Daniel 5:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.

NIV: King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.

NASB: Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

CSB: King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine in their presence.

NLT: Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.

KJV: Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

NKJV: Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

The identity of the king mentioned here is the subject of much debate and controversy. Archaeologists suggest that Babylon never had a king "Belshazzar," and that Nabonidus was the final ruler of Babylon. Historical records of that era are complex, contradictory, and often vague. Untangling the threads of the debate has filled numerous books and studies.

Two main theories harmonize Scripture with secular observations. First is that Belshazzar was a regional name for Evilmerodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar, who would have ruled very briefly before being killed. This implies that the end of this chapter (Daniel 5:30–31) is a summary: glossing over other rulers to reach the king involved in chapter 6. A stronger possibility, derived from ancient records, is that Nabonidus was traveling when Babylon fell, having left his son Belshazzar as co-regent. This also makes sense of Belshazzar's promise to make someone "third ruler" in the kingdom (Daniel 5:7). It would also imply the use of "father" in reference to Nebuchadnezzar to mean "ancestor" (Genesis 28:13; 1 Kings 2:10).

In a display of self-indulgent pride, Belshazzar hosted a massive, drunken party. It's possible this was done to spite the forces of a Persian siege, against which the king felt invincible. Excavations of Babylon have included large rooms with plastered walls (Daniel 5:5). This was foolish enough, but the king's celebration also included idolatry and desecrating Jewish religious artifacts (Daniel 5:2). He would soon learn the truth that excessive pride often leads directly to disaster (Proverbs 16:18).

Daniel 5:1–9 portrays Babylon's king, Belshazzar, as both proud and profane. During a wine-laden, idol-worshipping celebration, the king uses captured Jewish religious articles as drinking cups. A disembodied hand suddenly appears and writes on the wall. This terrifies Belshazzar, even more so when his wise men cannot explain what has happened. What follows is Daniel's explanation, predicting God's judgment of Belshazzar.

After Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation, a succeeding ruler, Belshazzar, fails to learn the proper lesson. During a drunken party, he brings out Jewish objects to use in idolatry. The celebration is interrupted by disembodied fingers leaving strange markings on the wall. Daniel is summoned when no one else can read or interpret these. After boldly rebuking Belshazzar's immorality, Daniel explains the event as a prophecy of doom. That same night, Belshazzar dies, and the kingdom eventually comes under a new leader.

The first four chapters of Daniel occur under the rule of Babylon's king, Nebuchadnezzar. This chapter falls between his reign and when the Medo-Persians conquered in 539 BC. This chapter focuses on Belshazzar, who may have ruled Babylon concurrently with his father Nabonidus. This was probably from 553 BC until his death in 539 BC, when the city was captured. After this, Daniel serves under Darius and / or Cyrus.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.