DANIEL 5
The events in this chapter occurred several years after those recorded in chapter 4. Belshazzar was coregent with his father Nabonidus, which explains why Daniel was named third ruler in the kingdom (v.
The king may have been new, but the sin was old: pride and self-confidence. At that very hour, Darius was besieging the city; but so certain was Belshazzar of his defenses that he ridiculed Jehovah and praised the false gods of Babylon. It was Proverbs 16:7 over again.
God gave Nebuchadnezzar a year to repent, but He judged Belshazzar that very night. The king had not learned from those who had gone before, and Daniel told him so (vv. 17–23). But it was too late!
The self-confident sinner had better beware (Luke 11:16–21), and so should a proud world that says, “peace and safety!” (