Background:
Babylon Becomes An Empire:
(dates from wikipedia)
Nabopolassar 626 - 605 BCE
Nebuchadrezzar 605 - 562 BCE (son)
Amel-Marduk 562 - 560 BCE (son)
Nergal-sharezer 560 - 556 BCE (amel-marduk's brother in law)
Labasi-Marduk 556 BCE (was a kid, killed in conspiracy)
Nabonidus 556 - 539 BCE (married nebuchadnezzars daughter nitocris?)
The story takes place at this point, in 539 BC; the empire has existed for roughly 85 years
(65 since the capture of Jerusalem).
Nabonidus
A curious king...
he worshipped the moon god rather than the normal babylonian pantheon.
he spent most of his time at an arabian oasis, leaving his son Belshazzar in charge.
a few days prior to the events of Daniel 5, he apparently lost a battle
Persian/Median War
Cyrus united the Median and Persian empires in 550 BC, eventually turning his sights to Babylon.
A few significant battles had happened prior to this point, but Babylon was relatively safe being protected by
huge walls.
babylon at the time was a huge city - most estimate it to be the world's largest city between 612 and 320 BC.
it covered an area of around 100 square miles, and had two (possibly 3) sets of walls; herodotus says the walls were
80 feet thick.
Babylon was an empire that had risen rapidly, become very powerful, and was now fighting another large empire from the east...
The new king of Babylon, Belshazzar, holds a humongous party. And instead of using paper plates, he decides to use the polished goods from Solomon's temple.
In the middle of the festivities ('Suddenly', v5), a hand appears and writes mysterious words on the wall.
The king calls for the usual suspects (conjurers, chaldeans, and diviners), promises rewards for the interpretation, but...none of them can interpret it.
The 'queen' tells Belshazzar about Daniel, who is fetched.
Daniel rebukes the king for ignoring the lessons of Nebuchadnezzar's life, then interprets the writing:
Mene (written twice) - The days of your kingdom have been numbered and the end has been set (lit. 'numbered').
Tekel - You have been measured, and it doesn't look good (lit. weighed).
Peres - Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians (lit. divided).
The king gives Daniel the reward for interpreting the message, making him 'third' in authority in the kingdom.
The kingdom lasts a few hours more, and Belshazzar is slain that evening by the Persians/Medians.
Repitition:
this is the third time in Daniel that the king's hogwarts staff can't figure it out, but Daniel can.
see also chapter 2 and 4....
Daniel is Old:
if he was 15ish in 605 when he was carried off, this would put him around 80.
Historical Notes:
Akitu? Show of strength? Belshazzar taking power from his father?
Apparently the Akitu festival, a major religious feast, was celebrated in the year Babylon fell.
The akitu festival marked the beginning of the New Year in Babylon (as well as the sowing of the barley).
The festival was dedicated to Marduk, the supreme God, and prominently featured the king receiving his
authority from the God.
from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akitu
and
http://www.livius.org/aj-al/akitu/akitu.htm, 9/18/2006
akitu is a twelve day festival marking the beginning of the new year.
the festival prominantly featured the king receiving his authority from the supreme babylonian
god marduk.
on the fifth day, "the king went to the Esagila to
greet Marduk. He had to do this humbly, laying down his weapons, crown and scepter. The
šešgallu listened to the king's words that he had not sinned against Marduk and hit him very
hard on the cheek (the king had to have tears in his eyes). Perhaps, this was a punishment for
sins that were unwillingly committed. Kneeling in front of the statue of Marduk, the king receives
an oracle about the glorious future, and was given back his royal insignia. At sunset, the king
and the šešgallu performed a not completely understood ritual with a white bull."
assuming the feast is indeed akitu...
it is somewhat ironic given the nature of the authority conflict in chapter 4 that the feast celebrated in
5 prominently includes the receiving of authority from a babylonian god (esp. set as it is against Israel's God
removing the authority from Babylon.)
Greek verification:
Xenophon and Herodotus both speak of the capture of Babylon being made a bit easier due to a feast happening at the time.
Apparently, the Persians were able to enter the city despite its incredible fortifications by
diverting the Euphrates river which flowed under the walls.
Once the water level was low enough, they simply walked in.
Biblical prediction?
Isa 21:5 and Jer 51:39 associate a banquet with the fall of Babylon
isa 21:5 They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"
jer 51:39 "When they become heated up, I will serve them their banquet And make them drunk, that they may become jubilant
And may sleep a perpetual sleep And not wake up," declares the LORD.
Babylon falls, and Israel gets to see it.
Babylon carts God's people off into captivity, and some of them live to see the end of their captors.
From a religious/social standpoint, it at least ends the boasting of the Babylonians.
God gets the credit for Babylon's fall.
Why the hand?
because god thinks it's cool?
it shows that the fall of babylon is god's doing.
like in a revenge movie - placing a memento so the victim knows who's responsible.
Daniel 5 emphasizes that their defeat by the Persians is God's doing.
God's people and promise
In the book of Daniel, it is notable that Daniel, representing God's people, outlasts the kings of Babylon.
it is important to note the emphasis that it is god who ends babylon
The chapter provides the final argument in Daniel's case for the superiority of God over the Babylonian pantheon.
Questions on people within the work of God:
Why was Belshazaar judged and not Nebuchadnezzar?
Nebuchadnezzar got several second chances.
Belshazzar wasn't.
Was one better than another?
maybe - the text doesn't say.
nebu definitely did get more chances though.
Who of Israel received benefit from the fall of Babylon?
1. The Israelites alive at the time did.
2. The Israelites already dead didn't.
Was one group better than another?
maybe again - did the israelites born into exile obey god more wholeheartedly?
doesn't say though - there were definitely some great saints killed in the exile nonetheless.
Why does God pick one group to receive judgement and another to receive blessing?
Does it matter?
I'm not sure it does matter.
Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar had positive lives (in many ways).
Jeremiah didn't.
Belshazzar received judgement.
God does judge evil (though you may not get to see it in your lifetime.)
God is not a god who allows evil to run unchecked.
'Love' is not the only value God posseses.
God is love, but not just.
the 'fear of the lord'...
The work of men comes and goes.
Be careful what you value...
Daniel was given honor and authority in the Babylonian empire...which had value for only a few hours.
see luke 12:16-21 (parable of the barns)
16. And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.
17. "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, `What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'
18. "Then he said, `This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I
will store all my grain and my goods.
19. `And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease,
eat, drink and be merry."'
20. "But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own
what you have prepared?'
21. "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
Don't give up on God.
Things that may seem to large for God are not.
God did amazing things in Babylon, then destroyed it.
God is absolutely able to handle the problems we feel are too large.