Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone (Dan 5:2-4) Did Belshazzar exist? Critics used him for a long time to "prove" that the Book of Daniel was an unreliable myth. Historians and archeologists of later time set that idea on its head. "Belshazzar did exist and was actually co-regent in Babylon at the time of the Persian conquest. Nebuchadnezzar was his "father" (Dan 5:2) in the ancestral sense. In the British Museum there is a clay cylinder of writing by Nabonidus, King of Babylon, which mentions his son Belshazzar. A clay tablet pictures Nabonidus worshipping the moon, sun, and Venus. This link to Encyclopedia Britannica will enable you to go inside but only skin-deep without paying.
Belshazzar's father, Nabonidus, "was either a son or son-in-law of Nebuchadnezar and was king at the time but in Arabia on an archaeological reconstruction project. The Medo-Persian army was outside of Babylon and possibly had either captured Nabonidus or at least had cut him off from returning to the city. Belshazzar, ruling in his father's place, and knowing of the threat to the city but feeling secure behind its great walls, had the effrontery to make a great feast and drink wine in praise to Babylon's many nature gods." (Morris—The Defender's Study Bible)
The Bible says little about Belshazzar. "His deeds were hardly worth reporting. He is best known for the ignoble and insolent act committed while under the influence of alcohol. People outdo themselves in wickedness when they are overpowered by a pseudo boldness and the absence of restraint produced by the alcohol demon. One of the perils of strong drink is that it too often carries away the drinker to do and say foolish and fatal things…." (Strauss).
"He wished to make a display; to do something unusually surprising; and, though it had not been contemplated when the festival was appointed to make use of these vessels, yet, under the excitement of wine, nothing was too sacred to be introduced to the scenes of intoxication; nothing too foolish to be done" (Barnes).
"This was as far as it was possible for human daring to go. It was more than the powers of Heaven could quietly endure" (Seiss). "The Most High God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, but even with the God of compassion there must come the day of judgment" (Strauss).
There remains today the term: "Babylonianism." The idolatrous rebellion of the ancient Babylonians is alive and well and is the driving engine of the one-world government that is swiftly coming upon us. Peace is not to be found when the entire world stops its warring and the poor are all fed. That's not going to happen until the Prince of Peace comes and with great might and power becomes the world's one ruler. Then there will be world peace and then there will no hunger. He will rule with a rod of iron and those who know Him will rule and reign with Him.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev 20:6)
Memory Verse
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Ch 7:14)
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