The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein

Episode: Daniel & The Writing on The Wall

Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Yael Eckstein
Podcast: Pray.com

Overview

This episode of The Chosen People dives into one of the Old Testament’s most dramatic and symbolic stories: the fall of King Belshazzar and the mysterious writing on the wall, as depicted in the Book of Daniel. The episode blends evocative dramatization with narrative detail, exploring the depth of spiritual arrogance, the transient nature of power, and the ultimate authority of God. Moving between gripping storytelling and contemplative dialogue, listeners are immersed in the opulence, decadence, and sudden undoing of Babylon’s palace, culminating in a prophetic judgment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Decadence and Arrogance of King Belshazzar

(04:01 – 07:50)

• The episode opens with a lavish, chaotic banquet held by King Belshazzar, vividly illustrating the self-indulgence and recklessness of Babylon’s court, even as the Persian army looms outside the city walls.

• Belshazzar mocks his father, Nebuchadnezzar's later faith and humility, and orders sacred vessels stolen from Jerusalem’s temple to be brought out for debauched use.

  Notable Quote:

  "Let us toast to my late father, the great and feared Nebuchadnezzar. Excuse me, may he rest in the arms of, well, whatever God he happened to be groveling before at the time."
  — King Belshazzar (05:43)

• The handling of these temple vessels and public blasphemy marks a key turning point, both narratively and thematically.

2. The Supernatural Intrusion: The Hand and the Writing

(08:08 – 11:14)

• During the revelry, a mysterious, disembodied hand appears and writes the cryptic words "Mene Mene Tekel Ufarsin" on the palace wall, sending the guests and king into terror.

• This moment stands out as both a literal and symbolic interruption of human pride by divine judgment.

  Memorable Description:

  "A hand. Pale, sharp, ghastly. It had no body, just the hand. Long fingers, the skin unnaturally smooth... Each stroke burning like hot iron into the wall."
  — Narrator (09:30)

3. The Queen Mother's Rebuke and Wisdom

(13:07 – 16:53)

• As the court falls into panic, the Queen Mother arrives, immediately castigating her son for his arrogance and folly:

  • She reminds Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling by the God of Israel, contrasting his father’s ultimate humility with Belshazzar's hubris.
  • She exposes the truth about the courtiers’ flattery and false counsel.

  Notable Quote:

  "You dare to drink from the vessels of the God who humbled the greatest king this world has ever known? You are a child playing king. No wonder Persia is going to sack this place and place your head on a pike."
  — Queen Mother (14:49)

• She insists that only Daniel, an exile from Judah, can unveil the mystery—again connecting Babylon’s fate to the God of Israel.

4. Daniel’s Unflinching Prophetic Interpretation

(17:07 – 22:46)

• Daniel is brought before Belshazzar, confronting the king with both calm authority and a quiet sorrow.

• He recounts Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall as a lesson the younger king ignored.

  Notable Exchange:

  Daniel: "You knew all this about your father and the God that I serve, and yet you still did this. Why?" (20:52)
  Belshazzar: "I... I. The Persians knock at our door. I feel powerless. And your God? He defeated my father." (21:01)

• Daniel interprets the writing:

  • Mene: "God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end."
  • Tekel: "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting."
  • Peres: "Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." (22:17–22:38)

• Daniel’s words are delivered not triumphantly, but with "the sorrow of a man who knows the sentence is already passed" (22:46).

5. The Foreshadowed Doom and Closing Reflections

(22:46 – 23:33)

• Even as Daniel speaks, the sense of imminent doom is palpable—the Persians are at the gates.
• The episode closes with the fulfillment of prophecy hanging in the air, and the theme of divine justice made clear.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “If the Persians are camped at our gates, let them hear our laughter over their war drums.”
  — King Belshazzar (04:54)

• "You are too great in your own eyes and in the eyes of men." "Who else matters?" "The Lord matters. And he has seen you for what you are."
  — Daniel and King Belshazzar (00:32–00:40, in opening flashback)

• "There is a man, an exile from Judah... He walks with a spirit not of this world... Daniel of Judah."
  — Queen Mother (15:53, 16:14)

• "Babylon burns so much of our scrolls, but true wisdom is found in the heart of our God. Cannot be consumed by flame."
  — Daniel (21:53)

• "Mene – God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel – you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres – your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
  — Daniel (22:17–22:38)

Episode Structure & Highlights

Opening (00:00–02:42)

• Brief flashback to Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling and restoration; transition to main narrative.

Banquet Scene & Desecration (04:01–08:08)

• Indulgence, sacrilege, and the king’s recklessness on full display.

The Supernatural Warning (08:08–11:14)

• The writing on the wall disrupts the party, filling the court with dread.

Intervention and Wisdom of the Queen Mother (13:07–16:53)

• Rebuke of Belshazzar, explanation of past events, direction to call Daniel.

Daniel Interprets the Writing (17:07–22:46)

• Daniel’s arrival, empathetic confrontation, and clear interpretation.

Conclusion (22:46–23:33)

• Fate sealed; Babylon’s fall foreshadowed.

Tone & Takeaways

• The episode blends dramatic dialogue, sensory-rich narration, and a somber, cautionary tone.
• Pride before destruction; human kingdoms are fragile before the sovereignty of God.
• Daniel stands out as a paradigm of faithfulness and truth-telling, unwavering in the face of power, extending both justice and compassion.

For Further Engagement

Listeners are invited to follow the podcast for more Old Testament storytelling and insight into "timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life," and are encouraged to reflect on the relevance of ancient wisdom to contemporary challenges.