Daniel 5:30-31
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What's so striking here is the stark, almost abrupt finality. The entire elaborate prophecy and its terrifying interpretation culminates in a single, chilling sentence: Belshazzar's life ended that very night. It underscores the utter completeness of God's judgment and how swiftly His pronouncements can be enacted, leaving no room for escape once the appointed time arrives.
That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Daniel finishes interpreting the terrifying handwriting on the wall, he delivers God's verdict on Belshazzar's reign and character. Immediately following this pronouncement, the Babylonian army is invaded, and the king is violently killed during a lavish feast. This swift execution marks the end of the Chaldean empire and the beginning of Medo-Persian rule, fulfilling ancient prophecies of judgment.
Imagine a party that never stops, a night of unchecked excess. Then, in a heartbeat, everything ends. This verse captures that exact moment.
Daniel 5:30 is stark and abrupt: 'That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.' This isn't a slow decline; it's an immediate, final judgment.
The historical accounts from scholars like Xenophon and Herodotus paint a vivid picture: Cyrus's army, guided by defectors, diverted the Euphrates River. They marched into Babylon through the dry riverbed while the city was deep in a drunken, celebratory feast. The gates were left open, or even opened in confusion. In the midst of this revelry, Belshazzar and his court met their violent end.
This suddenness underscores God's sovereignty and His perfect timing. The prophecy written on the wall was fulfilled not weeks or months later, but that very night. It's a powerful reminder that God's justice can arrive with astonishing speed.
Belshazzar didn't just make a mistake; he committed an act of profound defiance. This verse is the final punctuation mark on his rebellion.
Belshazzar's death wasn't just a political overthrow; it was a direct consequence of his hubris and sacrilege. He had seen his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar judged and humbled, yet he chose to repeat similar sins, culminating in the infamous feast where he defiled the sacred vessels of the Jerusalem Temple.
By praising his own gods and drinking from vessels dedicated to the God of Israel, Belshazzar sealed his doom. The historical accounts confirm that he was killed in the midst of this impious celebration. His end serves as a stark example of God's wrath against those who arrogantly defy Him and desecrate His holy things.
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This isn't just about ancient Babylon. It's a timeless principle: God takes seriously the disrespect shown to Him and His people. The judgment is severe, and the end for such defiance is death.
Understand the original words
daryavesh · Aramaic Proper Noun
A name or title likely referring to a specific ruler who took control of Babylon; historically debated, it represents the transition of earthly kingdoms under the sovereign hand of God.
maday · Aramaic Noun/Adjective
Refers to a specific ancient people group, the Medes, who, alongside the Persians, were used by God to bring judgment upon the Babylonian Empire.
malku · Aramaic Noun
Refers to the sovereign rule, authority, or realm over which a monarch governs; in the biblical context, kingdoms are transient and ultimately subject to the Kingdom of God.
The dramatic and sudden fall of Babylon and the death of Belshazzar occurred during a night of feasting, precisely as the prophetic writing foretold, highlighting the swiftness with which God's judgment can fall upon those who defy Him.
c. 550 BC
Cyrus the Great rises to power
Cyrus, ruler of Anshan, begins his conquest by overthrowing his Median grandfather and uniting the Median and Persian empires.
c. 547 BC
Fall of the Lydian Empire
Cyrus conquers the wealthy Kingdom of Lydia, solidifying Persian control over Asia Minor and bringing him closer to Babylonia.
c. 540-539 BC
Cyrus prepares to attack Babylon
Cyrus begins his campaign against the Babylonian Empire, likely securing alliances and strategic positions in the surrounding territories.
539 BC
Cyrus diverts the Euphrates River
The Persian army, under Cyrus's command, engineers a massive feat by diverting the Euphrates River, creating a dry path into the city of Babylon.
October 12, 539 BC— this verse
Babylon falls to Cyrus
While the city is in the midst of a lavish feast and revelry, Persian forces enter Babylon through the dry riverbed and its unguarded gates.
October 12, 539 BC
Belshazzar is slain
During the chaos and capture of the city, King Belshazzar is killed by the invading forces, fulfilling the prophecy of the writing on the wall.
c. 539 BC
Darius the Mede takes the throne
Cyrus appoints his uncle, Darius the Mede, to rule the conquered Babylonian kingdom, marking a significant transition in regional power.
This passage directly prophesies the sudden and unexpected downfall of Babylon, mirroring the abrupt end described for Belshazzar.
Jeremiah 51:30-32This prophecy details how Babylon's mighty men would be silent and weakened in the day of their calamity, aligning with the image of a city caught in revelry and unprepared for its demise.
Daniel 5:25-28This is the direct interpretation of the 'writing on the wall' that foretold the division and destruction of Belshazzar's kingdom, making it the immediate precursor to his death.
Proverbs 16:18This proverb warns that 'Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall,' encapsulating the spiritual and moral downfall that led to Belshazzar's violent end.
barnesDaniel 5:30: "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain."
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain - On the taking of Babylon, and the consequences, see the notes at Isaiah 13:17-22 ; Isaiah 45:1-2 . The account which Xenophon ("Cyrop." vii. s.) gives of the taking of Babylon. and of the death of the king - though without mentioning his name, agrees so well with the statement here, that it may be regarded as a strong confirmation of its correctness. After…
bensonDaniel 5:30: "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain."
Daniel 5:30-31. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain — He and all his nobles were slain together, in the midst of their feasting and revelling, as Herodotus, lib. 1., and Xenophon, inform us. The latter relates the story thus, Cyropæd., lib. 7. — “That two deserters, Gadatas and Gobryas, having assisted some of the Persian army to kill the guards, and seize upon the palace, they entered into the…
What's so striking here is the stark, almost abrupt finality. The entire elaborate prophecy and its terrifying interpretation culminates in a single, chilling sentence: Belshazzar's life ended that very night. It underscores the utter completeness of God's judgment and how swiftly His pronouncements can be enacted, leaving no room for escape once the appointed time arrives.
As Daniel finishes interpreting the terrifying handwriting on the wall, he delivers God's verdict on Belshazzar's reign and character. Immediately following this pronouncement, the Babylonian army is invaded, and the king is violently killed during a lavish feast. This swift execution marks the end of the Chaldean empire and the beginning of Medo-Persian rule, fulfilling ancient prophecies of judgment.
As Daniel finishes interpreting the terrifying handwriting on the wall, he delivers God's verdict on Belshazzar's reign and character. Immediately following this pronouncement, the Babylonian army is invaded, and the king is violently killed during a lavish feast. This swift execution marks the end of the Chaldean empire and the beginning of Medo-Persian rule, fulfilling ancient prophecies of judgment.
"That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old." — What's so striking here is the stark, almost abrupt finality. The entire elaborate prophecy and its terrifying interpretation culminates in a single, chilling sentence: Belshazzar's life ended *that…
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Last reviewed October 2026
