Instant mood killer, right? That’s precisely what happened to King Belshazzar.
As we read in the Book of Daniel, the writing was on the wall—literally. And it foretold doom.
The prophet Daniel, of course, was the only one who could decipher the Aramaic script. He revealed that the words meant Belshazzar's kingdom was about to be divided and given to the Medes and Persians. According to Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, Daniel's interpretation brought the revelry to a screeching halt. Panic ensued. Guests fled, leaving only the doomed king and his closest attendants behind.
But the story doesn't end there. The very same night, a loyal, yet disgruntled, servant—one who remembered Daniel from the days of Nebuchadnezzar (Belshazzar's grandfather)—assassinated Belshazzar. He saw Daniel's prophecy as undeniable and took matters into his own hands.
This servant then took Belshazzar's head to Darius and Cyrus. Think about that for a moment. What a macabre offering! He recounted to them how Belshazzar had desecrated the sacred vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem – those very vessels Nebuchadnezzar had plundered years before. He told them of the miraculous writing and Daniel’s frightening interpretation.
And here’s where the story takes a turn towards hope. Moved by the servant's tale, Darius and Cyrus made a solemn vow. They promised to allow the Jews to return to their homeland, Palestine, and to return the sacred Temple vessels.
This act of repentance and promise of restoration is powerful. It suggests that even amidst chaos and destruction, there is always the potential for redemption and renewal. The demise of one king, sealed by a mysterious message and a swift act of violence, paved the way for the return of a people to their land and the rebuilding of their sacred space. A new chapter was being written in Jewish history. A chapter of return, of hope, and of rebuilding. And it all started with some very unsettling graffiti.