Belshazzar, a Babylonian prince, is most famously known for his role in the dramatic events leading to the fall of Babylon as recorded in the Book of Daniel, chapter 5. He is identified as the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and he served as co-regent during his father's prolonged absence from the capital.

The Feast and the Writing on the Wall

The narrative of Belshazzar's downfall begins with a grand feast he hosted for a thousand of his nobles. During this feast, Belshazzar, in a display of arrogance and sacrilege, commanded that the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, be brought to the banquet. As they drank from these sacred vessels, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (Daniel 5:1-4).

In the midst of this revelry, a mysterious and divine intervention occurred. A human hand appeared and wrote a message on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. The king, witnessing this supernatural event, was filled with terror, and his countenance changed. His knees knocked together, and his legs gave way (Daniel 5:5-6).

Daniel's Interpretation

Unable to interpret the writing, Belshazzar called for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners of Babylon, promising them great rewards if they could decipher the message. However, none could interpret the writing. The queen, hearing of the commotion, reminded Belshazzar of Daniel, a man endowed with the spirit of the holy gods, who had previously interpreted dreams and solved difficult problems during Nebuchadnezzar's reign (Daniel 5:7-12).

Daniel was brought before the king, and after refusing the king's rewards, he proceeded to interpret the writing. Before doing so, Daniel recounted the history of Nebuchadnezzar's pride and subsequent humbling by God, contrasting it with Belshazzar's failure to humble himself despite knowing these events. Daniel accused Belshazzar of exalting himself against the Lord of heaven by desecrating the sacred vessels and failing to honor the God who holds his life in His hands (Daniel 5:13-23).

The inscription on the wall read "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN." Daniel explained the meaning: "MENE" meant that God had numbered the days of Belshazzar's reign and brought it to an end; "TEKEL" indicated that Belshazzar had been weighed on the scales and found wanting; "PARSIN" (or "PERES") signified that the kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:24-28).

The Fulfillment of the Prophecy

True to the prophecy, that very night, Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom (Daniel 5:30-31). This event marked the end of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of the Medo-Persian dominance, fulfilling the divine judgment pronounced through Daniel.

Belshazzar's downfall serves as a powerful reminder of the sovereignty of God over the kingdoms of men and the consequences of pride and irreverence towards the divine. The narrative underscores the biblical theme that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, as seen throughout the Scriptures.