Belshazzar's Feast

King Belshazzar recoils in the banquet hall as a mysterious hand writes divine judgment upon the palace wall: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. Surrounded by nobles, cups, rich drapery, and royal ornament, the Babylonian ruler sees his revelry interrupted by the living God. The scene draws from Daniel 5, where Belshazzar profanes the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem and praises lifeless idols of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. The inscription announces that his kingdom has been numbered, weighed, and divided. This artwork emphasizes the biblical warning against pride, sacrilege, and false worship, while pointing to the sovereignty of God over kings and empires. It is suited for teaching on Daniel, Old Testament prophecy, divine judgment, humility, and the enduring phrase “the writing on the wall.”