indicate he was a regent-king serving under his father Nabonius.  Nabonius was not very involved with his kingdom... usually off in some form of religious seclusion, or leading his army. Belshazzar was managing affairs in Babylon.

Daniel is the Lynchpin of Prophecy

If the bible were merely another of the ancient books of wisdom historical reliability wouldn’t matter. Other writing claim to be revelation from supernatural dimension… but unlike all the rest the word of the living God back itself up with proof. I am speaking of prophecies made and prophecies fulfilled. So, dates of writing, and dates of historical events are important to believers.

The book of Daniel is a key book in this process of validation of scripture. The book claims to from the 6th century BC... and it contains some highly accurate prophecies of what would happen in the next few centuries. Some of Daniel’s prophecies are so accurate that skeptics say the book must have been written in the 2nd century... after all these prophesied events took place. [the lynchpin prophecy in Daniel is the 70 weeks prophecy].

Belshazzar is a Mark of Authenticity

After 400 years no one remembered Belshazzar... memory of him was long gone by the 2nd century BC. He was written out of human history. Question: if the book of Daniel was a semi-fictional account written in the 2nd century... wouldn't the writers have used Nabonius as the king? Therefore, now that we know more about Babylonian history in the 21st century… the biblical record of Belshazzar adds further weight to our understanding of Daniel as an authentic 1st hand account.

Back to the Party

For weeks the mighty Persian army was all around the city... but  the defensive walls of Babylon were so thick and high that no army could get through. "We have food enough to last many years, we're well protected... why worry... let's have a party!"

Daniel 5:2-4 There was lots of drinking... lots of women... so there was drunkenness and debauchery. But more significant was the blasphemy of the inebriated king and his guests. They unpacked the gold and silver goblets taken from the temple in Jerusalem, then the drunken nobles and party girls used them to toast the false gods of Babylon.

Daniel 5:5-7 [screamed in panic], note the phrase "3rd highest ruler". Shows the book of Daniel was aware that Nabonius was the official king [#1]... Belshazzar would then be #2... and the winner of the challenge would then be #3. Nabonius is not mentioned by name since he's not part of these events.

Daniel 5:8-12 Daniel was an old man by now, probably retired, obviously forgotten. But the queen mother [wife of Nebuchadnezzar] remembered Daniel... and what he could do Daniel 5:13-17.

Daniel's Answer

Daniel 5:18-24 directly points to the blasphemy and deliberate defiance Belshazzar shows to the Most High God. Belshazzar couldn't defend himself by saying he didn't know any better. Daniel goes through the humbling of the late Nebuchadnezzar and tells him, "you know these things to be true and then you deliberately insult, mock, and defy this same Most High God". Out of all the ceremonial treasures you have from all the conquered nations... you call for the things of YHWH so you can stick it to Him".

Why Would Belshazzar Single Out YHWH for Insult?

Since the beginning of Belshazzar's reign Daniel had been recording prophecies of the fall of Babylon and probably circulating them among the Jewish exiles. Was Belshazzar trying to counteract these proclamations of doom with some positive propaganda of his own? For example,

50. Daniel 7:1 the vision of the 4 beasts, or Daniel 8:1-4 which specifically referenced Persia as the power that would take down Babylon [Susa was a capital city of the Persian empire].
50. Even if Belshazzar was unaware of Daniel's current writings he would have known about the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the metal statue... which also spoke of the demise of Babylon.
50. During the days of Nebuchadnazzer Jeremiah delivered prophecies regarding Babylon's demise… even giving some some numbers... 70 years! Jeremiah 25:11-12,  Jeremiah 29:10.
50.  Jeremiah had written down and sent this prophecy to the people who were already captive in Babylon at that time Jeremiah 51:34-61 [read vs 59-61, notice the reference to drinking]. Did the Babylonian kings have spies among the exiles so they could keep a close eye out for trouble?... they might have known what was being talked about among the captives.
50. Earlier prophets had foretold the rise of Persia Isaiah 44:28-45:1, 13. Persian would allow the exiles to return to Jerusalem at the appointed time. Implying that Babylon had to fall to Persia.

Belshazzar could very well have been acting in defiance against YHWH and His prophesies of doom that seemed to indicate bad things were going to happen right around this time.

Daniel 5:25-31[Isaiah 21:1-10, notice the reference to being attacked while at a party]

Daniel & The Persians

Chapter 6 is one of them most well known stories in the Bible - Daniel in the Lion's Den. The setting is the aftermath of the Persian conquest of Babylon. A new government was being formed... very likely within the first or second year 539-537 BC. Daniel was over 80 years old but God still had a  few more things for him to do.

The kingdom of Persia was really the Medes and Persians, the Persians were the dominant partner. Darius is identified as a Mede, not a Persian:

50. Darius could be a subordinate of Cyrus who as appointed over Babylon, or
50. Darius could be a secondary name of Cyrus himself signifying him as the head honcho over both Medes and Persians.

Daniel 6:1-5 The other administrators were jealous of Daniel… “what! … that guy over us” … "let's find something in his religion that conflicts with our laws... and force Daniel to either obey God or obey the king". By what they say we can make the following assumptions:

50. Daniel's religious convictions and behavior were public knowledge, he was not hiding his spiritual life hoping no one would notice.
50. They  assumed he would choose to obey YHWH over Darius and then they would get him. So, his willingness to suffer loss for the sake of God was known.

Daniel 6:6-9 Persians did not consider their kings to be deities. So this probably means that only Darius should act as mediator to the gods... rather than people going directly to their god.

The Persians were tolerant and encouraging of the different nations in the empire worshiping their own Gods. They just wanted to be sure it all happened under the umbrella of the Persian government. The quest for one world government is nothing new… that was Babylon’s dream, Persia’s dream, the Hellenic Greeks dream… and the Romans dream… it lives on.

Daniel 6:10-11 Daniel specifically defies a law of the land Romans 13:1-2, Acts 5:29.

We usually think of this rejecting government regulations that order us to either disregard God's laws, or to disobey them. However, Daniel's rejection of this government regulation is not a matter of transgression of a law... it is about the performance of what is pleasing to God.

Daniel could have reasoned his way out of this... "there is not specific law about prayer, so perhaps I'll just take a break for the next month until it all blows over"... but he did not!

Trapped By Legalism Without Mercy

Daniel 6:12-16 Darius liked Daniel but he's caught in a legal trap. He desperately looks for some legal loophole but he cannot. The administrators and satraps remind him of the Persian legal philosophy, the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be altered or passed over.

• On one hand this approach looks good. No person is considered above the law. The law cannot be changed by personal whim even by the king. Basic “rule of law” thinking.
• On the other hand it shows the weakness of ruling with a rod or iron... but not having mercy.

We often think of our training to serve with Christ during his millennial rule as carefully learning God's laws and demonstrating faithfulness to His law. But, God says in no uncertain terms "I desire mercy" James 2:12-13. His desire is that you learn to judge based on the right principles of law... but that you temper it with mercy...

Like the Medes and Persians God’s law cannot simply be ignored, or passed over because of feelings… Darius liked Daniel but he was trapped. But God has a way to accomplish both goals. Through the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

1. the law is upheld/penalty for sin is paid - God is righteous
2. mercy is applied/ God can act graciously toward you - God is merciful
3. you live - God gives life.

Legal Protection For Jewish Exiles

Daniel 6:17-28 Notice that Darius issues a decree giving legal protection for all those who worship YHWH the God of Daniel and of the Jewish people. Nebuchadnazzer of Babylon had issued a similar decree protecting religious observances of the worshipers of YHWH. But Babylon was gone now... there was a new boss in town... with new laws... with no remembrance of the laws of Babylon or why they were enacted. Through Daniel, the true and living God maneuvered Darius into encoding the same religious protections.

This incident, the last record of Daniel's exploits in the courts of the kings sets the stage for what is to come. The Persian kings have a good relationship with the Jewish people moving forward. They seem very positive towards the Jews. Through Persia YHWH will return the exiles to the land as prophesied… and at the appointed time.

Ezra 1:1-4 as prophesied by Isaiah the king that topples Babylon will set in motion the restoration of the exiles to the promised land and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:7 Cyrus returns the articles of the temple to Jerusalem... the same drinking vessels and other items Belshazzar has used to insult and blaspheme YHWH.