Belshazzar

Portrait of Belshazzar

Belshazzar served as the last king of Babylon, the son of Nabonidus, and ruled during the final years of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in the sixth century BC. According to the Book of Daniel, he hosted a great feast using sacred vessels looted from the Jerusalem temple, an act of sacrilege that prompted the appearance of a divine hand writing the words Mene, Tekel, Upharsin on the palace wall. The prophet Daniel interpreted the message as God's judgment that Belshazzar's kingdom had been numbered, weighed, and found deficient, resulting in its imminent division between the Medes and Persians. That same night the city fell to invading forces, Belshazzar was killed, and the event marked the transition of world empires foretold in Scripture while illustrating divine sovereignty over proud rulers.

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Biography

Died
c. 539 BC, Babylon (night of conquest)
Occupation
Co-regent of Babylon
Father
Nabonidus
Era
Exile (c. 553-539 BC)
Nationality
Babylonian

Family

Parents
Nabonidus
โ†“
Belshazzar
Old Testament Exile King Daniel

Did You Know?

1

Belshazzar offered the position of third ruler in the kingdom to Daniel, a detail that aligns with his historical role as co-regent under his father Nabonidus rather than sole king.

2

Although the biblical text calls Nebuchadnezzar his father, cuneiform records show Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus, with the term likely indicating a dynastic predecessor in ancient royal rhetoric.

3

The wall inscription Mene, Tekel, Upharsin used terms for ancient weight measures, which Daniel repurposed to prophesy the kingdom being numbered, weighed, and divided between the Medes and Persians.

4

Belshazzar's feast deliberately profaned sacred vessels looted from the Jerusalem temple decades earlier, an act of sacrilege that triggered the divine handwriting foretelling Babylon's fall that very night.

5

Archaeological tablets confirm Belshazzar managed Babylon's affairs while Nabonidus resided in Tema, Arabia, explaining his authority to host state banquets and issue royal decrees in 539 BC.

Key Passages

Belshazzar's Feast

Daniel 5:1-9

This passage shows how God holds leaders accountable for pride and irreverence, reminding us to walk humbly before Him.

B1elshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

2 Belshazzar, whiles 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. 3 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. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a manโ€™s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the kingโ€™s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the kingโ€™s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 8 Then came in all the kingโ€™s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

Read full chapter: Daniel 5 โ†’

The Writing on the Wall

Daniel 5:25-31

This passage shows God's sovereign justice in humbling the proud, inviting us to live with reverence and humility before Him.

A25nd this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29 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. 30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Read full chapter: Daniel 5 โ†’

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