Built over 800 years ago from massive basalt rocks, this lost city is nestled in the dense jungle and mangroves. xxix. He is mentioned in the Bible account only by the prophet Daniel, and for long his position as "king of Babylon . The interpretation of the king's 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. This would suggest that the crown prince, who was caretaker of the kingship at this time, was not considered an adequate subs ti tu te for the king in those ceremonies. The idol of comfortRevelation 18:14-17 - Babylon was clothed in luxury and wealth. The petition that the king's son may not incline to sin may also imply that Belshazzar had in some way offended the religious classes, who, as is well known, supervised the preparation of the inscriptions. The closest candidate for this construction is said to be the Etemenanki of Babylon . We are constantly consumed with multiple idols that turn our focus away from God, His faithfulness, and plan for our lives. Indeed, Belshazzar wasnt king, either. Dear Wu, you did not answer the question which your title poses.I am left hanging,however if you wish me to answer the question, I would be most happy tooffer my best assesment. 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. [Online]Available at: http://www.livius.org/articles/person/cyrus-the-great/cyrus-takes-babylon/Walvoord, J. F., 2018. His mistake cost him his life and his kingdom. The prophet Daniel, interpreting the handwriting on the wall as God's judgment on the king, foretold the imminent destruction of the city. Belshazzar was the grandson of the greatest king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. There follow several verses which make it clear that it is the kings failure to worship God and his preference for gold over God, if you like that has led to his kingdom becoming corrupt and decadent. In addition to Nabunaid II, Belshazzar seems to have had another brother named Nebuchadnezzar, since the two Babylonian rebels against Darius Hystaspis both assumed the name of Nebuchadnezzar the son of Nabunaid (see the Behistun Inscription, I, 85, 89, 95). 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. The Tower of Babel byPieter Bruegel the Elder. 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. There is no doubt that this Belshazzar is the same as the Belshazzar of Dnl. The idol of deceptionRevelation 18:23 - Babylon deceived those who worship them by allowing them to believe in their greatness when they were full of sin and immorality. All rights reserved. 11b). Learning about the fall of Babylon in relation to the end times can not give us a specific date to prepare for; however, it can help us strive to keep our relationship with God holy and on the right path for whenever Christ will return. It is actually repeated in the "handwriting on the wall" that God wrote for this wicked king and interpreted through His prophet Daniel. The whole point of the fifth chapter is a comparison between the great Nebuchadnezzar, the real founder of the Babylonian monarchy, and the insignificant last king who suffered the reins of government to slip from his feeble hands, with a prophetic emphasis on the coming stranger people who should divide among them the empire of Nebuchadnezzar. Wu Mingren (Dhwty) has a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Archaeology. Because if so, we're going to find our foundation crumbles when another kingdom takes over. v. and viii. King Belshazzar was the successor who also defiled God by using items taken from the temple in Jerusalem for personal use. It would appear from the Nabunaid-Cyrus Chronicle, that Belshazzar was de facto king of the Babylonian empire, all that was left of it, from the 4th to the 8th month of the 17th year of the reign of his father Nabunaid, and that he died on the night in which Babylon was taken by Gobryas of Gutium (that is, probably, Darius the Mede (see DARIUS)). 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. The verse in Isa. 3 The Destruction Of The Earth Hasn't Happened. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. This chapter of the Book of Daniel concludes with three verses which recount the fate of Daniel (rewarded with riches and finery for his service, despite his protestation that he sought neither of these things), Belshazzar (killed), and Darius (the leader of the invading army, who conquers the Babylonians of Chaldeans): 5:29 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. Leah Lively is a wife and mother of four living in central Virginia. Pride Denies God's Sovereignty. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. The King was sent away for seven years and his kingdom was taken from him. After all, God set aside each part of the temple for a holy purpose. The story of Belshazzar's feast occupies the entire fifth chapter of the Book of Daniel. v. shows conclusively that the author could have had no knowledge of the intervening kings, but that he really considered Nebuchadnezzar to be the actual father of Belshazzar. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. This, of course, need only mean grandfather or ancestor. It is probable, as M. Pognon argues, that a son of Nabunaid, called Nabunaid after his father, was king of Babylon, or Babylonian king, in Harran (Haran), while his father was overlord in Babylon. In the New Testament, Babylon is a symbol of evil and an enemy of God, found throughout the world. They said, "Has not the king ordered us to put to death any one who attempts to enter the palace, though he claim to be the king himself?" As Babylon is destroyed, those who have shared in her evil and morality will also grieve her destruction. We can become obsessed with worshipping money, careers, economic status, education, or politics. Let's, then, take a look at the five deadly mistakes Belshazzar made, and why we should, as believers, take heed. It was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Hanging Gardens King Nebuchadnezzar made for his wife. Instead, he decided to throw a feast (Daniel 5). The three Babylonian kings are often mentioned together as forming a succession of impious and tyrannous monarchs who oppressed Israel and were therefore foredoomed to disgrace and destruction. It is the last year of Belshazzar's reign, though the king is now aware of that. This article is part of our larger End Times Resource Library. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. Not exactly the people you want to hear from when God's judgment is at hand. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Thus, according to Herodotus, i. Babylon of the Old Testament and the New Testament shared a common downfall. But where does it originate? A great rock that no one touched smashes the Statue an a wind blows the statue's shattered remains away an that Rock in place of Statue Grew and grew till it filled Up the Whole Earth. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. attacked by Sennacherib, Babylon was destroyed by fire. She has become a home for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every clean and despicable beast Revelation 18:2CSB. Nebuchadnezzar ruled well, but this didn't phase the Persians. He owned also estates from which he made large gifts to the gods. Alexander the Great & The Opis Mutiny, Humans Have Been Making New Years Resolutions for Over 4,000 Years, Gateway to the Heavens: The Assyrian Account of the Tower of Babel, Mesopotamian Kings Were Slapped in the Face in the Ancient Akitu Festival, The Ancient Origins of New Years Celebrations. Babylon idolized itself and it did not acknowledge or glorify God in any way. Belshazzar, therefore, stands as a warning to the destructive nature of pride. He should've taken this as a warning sign to take his kingship seriously, be sparing with his supplies, and fortify his defenses against the Persian army. Doesn't help that, according to Brittanica, famines had plagued the land late into his rule. He ascended to the throne of the small Greek kingdom of Macedonia at the age of just 20 in 336 BC. But unfortunately, he let that go to his head. Needless to say, seeing a ghostly hand writing upon his wall unnerves nay, downright terrifies the king. There is nothing to show that he was connected by blood or marriage with any of thepreceding kings. The fall of Babylon is reported by a number of ancient sources, including the Cyrus Cylinder, the Greek historian Herodotus, as well as a number of books in the Old Testament. His father joins his name with his own in some of his prayers to the gods, and apparently appointed him commander of the army of Accad, whose especial duty it was to defend the city of Babylon against the attacks of the armies of Media and Persia. Besides this, had the author regarded his Belshazzar as Evil-merodach, he would have deliberately passed over in silence the reigns of several Babylonian kings between the death of Evil-merodach and the foreign supremacy. The Book of Daniel is a curious text. It should be remarked that the force of the narrative of the fifth chapter of Daniel would have been materially weakened had the author known and made use of the names of the kings intervening between Nebuchadnezzar and the last king. They had everything they needed. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary - Belshazzar, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Belshazzar. Tellingly (and characteristically), Daniel tells the king that he requires no riches and the king can give his reward to someone else, but he will divine the meaning of this writing for the king nevertheless. Thus, this First Babylonian Empire was short-lived and it soon fell under the dominion of foreigners, including the Hittites, the Kassites, and the Assyrians. God acts against Belshazzar and brings his reign to an abrupt end because of his prideful arrogance. Finally, the statement that Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar shows conclusively that the historical data of the Biblical author were at fault. Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit Revelation 18:2. Photo credit: Getty Images/g-stockstudio. Belshazzar decided it would be funny to send for the gold and silver serving vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem, so they could drink from them. That's all I wish to share on this fascinating Subject. 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). Babylon became a symbol of wealth, power, and prosperity in the region, worshipping idols and not the God of Israel. Asimovs Guide to the Bible: The Old Testament by Isaac Asimov. Nabonidus reigned for a total of 17 years and is remembered for his restoration of the regions ancient architectural and cultural traditions, hence earning him the nickname the archaeologist king among modern day historians. 5. A mysterious hand appears (presumably disembodied) and writes on the palace wall: 5:5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the kings palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. And the author of Daniel probably only knew the names of two Babylonian rulers: Nebuchadnezzar (whose name should, more accurately, be rendered as Nebuchadrezzar, after the Babylonian Nab-kudur-usur) and Belshazzar. But Belshazzar doesn't care. 11 as "Balthasar" (R. V. "Baltasar"). In vain did he plead that he was the king. Let's see it had a Head of Gold His name, meaning "Bel protect the king," is a prayer to a Babylonian god; as his story shows, Bel was powerless to save this evil ruler. He ordered the people of Babylon to bow down and worship a golden statue he created. Belshazzar, overcome by sickness, left the palace unobserved during the night through a rear exit. This will keep us from worshipping the idol of our own self-sufficiency and greatness. the king was not in Babylon. This happened often, where sons and fathers (sometimes mothers) would rule together until the father either died or deemed the son ready to rule the kingdom on his own. Adventist Adventurer Claimed to Have Found Ark of the Covenant Beneath Crucifixion Site. Belshazzar calls for his magicians and diviners to interpret the writing, but they are unable even to read it. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? What is the meaning of Nebuchadnezzars dream in Daniel 2? Firstly, he is documented for driving the Jews out of Babylon, capturing the city of Jerusalem in 597 BC, and destroying the First Temple and that city in 587 BC. Nonetheless, Belshazzar went on his way to his unexpected destruction. To say Nebuchadnezzar ruled with an iron fist puts things politely. In Matthew 22:39, Jesus says the second commandment is to love others as you love yourself.. Now we need to add a caveat here that Nebuchadnezzar did not do the right thing by destroying and pillaging all these cities. This same son of the king is most probably mentioned again in the same chronicle as having died in the night in which Babylon was captured by Gobryas of Gutium. 5, 15). The writing on the wall, Daniel and king Belshazzar, the fall of Babylon bible story. 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. Although it concerns events of the sixth century BC, during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, it was clearly written many centuries later: some time in the second century BC is the best guess.