Daniel 5:11

There is a man in thy kingdom, in whome is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the dayes of thy father light and vnderstanding and wisedome like the wisedome of the gods, was found in him: whom the king Nebuchad-nezzar thy father, the king, Isay, thy father made master of the magicians, astrologers, Caldeans, and soothsayers, Daniel 5:11 (KJV)

The chapter opens with King Belshazzar of Babylon holding a lavish feast for a thousand of his lords. In the midst of the celebration he orders the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to be brought so that they may be used for drinking and for praising the gods of gold and silver. This profane use of sacred vessels provokes divine judgment. Suddenly a mysterious hand appears and writes on the wall of the palace, causing alarm and confusion among the king and his guests. Belshazzar summons his wise men, but none can decipher the inscription.

In this crisis the queen mother informs the king that there is a man in the kingdom who possesses the spirit of the holy gods. She describes him as a man in whom light, understanding, wisdom, and knowledge were found, comparable to the wisdom of the gods. The phrase “spirit of the holy gods” is understood in the text as indicating divine inspiration that enables the man to discern and interpret dreams and visions.

She further reminds the king that this man had previously served his father, King Nebuchadnezzar, and had been appointed master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. This prior appointment demonstrates the high regard in which he was held and the authority he enjoyed within the Babylonian court.

The description of Daniel’s extraordinary wisdom and divine spirit sets the stage for his pivotal role in the narrative. Because of his reputation, Belshazzar turns to Daniel to interpret the mysterious writing on the wall. Daniel’s interpretation will reveal God’s judgment upon Belshazzar and the Babylonian empire, fulfilling the prophetic purpose of the passage.