Welcome back to another episode of NachDaily, with the 5th chapter in Sefer Doniel.

In the middle of King Belshatzar’s feast, an otherworldly hand appeared and wrote a mysterious message on the wall. Doniel was the only one to be able to read and interpret the message.

Before we begin, a word about the background of the story. This chapter moves away from speaking about King

Nevuchadnetzer, and now speaks of King Belshatzar. The Meforshim

debate about who King Belshatzar really was. Rashi and most others explain that he was the grandson of Nevuchadnetzer, who had a son, Evil-Mordakh. His child was Belshatzar, who succeeded him. For clarity’s sake, the succession was: Nevuchadnetzer, Evil-Mordakh, Belshatzar. Indeed, this would make Vashti from Megilas Esther the daughter of Belshatzar.

Bereshis Rabba 85:2 asks why there is no mention of Evil-Mordakh here. It answers that we place the affairs of a rasha next to that of a rasha. As Evil-Mordakh rescinded some of his father’s evil decrees, Chazal skipped him and went straight to Belshatzar.

The Ramad Walli explains that the reason Evil-Mordakh is not included is because the sefer highlights the nissim that Hashem showed us at that time period, and there were none during his reign.

There is a minority opinion that Belshatzar was actually the son of Nevuchadnetzer, brother of Evil-Mordakh.

On to the perek:

King Belshatzar made a huge feast for a thousand of his noblemen. In a drunken state, he asked for the gold and silver cups of the Beis Hamikdash to be brought. These were the cups that Nevuchadnetzer had stolen. The cups from the holy Beis Hamikdash were used while they drank and praised their gods.

At that very moment, in plain sight of the King, human fingers appeared and began to write on the wall directly across from the

candelabra. The Ramad Walli notes that it was by the light of the candelabra to show the King that his light will be diminished and blackened.

The King’s face began to turn red, while his body quivered. He immediately called his wise men to come and read the inscription on the wall. Whoever could read it would be rewarded by being raised to the 3rd highest position under the king. No one was able to read the inscription, however, and he and his advisors began to panic. [This is the origin of the saying, “The handwriting on the wall.”]

The Ramad Walli explains the difference between Belshatzar and Achashverosh, who also used the vessels of the Beis Hamkidash. Achashverosh didn’t have the audacity to “praise his gods” while using them, while Belshatzar did, and was punished immediately.

In verses 10 through 16, Belshatzar’s head wife told him that there was a man in the kingdom named Doniel, who had the ability to interpret mysteries and dreams. Nevuchadnetzer regularly relied on Doniel, from whom nothing was hidden. The King had Doniel brought and asked him to read the writing on the wall.

In verses 17 through 28, Doniel read the inscription. He told Belshatzar that he didn’t want the reward. Then he told the King that his grandfather, Nevuchadnetzer, was elevated to such a high status by God, Who has the power to reward or punish whomever He pleased. When Nevuchadnetzer’s heart became haughty, however, Hashem had him lowered to the status of an animal until he became humble again and recognized Him again.

Unfortunately, you, Belshatzar, are not humble, but are full of arrogance. You actually used the cups of the Beis Hamikdash. You, your wives and your noblemen drank from them while doing avoda zara. Because you failed to recognize God who gives you life, He sent you this message.

Verse 25 tells us that the inscription says, “MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN.” MENE means counted, Doniel continues. The years of

your kingdom are coming to an end. They have been counted by God. TEKEL means weighed; you have been weighed in the scales of judgment and found guilty! PERES, broken up, your kingdom will be broken up by Paras and Madai.

In verses 29 and 30, which end the perek, Doniel was promoted in status. He was given purple clothing and a golden chain to wear around his neck.

That night, Belshatzar was assassinated by one of his guards.

The Ramad Walli adds that Doniel’s honor remained well after Belshatzar was killed, as we’ll see in the next chapter. In Megilas Esther he still had his status in the palace as Hasach.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily as we learn about Doniel being thrown into the lion’s den!

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.