What does Daniel 5:21 mean?
This summarizes the punishment which God sent on Babylon's prior king, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28–33). To humble the arrogant ruler, the Lord drove him into insanity and an animal-like state. He no longer thought like a man, instead he thought like an animal. He no longer ate like a human being, instead he ate like an animal. While living and eating like an animal, with animals, his body was exposed to the elements. This debased condition continued until he recognized that the Most High God rules the world and gives power to whomever He chooses (Daniel 4:34–37). The prior chapter explained how God's humbling of Nebuchadnezzar accomplished His purpose.Daniel is reiterating this history (Daniel 5:18–20) for a reason. The current king, Belshazzar, summoned Daniel in panic after seeing a frightening event. In the middle of a drunken, profane celebration (Daniel 5:1–4), he saw ethereal fingers writing on the wall (Daniel 5:5). Daniel was summoned to explain this (Daniel 5:16). Daniel refuses any reward then begins this history lesson, leading up to an incredibly blunt—and very courageous—rebuke of Belshazzar's foolishness (Daniel 5:23). What makes the current king's actions so absurd is that he knows what happened to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:22) and should have learned, accordingly (Proverbs 19:25; 21:11).