Topical Bible: Pride: Belshazzar

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Belshazzar, a figure of significant interest in the biblical narrative, is primarily known from the Book of Daniel. He was the last king of Babylon, and his reign is marked by a notable episode of pride and divine judgment. The account of Belshazzar serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of arrogance and the consequences of defying the sovereignty of God.

Historical Context

Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. While Nabonidus was absent from Babylon, Belshazzar ruled as co-regent. This historical arrangement is supported by archaeological findings, such as the Nabonidus Cylinder, which mentions Belshazzar's role in the kingdom. The biblical account, however, focuses on a specific event during his reign that highlights his pride and ultimate downfall.

The Feast and the Writing on the Wall

The most famous episode involving Belshazzar is found in Daniel 5. The chapter begins with Belshazzar hosting a great feast for a thousand of his nobles. In a display of arrogance and disregard for the sacred, Belshazzar orders the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to be brought to the banquet. As they drank from these holy vessels, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (Daniel 5:1-4).

This act of sacrilege was a direct affront to the God of Israel, demonstrating Belshazzar's pride and lack of reverence. In response, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall of the royal palace. The king, terrified and unable to understand the writing, called for his wise men to interpret it, but they were unable to do so (Daniel 5:5-8).

Daniel's Interpretation

The queen, hearing the commotion, advised Belshazzar to summon Daniel, known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and signs. Daniel was brought before the king, and he reminded Belshazzar of the fate of his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, who was humbled by God due to his pride. Daniel rebuked Belshazzar for not learning from Nebuchadnezzar's experience and for exalting himself against the Lord of heaven (Daniel 5:18-23).

Daniel then interpreted the writing on the wall: "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN." He explained that God had numbered the days of Belshazzar's kingdom and brought it to an end; he had been weighed and found wanting; and his kingdom was to be divided and given to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:25-28).

The Fall of Babylon

That very night, Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom (Daniel 5:30-31). This swift judgment fulfilled the divine pronouncement and underscored the theme of divine sovereignty over human kingdoms. Belshazzar's pride and irreverence led to his downfall, serving as a powerful reminder of the biblical principle that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

Theological Implications

Belshazzar's account is a vivid illustration of the biblical teaching on pride. It highlights the dangers of self-exaltation and the importance of humility before God. The narrative demonstrates that earthly power and wealth are fleeting and that true wisdom lies in recognizing and submitting to God's authority. Belshazzar's failure to honor God and his reliance on his own strength and understanding ultimately led to his destruction, reinforcing the biblical admonition to "humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (James 4:10).

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Daniel 5:22,23
And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Belshazzar. Dan 5:5,6
... Belshazzar thus, profanely bold,. The Lord of hosts defied; But vengeance soon his
boasts controlled,. And humbled all his pride. He saw a hand upon the wall. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 74 belshazzar dan 5 56.htm

The Unseen Watcher
... In his pride and arrogancy, with a reckless feeling of security Belshazzar "made
a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 43 the unseen watcher.htm

The Master of the Magicians.
... and his kingdom was restored to him, for he had learned that God alone is great,
and "Those that walk in pride He is able to abase.". Belshazzar was the next ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxii the master of.htm

Mene, Tekel, Peres
... But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was ... And thou
his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/mene tekel peres.htm

Babylon.
... use of it in publishing to all the world the story of his pride and of ... more kings
succeeded, each reigning but a few years, and then came Belshazzar, in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xi babylon.htm

Lorimer -- the Fall of Satan
... to learn that "those who walk in pride the King of heaven is able to abase." Similar
the lesson taught us by the overthrow of Belshazzar when, congratulating ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/lorimer the fall of.htm

Daniel
... v. affords another illustration of the wisdom of Daniel, and of the humiliation
of impiety and pride, this time in the person of Belshazzar, who is regarded as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/daniel.htm

Against the Arians, and Concerning Himself.
... What pride! ... multitude may not touch have I given over to the hands of the wicked,
of a Nebuzaradan, [3760] chief of the cooks, or of a Belshazzar, who wickedly ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxxiii against the arians.htm

The Vengeance of Heaven
... Nothing would sate her pride but the burning of perpetual incense. ... patron of sacrilege;
not only not a Christian, but worse than a Belshazzar; a hypocrite ...
/.../chapter lx the vengeance of.htm

From Gallienus to the End of the Last Persecution (Ad 261-313)
... of the triumph which the Persians had gained over the Romans, whose pride had never ...
uses, as the vessels of the Jewish temple had formerly been by Belshazzar. ...
/.../chapter ix from gallienus to.htm