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. Prophecy anticipating the fall of Babylon is found in both Isaiah and Jeremiah, written many years before. What happened to King Belshazzar in the book of Daniel? This, no doubt, prepared the way for the co-regency under Nabonidus which probably began 553 B.C., supporting Daniel 5. All 66 books; Old Testament books; . See J. T. Milik, Priere de Nabonide et autres ecrits dun cycle de Daniel, Revue Biblique 63:407-15. Merrill F. Unger, Ungers Bible Dictionary, pp. A handwriting appears on the wall and Belshazzar calls for Daniel who interprets it as a judgement from God. It seems clear that Belshazzar knew something of Daniel, for his form of address in verse 13 goes beyond the information supplied by his mother. 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. Like Nebuchadnezzar before him, Belshazzar was soon to experience divine judgment but without the happy ending. 5:1-30) and during whose reign he received two visions (Dan. Nabonidus was absent from Babylon from 553 BC to 543 or 542 BC, in self-imposed "exile" at Tayma in Arabia, for unknown reasons. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. Without any battle, he made him enter his town Babylon, sparing Babylon any calamity. [12] As all of these ancient Babylonian documents were written after Babylon was conquered by the Achaemenid Empire, they are biased in favor of Cyrus, and against Nabonidus and Belshazzar. On the other hand, such a careful scholar as Edward J. Babylonian chronicles refer to the crown prince being stationed at home in Babylonia with "his army". If she were the wife of Nabonidus who was in captivity she probably would not have desired to come alone. 258 M. E. L. Mallowan, Nimrud, in Archaeology and Old Testament Study, p. 62. Belshazzar informs Daniel of the inability of all the wise men either to read or to interpret the writing. "Belshazzar". Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield (Is 21:4-5). Nabonidus fleeing Babylon went to Borsippa but was forced to surrender to Cyrus. The Medes and Persians managed to slip into the city secretly while all the Babylonians feasted. There was, however, nothing insolent or discourteous in Daniels address to the king; and the charges were stated in a factual and objective way. Daniel experiences a vision of the four terrifying beasts but kept the vision to himself. Daniel 10:2-3, Daniel dies at 84 years old. The king was drinking wine with them. According to the queen, Daniel had the spirit of the holy gods. In the time of Nebuchadnezzar, to whom she refers as thy father, Daniel had been found to have the wisdom of gods and possessing light, that is, enlightenment, understanding or insight, and in general wisdom comparable to the wisdom of the gods. It is not at all surprising that the former king (or regent in this case, as Nabonidus was technically still king) was killed by the conquering power. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? [5][6] Belshazzar is portrayed as the king of Babylon and "son" of Nebuchadnezzar, though he was actually the son of Nabonidusone of Nebuchadnezzar's successorsand he never became king in his own right, nor did he lead the religious festivals as the king was required to do. Daniel 1:3-7, Daniel and his friends complete their three years of learning. Under the stimulus of wine, the thought occurred to Belshazzar to bring in the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar almost seventy years before. Probably before the babble of conversation in the banquet room had subsided, the king began to cry aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. Only three classes of wise men are mentioned, but it is doubtful whether any class was intentionally omitted as verse 8 refers to all the kings wise men. The astrologers were actually the magicians; the Chaldeans were a broad class of scholars and learned men in the lore of the Babylonians; and the soothsayers corresponded more closely to the modern concept of astrologers, although they may have also practiced sorcery. Daniel dies at 84 years old. Who succeeded Belshazzar as king of Babylon? The Verse Account of Nabonidus states that Nabonidus campaigned in Arabia with the "army of Akkad" (possibly referring to troops of Babylonian origin) whereas Belshazzar was entrusted at home with the "army of all the lands" (possibly referring to troops of foreign origin). While the feast was in progress with its drinking of wine and shouting of praises to the gods of Babylon, suddenly there appeared the fingers of a mans hand which wrote on the plastered wall of the palace. As Keil points out, the king was ready to listen to anyone who could interpret the writing.269. That means Daniel was 36 years old when Jerusalem and Solomon's temple were destroyed. [29][1] The Verse Account of Nabonidus, a biased[13] document probably written after Nabonidus was deposed by Cyrus the Great, states that Nabonidus entrusted Belshazzar with the kingship, but there are no records of Belshazzar assuming the royal title. Nebuchadnezzar II was the eldest son and successor of Nabopolassar, founder of the Chaldean empire. 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. . While in ordinary discourse the lack of vowels could normally be supplied rather easily, in a cryptic statement such as this the addition of vowels is a problem. Nebuchadnezzar's . 5:29-31 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. [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. The word MENE means numbered, and Daniel interprets this in verse 26 as indicating God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. It is in keeping with the idea that mans days are numbered, and the repetition of the word twice is probably for emphasis. 5. Belshazzar's Feast And The Fall Of Babylon | Bible.org 7. If in cuneiform, the vowels would be included. Daniel 5:30 Commentaries: That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king 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. All of this proved that God was greater than Nebuchadnezzar and held him responsible for his authority. Daniel 1:18-20, Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzars dream about a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay. A voice tells him the meaning of the vision, and Daniel lies exhausted by the vision for many days after. Not only the record in Daniel but also the external evidence is now sufficient to support the conclusion that Belshazzars coregency is almost beyond question. For a map of Babylon in sixth century B.C., see D. J. Wiseman, Babylon, in The New Bible Dictionary, pp. Isaiah and Jeremiah had prophesied that Babylon would fall to the Medes on just such a night of revelry as Daniel records (Is 13:17-22; 21:1-10; Jer 51:33-58). [12][29] Though this period has often been dubbed a "co-regency", Belshazzar never assumed an official title. Daniel was deported to Babylon (some 900 miles away) when he was sixteen years old. These facts are pertinent to Belshazzars situation as they were well known by everyone as Daniel expresses it in verse 22, And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this. The contrast between the supreme power of Nebuchadnezzar and the very limited power of Belshazzar is also evident. when conquered by the Medes. He was 62 years old. Daniel 12:13, Cyrus allows the Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Their confidence in their gods was bolstered by their confidence in their city. 287 J. The interpretation of Daniel is clear and much more satisfactory than the alternatives offered by some expositors. For pictures and further details, see R. K. Harrison, Babylon, in The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, pp. Who was Belchazzar? Babylonian King in the Bible - Bible Study Tools 5:1-4 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 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. Belshazzar may have been the son of the king who is said in the same chronicle to have commanded the Babylonian army in Accad from the 6th to the 11th year of Nabunaid I; or, possibly longer, for the annals before the 6th and after the 11th year are broken and for the most part illegible. [58], The Midrash literature enters into the details of Belshazzar's death. Young states, The identity of Belshazzar has long caused difficulty to commentators. 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. . Belshazzar is made to understand that Babylon will be given to the Medes and the Persians. He was given a Babylonian name - Belteshazzar, meaning "Bel Protect his Life." 9 out of the 12 chapters in Daniel revolve around dreams. Belshazzar, Neo-Babylonian Bel-shar-usur, Greek Baltasar, or Balthasar, (died c. 539 bc), coregent of Babylon who was killed at the capture of the city by the Persians. In the ruins of Nebuchadnezzars palace archeologists have uncovered a large throne room 56 feet wide and 173 feet long which probably was the scene of this banquet. What Daniel is saying is that he will give an unprejudiced interpretation with no attempt to seek favor from the king. He was followed by King Belshazzar who ascended the throne in 3387 (374 BCE). Some have denied his historicity The kings name, however, has now appeared upon the cuneiform documents, so that there can be no question as to his historicity. 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). Prior to and after Belshazzar's regency, surviving texts only contain references to offerings to the king (i.e. Daniel 6:1-6, The administrators who are envious of Daniel tricks Darius to issue a decree prohibiting anyone to worship in the next thirty days or be thrown to the lions den. . 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). He was succeeded by Laborosoarchad, also known as Labashi-Marduk, a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, who was assassinated after less than a year. After his murder the conspirators held a meeting, and by common consent conferred the kingdom upon Nabonnedus, a Babylonian and one of their gang. The information embodied in these two visions, insofar as Daniel understood it, therefore was known to Daniel before the event of chapter 5 which chronologically came after chapters 7 and 8. 5:13-16 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. He is considered perhaps the world's foremost interpreter of biblical prophecy.John is perhaps best known for his bestselling work on Bible prophecy, Armageddon More. Nebuchadnezzar dies and is replaced by a succession of short-lived kings. Then came in all the kings wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 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. Through his mother, he might have been a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar II (r.605562 BC), though this is not certain and the claims to kinship with Nebuchadnezzar may have originated from royal propaganda. Daniel 5:30 That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, Belshazzar | king of Babylonia | Britannica Was Belshazzar actually king of Babylon and was he murdered on the night that Babylon was conquered? Suiting the action to the word, Cyrus and Darius grasped a heavy ornament forming part of a candelabrum, and with it shattered the skull of their royal master (Shir ha-Shirim Rabbah 3:4).[58]. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain He and all his nobles were slain together, in the midst of their feasting and revelling, as Herodotus, lib. The queen urged, however, that now he be brought in to solve the present problem. Those critical of the authenticity and accuracy of Daniel, especially those zealous to prove second-century authorship, proceed on the premise that Daniel must be in error until he is proved otherwise. 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. A. Brinkman, Probably the first recorded mention of Belshazzar, Prince of Babylonia under Nabonnedus is in a cuneiform text 135 in a collection at the Archaeological Museum in Florence published in 1958-60 by Professor Karl Ober-huber of the University of Innsbruck. 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. [17] After the accession of his father, Belshazzar emerges in the sources as a prominent businessman and the head of a wealthy household, a role that was typically not picked up by members of the royal family in the Neo-Babylonian period. To be clothed in scarlet and to wear a chain of gold about the neck were special tokens of the kings favor and certainly would have been coveted by any of the wise men. 538), using the sacred vessels of the temple, which Nebuchadnezzer had brought from Jerusalem. He knew for instance that Daniel was of the captivity of Judah and that he was one of the captives which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem. Later, King Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, and again Daniel was able to interpret it. Before morning they killed Belshazzar and took over his kingdom (v 31). Like the other words, it is a passive participle. Belshazzar under Nabonidus was considered the second ruler, and the position of a third ruler would be the highest that he could offer. Nabonidus was allowed to live in Carmania until the time of his death, but he was not allowed to come to Babylonia.245, The account of Berosus preserved by Josephus is supported by other evidence such as the short fragment of Abydenus preserved by Eusebius.246, Until the discovery of the Nabonidus Cylinder, no mention of Belshazzar, whom Daniel declares to be king of Babylon, had been found in extrabiblical literature. 9. Although there are alternative explanations and some dates vary, this succession of kings and identification of characters seems to have reasonable justification. For the duration of the decade-long absence of his father, Belshazzar served as regent in Babylon. Since Belshazzar was the main beneficiary of the coup, through confiscating and inheriting Labashi-Marduk's estates and wealth, it is likely that he was the chief orchestrator. The bridge was later supplemented by a tunnel mentioned by Diodorus. As Keil expresses it, It is not quite certain what the princely situation is which was promised to the interpreter of the writing That it is not the ordinale of the number third, is, since Havernick, now generally acknowledged.270 However, recent scholarship has tended to confirm the translation the third ruler. Franz Rosenthal, for instance, confidently translates the term one-third (ruler), triumvir.271. and reigned until 539 b.c. How old was Daniel when Belshazzar was king? The conspirators appointed Nabonidus, one of their number, who reigned for seventeen years before being defeated by Cyrus the Persian. 249 According to J. In its rise to power the Babylonian Empire had conquered Jerusalem, taken its inhabitants into captivity, looted its beautiful temple, and completely destroyed the city. [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. It seems likely that skirmishes along the border were frequent from then until Babylon's fall. It may even have been Belshazzar who convinced his father to stay away from Babylonia in the first place, fearing a confrontation with the Babylonian oligarchy and clergy over his father's religious beliefs. Belshazzar (Balthazar), on the other hand, disappeared from history around 540 BC, when Darius the Great would have been roughly ten years of age. Transliterated into English, they are given as MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. There has been almost endless critical discussion as to what the meaning of this inscription is, and the interpretation is complicated by a number of factors.279 In the book of Daniel the words are given in Aramaic, but some have questioned this.280 If it was written in Aramaic script, however, only the consonants may have appeared. Ezra 6:14-18. 271 F. Rosenthal, A Grammar of Biblical Aramaic, p. 71. Corrections? Belshazzar was killed that night, and the city taken by the Medes and Persians. Since there is little change in the prominent members of Neriglissar's and Labashi-Marduk's former household under Belshazzar, it is probable that Belshazzar becoming the master of the household was met with relatively little opposition. Whether, therefore, someone else made the suggestion to him in his perplexity, or whether he himself devised the plan, he had recourse to the following stratagem. The next four years Neriglisar occupied the throne. This would mean right about the time of his death, around 490-485 BC, since he was born around 550 BC, and lived for about 65 years. In the Neo-Babylonian Empire, oaths were typically sworn by the king, and several gods, by individuals who were going to conduct various services. His grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken these cups from the Temple in Jerusalem. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Young, The Prophecy of Daniel, p. 115. The implication in the clause whiles he tasted the wine is that Belshazzar in his right mind probably would not have committed this sacrilegious act. Darius notes Daniels good qualities and plans to elevate him to the highest administrative position. But we have to acknowledge that this is speculation. How can we understand the different dates in Haggai & Daniel about King He was instead filled with terror to the point that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. In his excitement, he no longer could sit down but hardly had the strength to stand. As this phenomenon only began late in the regency period, it is not clear whether this was a prerogative that had been granted to Belshazzar, or if he inserted his name into oaths in violation of an agreement with his father. Belshazzar, son of Nabonidus, was the last king of Babylon during the time of Daniel . Daniel 5:1-25 ERV. Discoveries since Keil tend to support Herodotus and Xenophon, although not accounting for Darius the Mede. In the midst of this atmosphere of consternation, apprehension, and fear, Daniels countenance alone reflected the deep peace of God founded on confidence in God and His divine revelation. Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world (30-31) The death of Belshazzar and the rise of Darius the Mede. All Rights Reserved. 247 See Raymond P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar. Interestingly, the wall behind the niche was covered with white plaster as described by Daniel, which would make an excellent background for such a writing.268. Having stationed the bulk of his army near the passage of the river where it enters Babylon, and again having stationed another division beyond the city, where the river makes its exit, he gave order to his forces to enter the city as soon as they should see the stream fordable. Keil, pp. TEQEL could be considered as representing the Hebrew shekeL PERES could be read as PERAS, or a half-maneh, although this identification is questionable. 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. As one holding her position was normally highly regarded and treated with respect, she could speak out in a way that no other could do. 117-20. [53] During a feast, Babylonians eat and drink from the holy vessels of Yahweh's temple, and "king" Belshazzar sees a hand writing the words mene, mene, tekel, upharsin on a wall. There was plenty of water from the Euphrates River which bisected the city. [5][6][7] Daniel's Belshazzar is not malevolent (he, for instance, rewards Daniel for his interpretation of "the writing on the wall"), but in later Jewish tradition Belshazzar was presented as a tyrant who oppresses the Jewish people. The drama of the writing on the wall and its interpretation is now brought to its fulfillment as Belshazzar keeps his promise. [46][47] The sources also do not make Belshazzar's location clear, but it appears that he was stationed some distance away from Babylon, but that he also was no longer in Sippar, where he had stationed himself in 546 BC out of fear of Cyrus. Norman Porteous, for instance, writes, On the other hand it is known that Belshazzar was a historical person, the son of the last Babylonian king Nabonidus, who acted as regent of Babylon for several years before its fall, while his father was absent at the oasis of Teima in Arabia.252 This would begin Belshazzars regency about 553 B.C., when Nabonidus went to Teima. While the dimensions may be questioned, the magnificence of the city was not seriously exaggerated.267. Nabonidus also sometimes sent orders to Belshazzar, which Belshazzar was forced to respect and implement. 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. Then help is sought too late, as in the case of Belshazzar, and the cumulative sin and unbelief which precipitated the crisis in the first place becomes the occasion of downfall. But for Belshazzar, Daniel immediately speaks out and delivers the cold hard facts. Belshazzar, overcome by sickness, left the palace unobserved during the night through a rear exit. His son, Laborosoardoch, a mere boy, occupied it for nine months, when, owing to the depraved disposition which he showed, a conspiracy was formed against him, and he was beaten to death by his friends. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. For further discussion, see exposition of Daniel 5:25-27. [7] The story of Belshazzar's feast is historical fiction, and several details are not consistent with historical facts. 5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. 67-68. The text is definitely from the sixth century B.C. Morning Prayer: Thursday 27 April 2023 In this period, a number of monarchs had succeeded Nebuchadnezzar. Leupold cites the ancient historian Ktesias to the effect that Persian monarchs frequently were known to dine daily with 15,000 people.257 M. E. 50:Mallowan mentions the great feast that Ashusnasirpal II gave to 69,574 guests when he dedicated his new capital city of Calah (Nimrud) in 879 b.c.258. Daniel describes graphically in verse 19 how Nebuchadnezzar was feared and had absolute authority of life and death over his people and, accordingly, was an absolute sovereign. 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). He knew Daniel and knew the history of Nebuchadnezzars experience with Gods chastening. [49] The last tablet dated to Nabonidus's reign is from Uruk and is dated to 13 October, which is considered the end date of his reign. Daniel 5:2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his . But as they had been long aware of the restless spirit of Cyrus, and saw that he attacked all nations alike, they had laid up provisions for many years, and therefore were under no apprehensions about a siege. John F. Walvoord, long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. 208-14. and the fall of Babylon 539 B.C. Belshazzar and Daniel | the church of Christ | Daniel Chapter 5 Sermons and Outlines - Sermon Notebook How old was Daniel when Belshazzar was king? Daniel 5:2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to It was hard for the Babylonians to believe that even the Medes and the Persians who had surrounded their beloved city could possibly breach the fortifications or exhaust their supplies which were intended to be ample for a siege of many years. Was Nebuchadnezzar a believer? [45] Otherwise his status and position after Nabonidus's return is never made clear. [25] October 543 BC is the return date most supported by surviving Babylonian documentation. This article is about the Babylonian prince. Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed in purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made concerning him that he should rank third in the kingdom. Herodotus gives a glowing account of Babylon as a monument to the genius of Nebuchadnezzar and undoubtedly a source of much pride to all the Babylonians. [43], Regardless of any potential animosity between Nabonidus and Belshazzar, Belshazzar retained the status of crown prince and intended successor, as a handful of documents still reference the "son of the king". - Daniel 5:5-29: Belshazzar is killed when Cyrus of Persia invades Babylon. Ezra 1:1-4. Belshazzar was evidently in no mood to bargain but was terrified and desperately desired to know the meaning of the writing. Daniel 3:12, Nebuchadnezzar confronts Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego about their disobedience. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. Young suggests, after some of the rabbis, that the characters may have been written vertically,281 and in that case in the Aramaic order they would have appeared as follows: If, in addition to the complications of the Aramaic, a language which was known, some unfamiliar form of their characters was used, it would indeed have required divine revelation to give a suitable explanation and interpretation, and may account for the difficulty in reading the writing. 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. In addressing the king, Daniel does not begin with a formal salutation as he does for instance in connection with Darius in Daniel 6:21 where he says, O king, live for ever. No doubt Daniel holds Belshazzar in contempt for his desecration of the sacred vessels. He believed that Babylon was safe.
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