Daniel 5-7

Daniel 5

Background:

From Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar 
Nebuchadnezzar (605–562 BC)
Evil-Merodach (562–560 BC)
Neriglissar (560–556 BC)
Labashi-Marduk (556 BC, a few months)
Nabonidus (556–539 BC)

• Son Belshazzar (co-regent, ~553–539 BC). Rules while he is away

Cyrus the Great (conquers Babylon, 539 BC) (Darius under Cyrus or is Cyrus?)

Belshazzar hosts a lavish banquet for a thousand nobles

• Drinks wine using vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple (Daniel 1:2)
• Praises Babylonian gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone
• Remember warnings against profaning holy things (Leviticus 10; 2 Chronicles 36:18–19)

The Writing on the Wall

• While at banquet, fingers of a hand writes on the palace wall near the lampstand
  • מנא מנא תקל ופרסין
• The king is immediately terrified:
  • Color changes/ Limbs give way
• No wise man can interpret

The Queen’s Recommendation

• The queen (likely queen mother) recalls Daniel
• Describes him as having:
  • “Spirit of the holy gods”
  • Wisdom and understanding
• Daniel is summoned and offered:
  • Purple robe
  • Gold chain
  • Third ruler in kingdom

Daniel refuses the gifts

• Recounts Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling (Daniel 4)
• Directly confronts Belshazzar:
  • He knew the truth
  • Yet acted in pride
  • Desecrated God’s temple vessels

The Interpretation: 

• Aramaic terms explained:
  • MENE  numbered
  • TEKEL  weighed
  • PERES  divided
• Meaning:
  • God has numbered the kingdom
  • The king is weighed and found lacking
  • The kingdom will be divided and given to Medes and Persians

The Fall of Babylon

• Daniel is honored (despite his refusal)
• That very night:
  • Babylon falls
  • Belshazzar is killed
• Darius the Mede receives the kingdom

Historical Background:

• Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon (539 BC)
• According to historical records (e.g., Herodotus), the Persians diverted the Euphrates River and entered the city

Biblical Connection:

• Fulfillment of prophecy:
  • Isaiah 44:28-45:1 (Cyrus named in advance)
  • Jeremiah 51 (fall of Babylon foretold)

Belshazzar’s Feast by Rembrandt. (He stacked the Hebrew going up and down instead of left to right)

Daniel 6

Darius organizes the kingdom into satrapies

• A satrapy is a province or region of an empire governed by an official called a satrap (governor).

Daniel distinguished above all others. Officials seek grounds for accusation but cannot find 

Officials manipulate Darius into signing a law

• For 30 days: No prayer to any god or man except the king
• Law is irrevocable (law of Medes and Persians)
  • (Esther 1:19; 8:8)

Daniel continues praying:

• Three times daily
• Windows open toward Jerusalem

Darius reluctantly enforces the law. Expresses hope: “Your God…will deliver you”

Daniel unharmed .Lions did not touch him

His accusers thrown in the den

Darius proclaims:

• God is living and enduring
• His kingdom shall not be destroyed

Daniel prospers under:

• Darius
• Cyrus

Daniel 7

The Vision of Four Beasts

• Going to back it up now: This vision occurs during Belshazzar’s reign (earlier chronologically than ch. 5-6)
• Four beasts from the Great (Mediterranean) Sea with Four winds blowing: (See Revelation 7:1 about 4 winds)
  1. Lion with eagle’s wings → Babylon
  2. Bear raised on one side with three ribs in teeth → Medo-Persia
  3. Leopard with four wings/heads → Greece
  4. Terrifying beast with iron teeth, bronze claws, and 10 horns + 1 little horn → Rome / future kingdom
• Ten horns are kings
• Little horn arises and speaks arrogantly – Antichrist?

The Ancient of Days

• Ancient of Days seated:
  • White clothing
  • Fiery throne
• Books opened for judgment
• Beast destroyed
  • As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

The Son of Man “One like a son of man…”

• Comes with the clouds of heaven
• Given:
  • Dominion
  • Glory
  • Kingdom
• All peoples serve him
• Son of Man later used by Jesus (Matthew 26:64)

Daniel troubled by vision. He asks nearby being (angel?) for interpretation:

• Told:
  • Four beasts = four kingdoms (see above)
  • Saints will receive the kingdom ultimately

 Focus on the Fourth Beast

• Described as:
  • Different
  • Devouring
• Little horn:
  • Brings down 3 of its own horns (3 kings)
  • Speaks against God
  • Persecutes saints
  • Changes times and law
  • From https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/daniel-7/: It will last for three-and-one-half years (time and times and half a time). This phrase is used in Revelation (11:2-3, 12:6 and 13:5) to refer to half of the last seven-year period of man’s rule on this earth (the seventieth week of Daniel).

Final Judgment and Kingdom

• Court sits in judgment
• Dominion taken from the beast
• Kingdom given to the saints
• God’s kingdom:
  • Everlasting
  • Universal

Application

There is so much to unpack in these chapters, and some of them seem terrifying. The most important takeaway is found at the end of chapter 7. God’s Kingdom will reign over all, for the rest of our days. Earthly kingdoms and powers will always try to gain control, but at the end of time, the Ancient of Days will ultimately rule.