Fingers of a human hand write on the wall of the king’s palace

King Belshazzar looked across to the wall and saw fingers of  a human hand writing on the wall of his palace. The words written on the wall were: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.

Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. Daniel 5: 5-6

Let’s first consider the events leading up to the hand writing on the wall.

The boast of King Nebuchadnezzar

The city of Babylon which King Nebuchadnezzar had rebuilt was a colossal and magnificent city. It was built as a great square with each side being 22 kilometres (14 miles) long. A deep and wide moat surrounded the city, and beyond that was a great wall which was wide enough for chariots to travel side by side. The city had 100 gates of bronze with 25 gates on each side. From these gates there were broad streets that were right angle to the walls. The great River Euphrates flowed through the city and divided it into 2 parts.

Among the splendours of this great capital were the “Hanging gardens”. They were beautiful gardens planted in terraces and watered artificially by fountains and streams. The gardens had trees, shrubs and flowers of many different varieties.

This magnificent city was regarded as being impregnable with its huge walls. It seemed to be able to withstand any siege because sufficient corn could be grown to sustain the large population of the city.

This magnificent city leads Nebuchadnezzar to say in Daniel chapter 4 and verse 30:

“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

King Nebuchadnezzar boasted that the city of Babylon was so great because of his power and majesty. However, like all human pride, power, wealth, glory and endeavour, Nebuchadnezzar was only in power for a set period.

While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Daniel 4: 31-32

Nebuchadnezzar had been warned this would happen for he previously had a dream and this was interpreted by Daniel in chapter 4. The interpretation had been that Nebuchadnezzar would be humbled at the hand of the Lord God and driven from men into the fields.

The kingdom of Babylon was taken from him until his understanding of the most high God returned to him. Once he had clearer thinking about the Lord God then the kingdom was given back to him until his death.

After a few years, Belshazzar and his father, Nabonidus, now occupied the throne as co-rulers of the Babylonian empire.

The feast of Belshazzar

Belshazzar held a great feast.

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Daniel 5:1

Inside the magnificent palace were gorgeous furnishings. To the banquet in the palace came this large group of Lords, all in splendid robes and jewels.  Despite this scene, everything was not good outside. The Persian army under Cyrus was positioned for war, waiting for an opportunity to enter the city. Belshazzar probably was aware of this but did not seem to take the threat seriously. He trusted in the high, strong walls and the magnificent gates which Nebuchadnezzar had erected for the defence of Babylon. Besides the seeming strength of the city he also put his trust in the gods of Babylon to defend him.  We are told what happened next at this banquet in Daniel 5 and verses 2 to 4.

Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

The vessels he used for this idolatrous feast were the sacred vessels formerly used in Jerusalem at the Temple Service. Nebuchadnezzar had brought back them as a spoil in the destruction of Jerusalem. Belshazzar would have been aware of the God of Israel given what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar years before. His command to use the sacred vessels of the House of God in this idolatrous feast was therefore a deliberate and defiant insult against the God of Israel and of Heaven. So it is no wonder that he was about to have Godly judgment brought against him.

The fingers writing on the wall

Suddenly fear seized the superstitious and idolatrous group gathered at the feast as they watched mysterious fingers slowly write fateful word upon the wall.

Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's colour changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.  Daniel 5:5-6

The words written were: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin

What did the word mean? No one could say. He called for the astrologers and soothsayers but they didn’t know either. The King and his lords by now were in a state of fear and terror. The Queen hearing the uproar in the palace came into the banqueting room. She remembered that Daniel had a reputation for interpreting dreams:

There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” Daniel 5: 10-12

When Daniel came to the banquet room he reminded Belshazzar firstly of the lesson taught to Nebuchadnezzar that pride must be punished. The Most High God must always be recognised. Then Daniel turned his attention to Belshazzar. In spite of his knowledge of Nebuchadnezzars punishment, he had allowed his own wilful pride to control his decisions. He had taken the sacred vessels of the Temple and defied God who had created him.

As a result, God now sent a message of doom which had so dramatically ended his feast.

Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5:24-28

Divine judgement

This divine judgment was executed almost immediately.

That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. Daniel 5:30-31

In 538BC, Cyrus, King of Persia and Darius, King of Media, with their armies, came against Babylon after diverting the course of the Euphrates River. They entered the city through the dried up river bed which passed under the city walls. This gave them access to the city and broke the power of Babylon. Babylon fell and all her graven images were broken and the gods of Babylon were ruined. Darius the Mede was placed in charge of the kingdom in association with Cyrus. Later Cyrus had sole reign.

The future

Babylon had been a curse unto Israel, God’s chosen race, for a long time. They had persecuted and afflicted them in cruel warfare and finally had taken them into captivity. Justice came against them when they engaged in blasphemy and excesses, oblivious to the coming destruction.

Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation uses the excesses of Babylon and its subsequent fall to teach about his sudden coming in the future. The modern world version of Babylon is similar to the past Babylon in that it is sleeping, engaged in drunken revelry unaware of the coming destruction, when the Jews will be restored to their land, and spiritual Israel will enter into her inheritance. Spiritual Israel refers to those who are baptised and then live a life committed to God. They are His spiritual sons and daughters and also His servant. They love God and remain obedient to his commands looking forward to the kingdom He has promised them.

The lesson to the believer is to remain separate from this evil world and all its indulgences. This modern world is similar to Babylon of the past. The apostles Paul and Peter warn us to prepare ourselves and put on our spiritual armour (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10). We are to leave behind selfish indulgences (1 Peter 4:1-7) and watch and pray for the Lord’s return.