Although the size of the banquet is not amazing, the situation was most unusual. How God holds in derision the rulers of the world who take counsel against Him (Ps 2:1-4)! [21] Belshazzar is recorded as owning lands throughout Babylonia, for instance owning an agricultural settlement near Uruk. Belshazzar played a pivotal role in the coup d'tat that overthrew the king Labashi-Marduk (r.556 BC) and brought Nabonidus to power in 556 BC. Now, in chapter 5, this prophecy is about to be fulfilled. In beginning his explanation of the handwriting on the wall, Daniel first of all reads the writing; and for the first time, the words are introduced into the text of this chapter. When Nabonidus went into exile (550), he entrusted Belshazzar with the throne and the major part of his army. Since the publication of Raymond Doughertys scholarly research .on Nabonidus and Belshazzar, based on the Nabonidus Cylinder and other sources, there is no ground for questioning the general historicity of Belshazzar; and only the details of the scriptural account unverified by extrabiblical sources can be challenged by the critics.247 Montgomery states that the story is unhistorical but nevertheless contains indubitable reminiscences of actual history.248. There are various theories concerning Nabonidus's origins, and in turn what claim he had to the throne, since it is not made clear in any contemporary sources. The next four years Neriglisar occupied the throne. [12][29] Though this period has often been dubbed a "co-regency", Belshazzar never assumed an official title. As he could lease out temple land, this suggests that Belshazzar, in administrative matters, could act with full royal power. Herodotus gives an interesting account of the circumstances surrounding the capture of Babylon: Cyrus then advanced against Babylon. A plausible account of Berosus, in his third book, found in a fragment preserved by Josephus summarizes the history between Nebuchadnezzars death in 562 B.C. In spite of the problem in the word, it is probable that the offer of honor was that of being the third ruler. Knowing Daniel was a wise elder statesman, the new leaders gave him a prestigious place in their government (Daniel 6:1-2). The latter relates the story thus, Cyropd., lib. His thin courage, bolstered by wine drunk from vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had plundered and were seemingly a symbol of the power of the gods of Babylon, now deserted him. 2 Kings 25:1-3, Jerusalems wall breaks and the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem, setting fire to the temple and the palace. Honoring of parents was characteristic of the Israelites (Ex 20:12; 1 Ki 2:13-20; 2 Ki 24:12-15). Daniel 7:1-7, Daniel receives a vision of a ram and a goat. According to the well-known narrative Belshazzar gave a splendid feast in his palace during the siege of Babylon (B.C. Belshazzar was not even the first ruler in the kingdom and was humiliated by the fact that Babylon was besieged and had already lost its power over the provinces surrounding the city. Updates? Belshazzar 's surviving heir is his granddaughter, Vashti. 184-85. The expression drunk wine before the thousand indicates that Belshazzar was probably on a platform at a higher level than other guests and led them in drinking toasts to their deities. Then came in all the kings wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. He died about 561 and was succeeded by his son Awil-Marduk (Evil-Merodach of 2 Kings). Archeological research is complicated by a change in the course of the Euphrates River and a higher water level, but more than 10,000 inscribed texts have been discovered. Daniel proclaims to Darius that God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. 67-68. Charles, for instance, suggests that the writing was in unfamiliar ideograms.272 This, however, is mere conjecture. As Nabonidus assumed the throne in 556 B.C., only six years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, and Belshazzar was probably at least a teenager when Nebuchadnezzar diedif he was old enough to be coregent with Nabonidus in 553 B.C. it is possible that he was a genuine son of Nebuchadnezzar and that his mother, after Nebuchadnezzars death, was married to Nabonidus. Many of the streets were lined with buildings three and four stories high. [8], Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus,[9] an elderly courtier who would rise to become the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The reference to father may be construed as grandfather. As Pusey states, Neither in Hebrew, nor in Chaldee, is there any-word for grandfather, grandson. Forefathers are called fathers or fathers fathers. But a single grandfather, or forefather, is never called fathers father but always father only.263, The sacred vessels taken from Jerusalem had apparently been kept in storage without sacrilegious use from Nebuchadnezzars day until the occasion of this feast. This is another illustration of how critical objections based on lack of external evidence are frequently overthrown when the evidence is uncovered.253, Additional evidence that Nabonidus was away from Babylon on the night of Daniel 5 is given in the fragment from Berosus, previously cited, which indicates that Nabonidus had left Babylon only to be vanquished in battle and flee to Borsippa. It is possible that Belshazzar had campaigned against the Persians on Lydia's behalf a year prior, in 547 BC. . The queen urged, however, that now he be brought in to solve the present problem. His concern was shared by the entire assembly. The text is definitely from the sixth century B.C. Nabonidus), but during the period of the regency there are references to both "offerings to the king" and "offerings to the son of the king". It is possible in the decline of the Babylonian Empire that the number of the wise men was far more limited at this point in history than it was under Nebuchadnezzars reign. No documents are dated to the "reign of Belshazzar", and no documents mention both Belshazzar and Nabonidus as if there was a formal co-regency. For a map of Babylon in sixth century B.C., see D. J. Wiseman, Babylon, in The New Bible Dictionary, pp. Although the author of the Book of Daniel describes Belshazzar as the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar as king of Babylon, Belshazzar was, in fact, neither. Belshazzar had been known only from the biblical Book of Daniel (chapters 5, 78) and from Xenophons Cyropaedia until 1854, when references to him were found in Babylonian cuneiform inscriptions. 11 or 12) 539 B.C., as indicated in the Nabonidus Chronicle,288 so the world will be overtaken by disaster when the day of the Lord comes (1 Th 5:1-3). Daniel read the writing and Belshazzar made him the third ruler in the kingdom. The first is the Babylonian king whom Daniel records was feasting when Babylon fell (Dan. - Daniel 12:13: 538 BC: Cyrus allows the Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem . Perhaps the full force of his wickedness in using the vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem had begun to dawn upon him, or the fears suppressed concerning the presence of the armies which surrounded Babylon may have now emerged. Having stationed his forces and given these directions, he himself marched away with the ineffective part of his army; and having come to the lake, Cyrus did the same with respect to the river and the lake as the queen of the Babylonians had done; for having diverted the river, by means of a canal, into the lake, which was before a swamp, he made the ancient channel fordable by the sinking of the river. In the quarter of a century which elapsed between chapter 4 and chapter 5, the further revelations given to Daniel in chapters 7 and 8 occurred. The probability is that the writing was in Aramaic and therefore not entirely unknown to the wise men. 208-14. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. Her address is courteous, O king, live for ever, but directly to the point. 272 R. H. Charles, The Book of Daniel, pp. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. Did Daniel have a wife in the Bible? In the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible, Belshazzar is referred to as Nebuchadnezzar's (grand)son. Against Apion, in Josephus 1:221-25. A parallel is found in Daniel 2:27, where Daniel addresses Nebuchadnezzar without formal greeting, and in Daniel 4:19, where Daniel replies to Nebuchadnezzar simply with the expression, My lord. This was hardly a time in any case for Daniel to greet Belshazzar with such an expression as he gave to Darius, O king, live for ever, when as a matter of fact, Belshazzars hours were numbered. One possibility, suggested by Paul-Alain Beaulieu, is that Belshazzar was put in charge of Babylonia's defense and was moving with the army along the northern and eastern border. They said, "Has not the king ordered us to put to death anyone who attempts to enter the palace, though he claims to be the king himself?" He's also one of the most well-known Old Testament villains. Some of these prophecies may have their ultimate fulfillment in the future (Rev 17-18). [24] Nabonidus made Tayma his provisional seat and he would stay there for about a decade, not returning to Babylon until September or October of 543 or 542 BC. Now these holy vessels are distributed among the crowd and used as vessels from which to drink wine. B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, pp. In any case, the king was in no position to dispute with Daniel, even though Daniels words brought even greater fear and apprehension to his heart. In Babylonia, temples usually carried out offerings to the king, such as sacrificing a specified number of sheep. "Belshazzar". Daniel 6:23-24, Darius issues a decree proclaiming that people should fear the God of Daniel. On the other hand, such a careful scholar as Edward J. Problems of his relationship will be considered at the proper place in the exposition, including the possibility that Belshazzars mother was a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar and thus in the royal line, whereas Nabonidus was not. [20] This is supported by documents describing business transactions of Belshazzar mentioning the same locations, and even the same household and servants, as similar earlier documents of Neriglissar. A handwriting appears on the wall and Belshazzar calls for Daniel who interprets it as a judgement from God. [29] It is probable that Nabonidus, a reformer, and Belshazzar, apparently more religiously conservative, did not see eye to eye in religious matters. He appears on the Bible Timeline Poster right before the fall of Babylon. John F. Walvoord, long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. [58], The Midrash literature enters into the details of Belshazzar's death. Nabonidus appoints his son, Belshazzar, as his co-regent. Scholars are not agreed as to the precise meaning of this term, but the suggestion is made that it may be a title for an office of honor which did not necessarily correspond precisely to the meaning of the word. Finally, the tidings come, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground (Is 21:9). Even while Daniel was interpreting the writing on the wall, the prophecy was being fulfilled as the Medes and the Persians poured into the city. In many respects, modern civilization is much like ancient Babylon, resplendent with its monuments of architectural triumph, as secure as human hands and ingenuity could make it, and yet defenseless against the judgment of God at the proper hour. Daniel is clothed with scarlet, a chain of gold put about his neck, and a proclamation issued that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 250 Cf. Still, orders by Nabonidus superseded orders by Belshazzar. He was given a Babylonian name - Belteshazzar, meaning "Bel Protect his Life." 9 out of the 12 chapters in Daniel revolve around dreams. One preserved document, which regards the granting of the privilege to cultivate a tract of land belonging to the Eanna temple in Uruk, is virtually identical to similar privileges issued by Nabonidus, though it is specified to have been issued by Belshazzar. [42], It is possible that a noteworthy return to orthodox Babylonian religion, following early attempts by Nabonidus to exalt the moon god Sn over the traditional Babylonian supreme deity Marduk, can be attributed to Belshazzar. After his murder the conspirators held a meeting, and by common consent conferred the kingdom upon Nabonnedus, a Babylonian and one of their gang. This omission, however, was later remedied, as mentioned above, by the discovery of the name of Bel-shar-usur (Belshazzar) on cylinders in which he is called the son of Nabonidus. In vain did he pled that he was the king. . 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. Daniel 2:26-45, Nebuchadnezzar begins siege of Jerusalem. If in cuneiform, the vowels would be included. Daniels excellent qualities manifested themselves in an excellent spirit, unusual knowledge and understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, difficult sentences, and dissolving of doubts, that is, solutions to problems. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Belshazzar was not allowed to date documents after his own "regnal years". A solution of the problem has depended largely on the premises of the scholars dealing with it. However, the narration here must be considered in the form of a condensation; and probably Daniel addressed the king in a formal way. For example, in the passage, "As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him" (Amos 5:19), the lion is said to represent Nebuchadnezzar, and the bear, equally ferocious if not equally courageous, is Belshazzar. During his coregency Belshazzar administered the government, his own estates, and those of his father, though, according to the Book of Daniel, famine and economic setbacks occurred late in his rule. Darius used little . Belshazzar is not mentioned in building inscriptions, which usually mention the king responsible. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. But for Belshazzar, Daniel immediately speaks out and delivers the cold hard facts. when conquered by the Medes. Like Nebuchadnezzar before him, Belshazzar was soon to experience divine judgment but without the happy ending. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. He knew Daniel and knew the history of Nebuchadnezzars experience with Gods chastening. Daniel 3:16-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown into the furnace but are unharmed. Norman Porteous, Daniel: A Commentary, p. 76. Daniel had a reputation among the Babylonian courts. Approximately twenty-three years elapsed between chapter 4 and chapter 5. King Belshazzar wanted his royal people, his wives . Belshazzar died after Babylon fell to the Persian general Gobyras without resistance on Oct. 12, 539, and probably before the Persian king Cyrus II entered the city 17 days later. Because his rule was arbitrary and licentious, he was assassinated by Neriglisar after he had reigned only two years. How old was Daniel when Belshazzar was king? [57], In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar is not malevolent (he rewards Daniel and raises him to high office). According to the accounts in the Bible and Xenophon, Belshazzar held a last great feast at which he saw a hand writing on a wall the following words in Aramaic: mene, mene, tekel, upharsin. The prophet Daniel, interpreting the handwriting on the wall as Gods judgment on the king, foretold the imminent destruction of the city. A favorite target of critics of faith concerns two kings mentioned eight times each in the book of Daniel: Belshazzar and Darius the Mede. The inability of the wise men to decipher the writing only increased the concern of Belshazzar. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire (Jer 51:57-58). Although it is possible to question the historicity of portions of the Prayer of Nabonidus, as it is undoubtedly apocryphal, the consensus of both liberal and conservative scholarship seems to take the account as repeating in the main a true story. This page was last edited on 31 March 2023, at 23:09. That such a large feast should be held by a monarch like Belshazzar is not at all strange. One can well imagine the tense moment as these ringing words reached every ear in the vast hall in the deathlike silence that greeted Daniels prophetic utterance. The battle probably took place much as Herodotus records it.286. The other administrators resented this and thought of ways to bring ruin to Daniel. But we have to acknowledge that this is speculation. [41] As Nabonidus's stay in Tayma continued, Belshazzar as became acutely aware of the threat presented by the Achaemenids, as he is recorded as having expended resources at projects in Sippar and nearby defenses. There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. The long chapter devoted to this incident which brought the Babylonian Empire to its close is undoubtedly recorded in the Word of God not only for its historic fulfillment of the prophecies relative to the Babylonian Empire but also as an illustration of divine dealing with a wicked world. This would involve the premise that Nabonidus, although usually living at Teima, had returned to Babylon for a visit just prior to the siege of Babylon, had gone out to battle before Babylon was actually surrounded, and then was defeated, thereby permitting the Persians to besiege Babylon itself. Nebuchadnezzar himself had died in 562 B.C. 7. Belshazzar's reign as king (not when he was acting in his father's stead) was incredibly brief and he only ruled two years before the Persians took over Babylon in 539 B.C. Daniel 1:18-20, Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzars dream about a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay. Belshazzar was evidently in no mood to bargain but was terrified and desperately desired to know the meaning of the writing. The outer wall seems to have been only seventeen miles in circumference, instead of about fifty-six as Herodotus claimed, with much fewer towers and gates; and probably even the towers were not more than 100 feet tall. He eventually led his forces into Arabia, conquering several cities, including the city of Tayma.
