It is related by the people who inhabited this city, that, by reason of its great extent, when they who were at the extremities were taken, those of the Babylonians who inhabited the centre knew nothing of the capture (for it happened to be a festival); but they were dancing at the time, and enjoying themselves, till they received certain information of the truth. Daniel 8:1-12, Belshazzar holds a great feast and uses the holy vessels taken from Jerusalem. Young in his discussion on this point gives J. Dymeley Prince282 the credit for the suggestion that the maneh refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the shekel (of much less value) to Belshazzar, and the half-minas refers to the Medes and the Persians.283 Daniels explanation, however, is far more cogent and reasonable, and does not give any indication that the words mean other than he indicates. MENE could be considered equivalent to the maneh of Ezekiel 45:12; Ezra 2:69. 407-15. Prior to and after Belshazzar's regency, surviving texts only contain references to offerings to the king (i.e. So broad and strong were the walls that chariots four abreast could parade around its top. Belshazzar (Balthazar), on the other hand, disappeared from history around 540 BC, when Darius the Great would have been roughly ten years of age. The interpretation of Daniel is clear and much more satisfactory than the alternatives offered by some expositors. Their confidence in their gods was bolstered by their confidence in their city. What Did Belshazzar Use In His Feast? - On Secret Hunt 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. If, however, the Babylonians had been aware of it beforehand, or had known what Cyrus was about, they would not have suffered the Persians to enter the city, but would have utterly destroyed them; for, having shut all the little gates that lead to the river, and mounting the walls that extend along the banks of the river, they would have caught them as in a net; whereas the Persians came upon them by surprise. Daniel 3:19-25, Nebuchadnezzar experiences visions of a tree and being driven away from people and losing his sanity. PDF Interesting Facts About Daniel - Bible Charts Belshazzar also lacked many of the prerogatives of kingship, most importantly he was not allowed to preside over and officiate the Babylonian New Year's festival, which was the exclusive right of the king himself. 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. Daniel (biblical figure) - Wikipedia 5:1-4 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Because his rule was arbitrary and licentious, he was assassinated by Neriglisar after he had reigned only two years. But the Babylonians, having taken the field, awaited his coming; and when he had advanced near the city, the Babylonians gave battle, and, being defeated, were shut up in the city. Young states, The identity of Belshazzar has long caused difficulty to commentators. Drinking bouts such as characterized Babylon were also common among other peoples, such as the Persians. Nabonidus appoints his son, Belshazzar, as his co-regent. and the fall of Babylon 539 B.C. His concern was shared by the entire assembly. 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. It would have been quite improper for the entire company to keep on talking, especially in these dramatic circumstances, when Daniel was reporting to the king. 00:00. A voice tells him the meaning of the vision, and Daniel lies exhausted by the vision for many days after. Young, The Prophecy of Daniel, p. 115. Daniel the Prophet of the Bible, His Life and Accomplishments The chronology of the three Babylonian kings is given in the Talmud as follows: Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty-five years, Evil-merodach twenty-three, and Belshazzar was monarch of Babylonia for two years, being killed at the beginning of the third year on the fatal night of the fall of Babylon (Meg. The prophet Daniel, interpreting the handwriting on the wall as God's judgment on the king, foretold the imminent destruction of the city.