Think about how much better his reign could've been had he appointed Daniel in an adviser position, and heard from him about what to do as King. [23] Regent in Babylon [ edit] In response, Elizabeth ordered a preemptive strike against the Spanish fleet, a daring raid its leader, Francis Drake, termed the "singeing of the king of Spain's beard." Tension between Protestant England and . We'll dive into why this led to his downfall in a moment. & Feet of Iron/Clay. The Bible clearly states, in Matthew 24:36-37, that no one knows when Christ will return. 5. bel-shaz'-ar (belsha'tstsar; Baltasar, Babylonian Bel-shar-usur): According to Daniel 5:30, he was the Chaldean king under whom Babylon was taken by Darius the Mede. That's all I wish to share on this fascinating Subject. In the case of Belshazzar, what happens when your pride goeth before a fall. What is the significance of the Babylonian Empire in biblical history. 4). The people refused to listen, so God allowed Babylon to come into Jerusalem and destroy their homes and the temple of God built by King Solomon (2 Kings 25). Thus, according to Herodotus, i. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. The following important differences between Belsharusur and the Belshazzar of Daniel are patent. The interpretation of the kings dream by the prophet Daniel was that the statue represents four successive kingdoms, the first of which being the Neo-Babylonian Empire, all of which would be destroyed by the Kingdom of God. Along the side of Yanmen Shan mountain, located twenty kilometers to the east of Nanjing, China, the legendary Yangshan quarry can be found. He was humbled and praised God for turning him away from his sins. The history books of the Old Testament are full of leaders who stray from God's way, and come to an unpleasant end as a result. In the passage, "As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him" (Amos v. 19), the lion represents Nebuchadnezzar, and the bear, equally ferocious if not equally courageous, is Belshazzar (Esther R., Introduction). 538), using the sacred vessels of the temple, which Nebuchadnezzer had brought from Jerusalem. A Visual Tour (Video), Behind the Scenes of Ancient Greece: Exploring the Daily Life of its People (Video), Trove of Ancient Artifacts Discovered in Paestum Include Dolphin Statuette of Eros, TheiaGreek Goddess of Light, the Sun, the Moon, and Wisdom, Greeces East Attica In Antiquity: Playground Of Gods, Heroes And Heroines, A Face to the Legend: The Quest to Reconstruct Cleopatra's Look (Video), Aspasia - The Real-Life Helen of Troy? xiv. Have we placed too much hope in our nation, rather than in God? Four years after assuming power, the king named his son Belshazzar coregent and went into exile in Tayma, a city some 160 miles north of Al Hait. In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream where he was scared by the visions of his mind, why was he scared by his dream? But unfortunately, he let that go to his head. They amassed an abundance; never honoring God or caring for the needs of others. In 549 BC, the Medes were defeated by the Persians, who then proceeded to conquer the territory around Babylon. 11 as "Balthasar" (R. V. "Baltasar"). (See NERGAL-SHAREZER.). xliv.). 10 Things You Need to Know about the Number 666, 10 Books of the Bible You Should Read Again and Again, 10 Most Encouraging Bible Verses That Will Uplift Your Heart and Soul, 5 Things That Hurt Relationships with Grandkids, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life Losses, 4 Things You Should Know about Big George Foreman, 8 Ways You Are Belittling Your Husband and What God Says about It, Maybe Money Can Buy Happiness, but Not Joy. King Belshazzar was the successor who also defiled God by using items taken from the temple in Jerusalem for personal use. After the fall of Babylon, the Jews, who had been exiled since their subjugation by Nebuchadnezzar II, were allowed to return home. The grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar was the king who held a great pagan feast, using the goblets stolen from the Jewish Temple some decades before. ( Public Domain ). Now we come to the famous incident with the writing on the wall. 191, Babylon was captured while the besieged were off their guard during a festival; and Xenophon, alluding to the capture of Babylon, states that Cyrus had heard that a feast was going forward ("Cyropdia," viii. Wu Mingren (Dhwty) has a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Archaeology. Nonetheless, Belshazzar went on his way to his unexpected destruction. Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods. Read More. 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. (prince of Bel ), the last king of Babylon. According to Brittanica, "During his coregency, Belshazzar administered the government, his own estates, and those of his father, though, according to the Book of Daniel, famine and economic setbacks occurred late in his rule.". After Nebuchadnezzar had a little wild animal stint in Daniel 4, where Daniel temporarily stood as a placeholder, Nabonidus took over. Having gained independence from the Assyrians, Nabopolassar established the Neo-Babylonian Empire, with Babylon as its capital. It is stated in Dan. There is, however, some contention if Nebuchadnezzar II can really receive recognition for creating the Hanging Gardens. The Rabbis assert that the true basis for this reckoning is the destruction of Jerusalem. This may be due to the lack of an effective bureaucracy, as his active participation on regional wars meant that he did not focus on establishing an administrative system that would ensure the continual running of his empire after his death. The momentous event has been recorded by a number of ancient historians, though due to inconsistencies, it is difficult to reconstruct the actual events that took place. In Daniel 5, we read that writing appeared on the wall at the kings palace. The prophet Daniel, interpreting the handwriting on the wall as God's judgment on the king, foretold the imminent destruction of the city. Salem Media Group. While it is historically possible that Belsharuur may have been coregent, it is clear that the writer of Daniel could not have thought this, as he would hardly have given him the unqualified title "king of Babylon" without further elucidation; compare chap. v.), is traced by the Rabbis to his miscalculation in chronology. Why Did So Many Ancient Egyptian Children Suffer Anemia? In Daniel's dream, it was during the night and then suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, which formed four giant, different beasts. All rights reserved. And no city is impenetrable. Nebuchadnezzar worshipped his greatness while blinded by the needs of those he enslaved. Thus God showed the same things to Daniel at different times, and under different . The problem is, Belshazzar and his court don't praise Yahweh/God . An angel comes down from heaven and calls out: It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen! The Jews were taken to live in Babylon for 70 years. His mistake cost him his life and his kingdom. All rights reserved. But Belshazzar wasnt Nebuchadnezzars (or Nebuchadrezzars) son. So Babylon had it coming. 11b et seq.). The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of rulers Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes, Which subdued the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution.". The writing on the wall, Daniel and king Belshazzar, the fall of Babylon bible story. As Babylon is destroyed, those who have shared in her evil and morality will also grieve her destruction. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Bel protect the king!, the last of the kings of Babylon ( Daniel 5:1 ). The phrase the writing is on the wall is now often used to describe an impending disaster. With the current events of this world, evidence of the fall of Babylon in relation to end times is a topic of much conversation for Christians seeking clarity. After all, God set aside each part of the temple for a holy purpose. 2. That's my take on The Babylonian Empire an the reason why it Failed. They had everything they needed. 11, 29, 35). It may be conjectured, with Tiele ("Gesch. It is actually repeated in the "handwriting on the wall" that God wrote for this wicked king and interpreted through His prophet Daniel. The Higher Criticism and the Monuments; and W. W. Wright's two great works, Daniel and His Prophecies and Daniel and His Critics. Ive heard that Belshazzar was accidentally killed by his own guards. Daniel was immediately brought to the king to interpret the writing. The Midrash enters into the details of Belshazzar's death. He will be richly rewarded: 5:16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. Nabodinus appears to have let his son do most of the ruling of the kingdom while Nabodinus himself focused on other things, so Belshazzar was a kind of de facto ruler, but never officially king. Or do you turn to God and what he tells us in the Bible? In the last verse we are told that Belshazzar was slain in that same night, and that his power passed to Darius the Mede. He ordered the people of Babylon to bow down and worship a golden statue he created. One was dated in the third year of the king Marduk-sar-uzur. The country of Iraq is present-day Babylon. The prophecy was evidently intended for the last king, as there would have been no point in such a warning delivered a generation before its fulfilment. Help us to remember that all who mock Your name and flaunt their sin in Your face will be called to account, and that it is Your people who will triumph, "BY GODS STRENGTH, WE CAN 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. The miraculous appearance of the handwriting on the wall, the calling in of Daniel to interpret its meaning the prophecy of the overthrow of the kingdom, and Belshazsars death, accorded in Dan. A number of huge, coarse earthenware vases were laid bare. Babylon became a symbol of wealth, power, and prosperity in the region, worshipping idols and not the God of Israel. Belshazzar's feast, in the course of which the sacred vessels of the Temple in Jerusalem were put to sacrilegious use (Dan. "Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this . One of these was a Chaldean chief by the name of Nabopolassar, who formed an alliance with the Medes, Persians, Scythians, and Cimmerians. He ordered the guards not to let anyone else in, then disguised himself as a normal person in order to fool a would-be attacker and went outside, unfortunately though when he came back the guards failed to recognise him and clobbered him.