# Daniel Chapter 5
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## Summary
King Belshazzar throws a feast for a thousand lords and uses the vessels of Gold and silver taken from the temple. Fingers of a human hand appear and write on the plaster wall. Belshazzar is alarmed and when the enchanters, Chaldeans and astrologers cannot offer an interpretation Daniel is sent for. Daniel interprets the writing which is a judgement against Belshazzar. Daniel is elevated and Belshazzar is killed. The Kingdom is then conquered by Darius the Mede.

## Imagery and Theme's
A controversial aspect of this passage is undoubtedly the inaccuracy in the recording of King Belshazzar's lineage. The passage makes reference to Belshazzar being the son of King Nebuchadnezzar II utilising the word a-bu-hi which translates as his father. Yet he was actually the son of Nabonidus one of Nebuchadnezzar's successors. To make matters worse the conqueror who inherits Babylon is Darius the Mede but no such King ever existed. 

My departure from evangelical Christianity no longer leaves me with a bad taste in the mouth or the compulsion to offer excuses. Quid scriptum est scriptum[^1]. Ultimately what should concern the reader is the implications rather than the historicity. Certainly up to this point the character of Nebuchadnezzar has seemed somewhat a literary device and with his significantly variable moods and excessive outpouring of praise. As such we might interpret the passage in light of the previous chapter to see a similar narrative emerge.

What seems to be the case in this passage is a further warning about leadership that does not humble itself before God. That there are significant consequences and in this case there is no restoration. The point is made with the death of King Belshazzar. There is evidently an escalation given Belshazzar had the foreknowledge. Strangely as in the case of Nebuchadnezzar the response to bad news is to bestow great honours upon Daniel. Daniel is certainly an interesting literary achievement in some sense, but in others it's really wanting.

[^1]: What is written is written