S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Belshazzar was the last king of ancient Babylon and is mentioned in Daniel 5. Belshazzar reigned for just one year during the life of Daniel the prophet. His name, meaning "Bel protect the king," i...

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August 31 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

Belshazzar was a Chaldean or Babylonian king only mentioned in Daniel 5:1-30, Daniel 7:1, and Daniel 8:1. According to Jeremiah 27:6-7, Babylon would last through Nebuchadnezzar’s son and grandson until “the time of his land comes,” meaning its end by judgment. 

The historical record is not so straightforward and simple as this. In fact, history reveals conspiracies and confusion and that there were five successors to Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar was the fifth and final king after Nebuchadnezzar as shown here. 

Nebuchadnezzar reigned 43 years. 

Evil-Merodach succeeded Nebuchadnezzar his father and reigned for two years. He released Jehoiachin, king of Judah, from prison, 2 Kings 25:27-30, Jeremiah 52:31-34.

Neriglissar, his brother-in-law (Nebuchadnezzar’s son-in-law), killed Evil-Merodach and reigned for four years.

Labashi-Marduk succeeded Neriglissar his father. He was inexperienced and only reigned for two months.

Nabonidus, a son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar killed Labashi-Marduk in a coup led by Belshazzar his son. Nabonidus reigned for seventeen years. While reigning, he went away to the city and oasis of Tema (or Tayma) in Arabia for about ten years but set up Belshazzar his son as co-regent over Babylon. 

Belshazzar, the first-born son, started ruling as co-regent in the third year of Nabonidus. His mother was Nitocris, a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, thus he was truly a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The words of Jeremiah 27:7 were accurately fulfilled in that the reign of Nebuchadnezzar’s son and grandson would go to the end of the Babylonian empire. 

Although Belshazzar was never specifically stated in Babylonian records to be king, as in Daniel 5, he was king on par with Nabonidus, having received the kingship from him. However, the title and position of “king” was reserved for his father. 

The fact that Belshazzar was co-regent with his father Nabonidus is confirmed by the rewarding of Daniel the third place in the kingdom, Daniel 5:7, 16, 29, after Nabonidus the first ruler and Belshazzar the co-regent. 

The downfall of Belshazzar was when he sacrilegiously held a feast drinking from the Jewish temple holy vessels that had been kept secure by the previous Babylonian kings. While they were praising their gods, he and those in attendance saw the handwriting on the wall, Daniel 5:1-9, which announced the loss of his kingdom to the Medo-Persian Empire. 

While he trembled, the queen mother, likely his mother, related to him that there was a man in his kingdom who could give an interpretation, Daniel 5:10-12. When Daniel was summoned, Belshazzar heard again about his grandfather (called “father”) Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart, Daniel 5:18-21.

Daniel pointed out to Belshazzar, that he had resisted the truth and had not humbled his heart. Instead, he had lifted himself against the Lord of heaven and not glorified Him, Daniel 5:22-23. Belshazzar was slain that very night, Daniel 5:30.

The account of Belshazzar instructs readers to not ignore how God has worked in the lives of people who humbled themselves as Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar’s grandfather had. If Belshazzar had humbled himself, he could have perhaps postponed judgment upon Babylon.

March 26 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report