The Handwriting on the Wall

Daniel Chapter 5 states that Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Actually he was his grandson. Outside the Bible there is no mention of him. His name is not recorded in secular history as one of the Babylonian Kings. Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach. He was succeeded by his brother-in-law Neriglissar, who had Evil-Merodach assassinated.

During Neriglissar's reign, the Babylonian Empire started to crumble. Neriglissar was forced to go to the battlefront, and his son, Belshazzar was made Co-Regent.Belshazzar's responsibility was to take care of the affairs at home. But he was more interested in having a good time.
When Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem, he brought all the temple treasury to his palace at Babylon. Belshazzar held a fest, and served his guest with the golden cups from the temple treasury. At the party, they got all drunk, and committed immoral acts. They also sang the praises of the Babylonian gods.

All of the sudden a giant hand appeared, and started writing on the wall. Daniel 5:6 states that the loins of Belshazzar were loosed, and his knees knocked. In other words he wet his pants. No one could read the message on the wall. Belshazzar offered riches, and the office of Third Ruler to anyone who could translate the handwriting. But no one was able to do so.
The Queen (his mother) told him of Daniel. When Daniel appeared, he told the King that he wanted no rewards. He also reminded him of how Nebuchadnezzar had humbled himself before God, something that Belshazzar refused to do. In Daniel:25-28, the hand written message is recorded, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN."

MENE- Meant that God had numbered the days of Babylon and Belshazzar.
TEKEL-Belshazzar had been weighed on the scales, and was in want.
PERES-Proclaimed that Babylon would be replaced by the Medes-Persian Empire.

After Daniel translated the message Belshazzar made him the Third Ruler. He brought him a scarlet robe, and a gold chain. But that night, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus of Persian invaded Babylon. Belshazzar was put to death.

Years earlier, Daniel had told Nebuchadnezzar that Babylon would be replaced by an empire that was ruled by two Kings. Daniel lived to see this prophecy. The siege of Babylon had also been prophesied by Jeremiah and Isaiah. Below are two passages that predict their destruction.
"And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible." Isaiah 13:11 (KJV). I have laid a snare for thee, thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the Lord." Jeremiah 50:24 (KJV).

Taken from The Shmagar Report June 2005.

This is the last of my articles about Babylon.