And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN (Daniel 5:25).
Belshazzar was the final king of Babylon. Although Nabonidus was the king, Belshazzar, his eldest son, held the co-regency with him. For centuries, Belshazzar’s position was questioned; however, the discovery of the cuneiform inscriptions in 1879—specifically the Nabonidus Chronicle—resolved the contradiction with other historical records. Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson and thus knew what had happened to his grandfather.
Although Babylon was at war with Cyrus the Great of Persia, Belshazzar held a drinking party with a few thousand of his lords (Daniel 5:1). He was not concerned about the attacks because of the fortifications his grandfather had built for the city of Babylon. During this event, Belshazzar desecrated the instruments from the Temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar brought to Babylon (Daniel 5:2–3).
After using the instruments of the LORD to praise the gods of silver, bronze, iron, and wood and stone, a hand writing on the wall appeared to Belshazzar (Daniel 5:5). This caused Belshazzar’s knees to shake in terror (Daniel 5:6). To understand what was written, Belshazzar called on the astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, offering the third position in the kingdom to anyone who could interpret the writing (Daniel 5:7). To his dismay, none of them could understand the writing on the wall (Daniel 5:8).
Because of the words of the king and his lords, the queen came to the banquet and spoke with the king (Daniel 5:10). She told him about Daniel, whom his father had found to have the spirit of the Holy God with him (Daniel 5:11–12). Belshazzar immediately called for Daniel and asked what the writing on the wall meant (Daniel 5:13–16).
Daniel had no interest in the king’s gifts. Still, he chose to tell him what was written on the wall (Daniel 5:17). He began by recounting all that the LORD had shown Nebuchadnezzar, because Belshazzar should have humbled himself, knowing all that had befallen his grandfather because of his pride (Daniel 5:18–21). However, Belshazzar did not humble himself; rather, he lifted himself against the LORD of the heavens (Daniel 5:22–23).
Daniel then informs the king of the interpretation and meaning of each word. He explains the first two repeated words to mean that God has numbered Belshazzar’s kingdom and it is finished. מְנֵ֥א (menē) is derived from an Aramaic word used for measures (Daniel 5:26). The duplication of this word indicates a measurement of value for both the days of Belshazzar’s life and his kingdom. תְּקֵל (teqēl) conveys a weight used in balances. Belshazzar has been weighed on the balance and found wanting (Daniel 5:26). Both his personal moral character and works were evaluated. Daniel changes the last word—פַּרְסִין (parsīn)—from plural to singular in his interpretation to emphasize the fall and division of the kingdom (Daniel 5:28).
Belshazzar immediately proclaims Daniel third in the kingdom; however, that very night Belshazzar’s life would be taken from him, and his kingdom would be turned over to Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:29–31).
