Page 152 - Daniel

were measures of weight or currency.
Mene is related to the Hebrew word mina. A mina was equal to fifty

shekels. The word can also be translated “to count” or “to number.” The
word is repeated twice, perhaps for emphasis. Daniel interpreted it to
mean “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an
end” (v. 26).

Tekel is related to the Hebrew word shekel. A shekel was a unit of
weight, but the word can be translated “to weigh” or “to be found light
or wanting.” Daniel interpreted it to mean “you have been weighed in
the balances and found wanting” (v. 27).

Parsin is related to the Hebrew word peres, which was a unit of weight
(a half-shekel). The word also can be translated “divided,” and as a play
on words it could also refer to the Persians. Daniel interpreted it to mean

“your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians” (v. 28).
Through the handwriting, Belshazzar was made to understand that
Babylon would fall to the enemies that were besieging the city at that

very moment. Even while Daniel was interpreting the writing, the
prophecy was being fulfilled as the Medes and the Persians poured into
the city.

DANIEL’S REWARD AND THE PROPHECY FULFILLED (5:29–31)

5:29–31 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed
with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a
proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in
the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.
And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two
years old.

The drama of the writing on the wall and its interpretation was

brought to its fulfillment as Belshazzar kept his promise and made
Daniel the third ruler in the kingdom. It was a short-lived honor,
however, as Daniel well knew, and typical of the honors of this world. In
its rise to power the Babylonian Empire had conquered Jerusalem, taken
its inhabitants into captivity, looted its beautiful temple, and destroyed