Belshazzar - Revision history

Conservative: /* Historical Identification */

2025-08-14T12:28:23Z

Historical Identification

Conservative: /* Historical Identification */

2025-08-14T12:27:50Z

Historical Identification

Conservative at 12:26, August 14, 2025

2025-08-14T12:26:15Z

Conservative at 12:25, August 14, 2025

2025-08-14T12:25:00Z

Conservative at 07:12, August 14, 2025

2025-08-14T07:12:35Z

Conservative at 07:11, August 14, 2025

2025-08-14T07:11:35Z

Alex Kosh: /* References */

2025-01-21T02:55:54Z

References

Alex Kosh: /* References */

2025-01-21T02:55:14Z

References

DavidB4-bot: Spelling, grammar, and general cleanup, typos fixed: Meanwhile → Meanwhile,, ’s → 's (3)

2021-02-02T17:50:29Z

Spelling, grammar, and general cleanup, typos fixed: Meanwhile → Meanwhile,, ’s → 's (3)

Latent: Balanced parentheses in footnote 12

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Balanced parentheses in footnote 12

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 === Historical Identification ===
-[[File:The Writing on the Wall - Book of Daniel.png|thumbnail|300px|right|The prophet Daniel was able to interpret [[The Writing on the Wall]] mentioned in [https://www.bible.com/bible/406/DAN.5.5-29.ERV Daniel 5:5-29 ESV] ]]
+[[File:The Writing on the Wall - Book of Daniel.png|thumbnail|300px|right|The prophet [[Daniel (prophet)|Daniel]] was able to interpret [[The Writing on the Wall]] mentioned in [https://www.bible.com/bible/406/DAN.5.5-29.ERV Daniel 5:5-29 ESV] ]]
 For centuries the identity of Belshazzar lay lost to history, preserved only in the [[Book of Daniel]], consequentially used by many as a challenge to the historical accuracy of said volume.<ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Hd9BDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT198&dq=%22there+was+a+further+secular+controversy+for+many+centuries+over+the+existence+of+Belshazzar%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik5oLZ6oLpAhW87XMBHeL0AuQQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=%22there%20was%20a%20further%20secular%20controversy%20for%20many%20centuries%20over%20the%20existence%20of%20Belshazzar%22&f=false] Becher, Dave, ''The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation''.</ref> Andrew Steinmann writes: <blockquote>Until the 1860s no historical source except the book of Daniel and works dependent on Daniel (e.g., Baruch 1:11) could provide independent confirmation of the existence of Belshazzar. Since he is not mentioned in any of the Greek historians, many nineteenth-century critical scholars viewed Daniel 5 as a purely fictional account about a fictional king . . . However, beginning in the 1860s, Babylonian sources came to light that named Belshazzar as the son of Nabonidus. They also stated that Belshazzar was made coregent over Babylon. These texts vindicated the historical nature of Daniel’s account. Furthermore, since these texts had been buried and forgotten and all memory of Belshazzar had been lost to history outside of the Bible and works dependent on it, they furnished proof positive that the writer of Daniel 5 must have been a contemporary who lived during the events recorded in the chapter. Since writers in later centuries, including writers during the Maccabean era, would have had no knowledge of Belshazzar based on the forgotten Babylonian texts, Daniel 5 could not have been composed in later centuries, disproving the long-held critical view that Daniel was written during the Maccabean era.<ref>{{cite book| first = Andrew E. | last = Steinmann | title =Daniel | publisher = Concordia  | location = St. Louis, MO| date = 2008 | page = 260}}</ref></blockquote>

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:27, August 14, 2025
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	=== Historical Identification ===		=== Historical Identification ===
		+	[[File:The Writing on the Wall - Book of Daniel.png\|thumbnail\|300px\|right\|The prophet Daniel was able to interpret [[The Writing on the Wall]] mentioned in [https://www.bible.com/bible/406/DAN.5.5-29.ERV Daniel 5:5-29 ESV] ]]
	For centuries the identity of Belshazzar lay lost to history, preserved only in the [[Book of Daniel]], consequentially used by many as a challenge to the historical accuracy of said volume.<ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Hd9BDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT198&dq=%22there+was+a+further+secular+controversy+for+many+centuries+over+the+existence+of+Belshazzar%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik5oLZ6oLpAhW87XMBHeL0AuQQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=%22there%20was%20a%20further%20secular%20controversy%20for%20many%20centuries%20over%20the%20existence%20of%20Belshazzar%22&f=false] Becher, Dave, ''The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation''.</ref> Andrew Steinmann writes: <blockquote>Until the 1860s no historical source except the book of Daniel and works dependent on Daniel (e.g., Baruch 1:11) could provide independent confirmation of the existence of Belshazzar. Since he is not mentioned in any of the Greek historians, many nineteenth-century critical scholars viewed Daniel 5 as a purely fictional account about a fictional king . . . However, beginning in the 1860s, Babylonian sources came to light that named Belshazzar as the son of Nabonidus. They also stated that Belshazzar was made coregent over Babylon. These texts vindicated the historical nature of Daniel’s account. Furthermore, since these texts had been buried and forgotten and all memory of Belshazzar had been lost to history outside of the Bible and works dependent on it, they furnished proof positive that the writer of Daniel 5 must have been a contemporary who lived during the events recorded in the chapter. Since writers in later centuries, including writers during the Maccabean era, would have had no knowledge of Belshazzar based on the forgotten Babylonian texts, Daniel 5 could not have been composed in later centuries, disproving the long-held critical view that Daniel was written during the Maccabean era.<ref>{{cite book\| first = Andrew E. \| last = Steinmann \| title =Daniel \| publisher = Concordia \| location = St. Louis, MO\| date = 2008 \| page = 260}}</ref></blockquote>		For centuries the identity of Belshazzar lay lost to history, preserved only in the [[Book of Daniel]], consequentially used by many as a challenge to the historical accuracy of said volume.<ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Hd9BDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT198&dq=%22there+was+a+further+secular+controversy+for+many+centuries+over+the+existence+of+Belshazzar%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik5oLZ6oLpAhW87XMBHeL0AuQQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=%22there%20was%20a%20further%20secular%20controversy%20for%20many%20centuries%20over%20the%20existence%20of%20Belshazzar%22&f=false] Becher, Dave, ''The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation''.</ref> Andrew Steinmann writes: <blockquote>Until the 1860s no historical source except the book of Daniel and works dependent on Daniel (e.g., Baruch 1:11) could provide independent confirmation of the existence of Belshazzar. Since he is not mentioned in any of the Greek historians, many nineteenth-century critical scholars viewed Daniel 5 as a purely fictional account about a fictional king . . . However, beginning in the 1860s, Babylonian sources came to light that named Belshazzar as the son of Nabonidus. They also stated that Belshazzar was made coregent over Babylon. These texts vindicated the historical nature of Daniel’s account. Furthermore, since these texts had been buried and forgotten and all memory of Belshazzar had been lost to history outside of the Bible and works dependent on it, they furnished proof positive that the writer of Daniel 5 must have been a contemporary who lived during the events recorded in the chapter. Since writers in later centuries, including writers during the Maccabean era, would have had no knowledge of Belshazzar based on the forgotten Babylonian texts, Daniel 5 could not have been composed in later centuries, disproving the long-held critical view that Daniel was written during the Maccabean era.<ref>{{cite book\| first = Andrew E. \| last = Steinmann \| title =Daniel \| publisher = Concordia \| location = St. Louis, MO\| date = 2008 \| page = 260}}</ref></blockquote>

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 According to the ''Verse Account of Nabonidus'', [[Nabonidus]] allocated the government of the city of Babylon to Belshazzar for 10 years, giving him the kingship over the city, while he dwelt at the Arabian oasis of Tema (possibly in an effort to control lucrative Arabian trade routes).<ref>Verse Account, ii.5; Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref> This means that the people, government and army officials saw Belshazzar more than Nabonidus. Likewise the Nabonidus Chronicle states that [[Nabonidus]] fled from the area of Babylon before the city fell to [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus's]] forces.
-Some note as evidence of Belshazzar's subordinate role in his co-regency, that Belshazzar offered the prophet Daniel to be third ruler in the kingdom<ref>Daniel 5:7</ref> because he didn't have authority to promote Daniel any higher.
+Some note as evidence of Belshazzar's subordinate role in his co-regency, that Belshazzar offered the [[prophet]] [[Daniel (prophet)|Daniel]] to be third ruler in the kingdom<ref>Daniel 5:7</ref> because he didn't have authority to promote Daniel any higher.
 === Historical Identification ===

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 <TR><TD VALIGN="top">'''succeeded by'''</TD><TD VALIGN="top">Darius the Mede (=Cyaxares II)</TD></TR>
 </TABLE>
-'''Belshazzar''', (Greek: Βαλτασάρ, Baltasár, Aramaic בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר, from Akkadian: 𒂗𒈗𒋀, Bēl-šar-uṣur, meaning "[[Bel]] protect the king"), oldest son of [[Nabonidus]], was named as co-regent by his father Nabonidus (556-539 BC) in Nabonidus's third year, 553 BC.<ref>Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref><ref>''Verse Account'' ii.5.</ref> He reigned in Babylon while his father spent his time in the Arabian desert worshipping the moon-god Sin, and/or possibly subjugating the Arab tribes. Belshazzar's reign, and his life, came to an end when he was killed on the night that Babylon fell to the combined armies of the Medes and Persians and their allies under the command of [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus]].<ref>Daniel 5:30</ref><ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'' 7.5.30.</ref> The Nabonidus Chronicle dates the end of the Neo-Bablyonian Empire, and thus the death of Belshazzar, to the 16th of Tashritu/Tishri, i.e. October 12, 539 BC.<ref>Pritchard,''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', p. 306b.</ref><ref>''Nabonidus Chronicle'' iii.5.</ref>
+'''Belshazzar''', (Greek: Βαλτασάρ, Baltasár, Aramaic בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר, from Akkadian: 𒂗𒈗𒋀, Bēl-šar-uṣur, meaning "[[Bel]] protect the king"), oldest son of [[Nabonidus]], was named as co-regent by his father Nabonidus (556-539 BC) in Nabonidus's third year, 553 BC.<ref>Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref><ref>''Verse Account'' ii.5.</ref> He reigned in [[Babylon]] while his father spent his time in the Arabian desert worshipping the moon-god Sin, and/or possibly subjugating the Arab tribes. Belshazzar's reign, and his life, came to an end when he was killed on the night that Babylon fell to the combined armies of the Medes and Persians and their allies under the command of [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus]].<ref>Daniel 5:30</ref><ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'' 7.5.30.</ref> The Nabonidus Chronicle dates the end of the Neo-Bablyonian Empire, and thus the death of Belshazzar, to the 16th of Tashritu/Tishri, i.e. October 12, 539 BC.<ref>Pritchard,''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', p. 306b.</ref><ref>''Nabonidus Chronicle'' iii.5.</ref>
 According to the ''Verse Account of Nabonidus'', [[Nabonidus]] allocated the government of the city of Babylon to Belshazzar for 10 years, giving him the kingship over the city, while he dwelt at the Arabian oasis of Tema (possibly in an effort to control lucrative Arabian trade routes).<ref>Verse Account, ii.5; Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref> This means that the people, government and army officials saw Belshazzar more than Nabonidus. Likewise the Nabonidus Chronicle states that [[Nabonidus]] fled from the area of Babylon before the city fell to [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus's]] forces.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 '''Belshazzar''', (Greek: Βαλτασάρ, Baltasár, Aramaic בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר, from Akkadian: 𒂗𒈗𒋀, Bēl-šar-uṣur, meaning "[[Bel]] protect the king"), oldest son of [[Nabonidus]], was named as co-regent by his father Nabonidus (556-539 BC) in Nabonidus's third year, 553 BC.<ref>Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref><ref>''Verse Account'' ii.5.</ref> He reigned in Babylon while his father spent his time in the Arabian desert worshipping the moon-god Sin, and/or possibly subjugating the Arab tribes. Belshazzar's reign, and his life, came to an end when he was killed on the night that Babylon fell to the combined armies of the Medes and Persians and their allies under the command of [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus]].<ref>Daniel 5:30</ref><ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'' 7.5.30.</ref> The Nabonidus Chronicle dates the end of the Neo-Bablyonian Empire, and thus the death of Belshazzar, to the 16th of Tashritu/Tishri, i.e. October 12, 539 BC.<ref>Pritchard,''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', p. 306b.</ref><ref>''Nabonidus Chronicle'' iii.5.</ref>
-According to the ''Verse Account of Nabonidus'', [[Nabonidus]] allocated the government of the city of Babylon to Belshazzar for 10 years, giving him the kingship over the city, while he dwelt at the Arabian oasis of Tema (possibly in an effort to control lucrative Arabian trade routes).<ref>Verse Account, ii.5; Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref> This means that the people, government and army officials saw Belshazzar more than Nabonidus. Likewise the [[Nabonidus Chronicle]] states that [[Nabonidus]] fled from the area of Babylon before the city fell to [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus's]] forces.
+According to the ''Verse Account of Nabonidus'', [[Nabonidus]] allocated the government of the city of Babylon to Belshazzar for 10 years, giving him the kingship over the city, while he dwelt at the Arabian oasis of Tema (possibly in an effort to control lucrative Arabian trade routes).<ref>Verse Account, ii.5; Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref> This means that the people, government and army officials saw Belshazzar more than Nabonidus. Likewise the Nabonidus Chronicle states that [[Nabonidus]] fled from the area of Babylon before the city fell to [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus's]] forces.
 Some note as evidence of Belshazzar's subordinate role in his co-regency, that Belshazzar offered the prophet Daniel to be third ruler in the kingdom<ref>Daniel 5:7</ref> because he didn't have authority to promote Daniel any higher.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:55, January 21, 2025
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	[[Category:Babylonian Kings]]		[[Category:Babylonian Kings]]
		+	[[Category:Biblical Persons]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:55, January 21, 2025
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	== References ==		== References ==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}
		+
		+	[[Category:Babylonian Kings]]

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 <TABLE ΒORDER ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="250" BORDER="2" BGCOLOR="CYAN" RULES="NONE">
-<TR><TD COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="CENTER"><B><FONT SIZE="3">Belshazzar, last king of Babylon, coregent of Nabonidus</FONT></B></TD></TR>
+<TR><TD COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="CENTER">'''<FONT SIZE="3">Belshazzar, last king of Babylon, coregent of Nabonidus</FONT>'''</TD></TR>
-<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>father</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">Nabonidus</TD></TR>
+<TR><TD VALIGN="top">'''father'''</TD><TD VALIGN="top">Nabonidus</TD></TR>
-<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>mother</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">Nitocris?<ref>Herodotus, "Histories" 1.188.1</ref></TD></TR>
+<TR><TD VALIGN="top">'''mother'''</TD><TD VALIGN="top">Nitocris?<ref>Herodotus, "Histories" 1.188.1</ref></TD></TR>
-<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>reign</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">550-539 BC</TD></TR>
+<TR><TD VALIGN="top">'''reign'''</TD><TD VALIGN="top">550-539 BC</TD></TR>
-<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>died</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">October 12, 539 BC</TD></TR>
+<TR><TD VALIGN="top">'''died'''</TD><TD VALIGN="top">October 12, 539 BC</TD></TR>
-<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>succeeded by</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">Darius the Mede (=Cyaxares II)</TD></TR>
+<TR><TD VALIGN="top">'''succeeded by'''</TD><TD VALIGN="top">Darius the Mede (=Cyaxares II)</TD></TR>
 </TABLE>
 '''Belshazzar''', (Greek: Βαλτασάρ, Baltasár, Aramaic בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר, from Akkadian: 𒂗𒈗𒋀, Bēl-šar-uṣur, meaning "[[Bel]] protect the king"), oldest son of [[Nabonidus]], was named as co-regent by his father Nabonidus (556-539 BC) in Nabonidus's third year, 553 BC.<ref>Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref><ref>''Verse Account'' ii.5.</ref> He reigned in Babylon while his father spent his time in the Arabian desert worshipping the moon-god Sin, and/or possibly subjugating the Arab tribes. Belshazzar's reign, and his life, came to an end when he was killed on the night that Babylon fell to the combined armies of the Medes and Persians and their allies under the command of [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus]].<ref>Daniel 5:30</ref><ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'' 7.5.30.</ref> The [[Nabonidus Chronicle]] dates the end of the [[Neo-Bablyonian Empire]], and thus the death of Belshazzar, to the 16th of Tashritu/Tishri, i.e. October 12, 539 BC.<ref>Pritchard,''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', p. 306b.</ref><ref>''Nabonidus Chronicle'' iii.5.</ref>
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 === Historical Identification ===
-For centuries the identity of Belshazzar lay lost to history, preserved only in the [[Book of Daniel]], consequentially used by many as a challenge to the historical accuracy of said volume.<ref> [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Hd9BDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT198&dq=%22there+was+a+further+secular+controversy+for+many+centuries+over+the+existence+of+Belshazzar%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik5oLZ6oLpAhW87XMBHeL0AuQQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=%22there%20was%20a%20further%20secular%20controversy%20for%20many%20centuries%20over%20the%20existence%20of%20Belshazzar%22&f=false] Becher, Dave, ''The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation''.</ref> Andrew Steinmann writes: <blockquote>Until the 1860s no historical source except the book of Daniel and works dependent on Daniel (e.g., Baruch 1:11) could provide independent confirmation of the existence of Belshazzar. Since he is not mentioned in any of the Greek historians, many nineteenth-century critical scholars viewed Daniel 5 as a purely fictional account about a fictional king . . . However, beginning in the 1860s, Babylonian sources came to light that named Belshazzar as the son of Nabonidus. They also stated that Belshazzar was made coregent over Babylon. These texts vindicated the historical nature of Daniel’s account. Furthermore, since these texts had been buried and forgotten and all memory of Belshazzar had been lost to history outside of the Bible and works dependent on it, they furnished proof positive that the writer of Daniel 5 must have been a contemporary who lived during the events recorded in the chapter. Since writers in later centuries, including writers during the Maccabean era, would have had no knowledge of Belshazzar based on the forgotten Babylonian texts, Daniel 5 could not have been composed in later centuries, disproving the long-held critical view that Daniel was written during the Maccabean era.<ref>{{cite book| first = Andrew E. | last = Steinmann | title =Daniel | publisher = Concordia  | location = St. Louis, MO| date = 2008 | page = 260}}</ref></blockquote>
+For centuries the identity of Belshazzar lay lost to history, preserved only in the [[Book of Daniel]], consequentially used by many as a challenge to the historical accuracy of said volume.<ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Hd9BDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT198&dq=%22there+was+a+further+secular+controversy+for+many+centuries+over+the+existence+of+Belshazzar%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik5oLZ6oLpAhW87XMBHeL0AuQQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=%22there%20was%20a%20further%20secular%20controversy%20for%20many%20centuries%20over%20the%20existence%20of%20Belshazzar%22&f=false] Becher, Dave, ''The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation''.</ref> Andrew Steinmann writes: <blockquote>Until the 1860s no historical source except the book of Daniel and works dependent on Daniel (e.g., Baruch 1:11) could provide independent confirmation of the existence of Belshazzar. Since he is not mentioned in any of the Greek historians, many nineteenth-century critical scholars viewed Daniel 5 as a purely fictional account about a fictional king . . . However, beginning in the 1860s, Babylonian sources came to light that named Belshazzar as the son of Nabonidus. They also stated that Belshazzar was made coregent over Babylon. These texts vindicated the historical nature of Daniel’s account. Furthermore, since these texts had been buried and forgotten and all memory of Belshazzar had been lost to history outside of the Bible and works dependent on it, they furnished proof positive that the writer of Daniel 5 must have been a contemporary who lived during the events recorded in the chapter. Since writers in later centuries, including writers during the Maccabean era, would have had no knowledge of Belshazzar based on the forgotten Babylonian texts, Daniel 5 could not have been composed in later centuries, disproving the long-held critical view that Daniel was written during the Maccabean era.<ref>{{cite book| first = Andrew E. | last = Steinmann | title =Daniel | publisher = Concordia  | location = St. Louis, MO| date = 2008 | page = 260}}</ref></blockquote>
 Similarly, Joseph Free wrote, “The matter concerning Belshazzar, far from being an error in the Scriptures, is one of the many striking confirmations of the Word of God which have been demonstrated by archaeology.”<ref>Joseph Free, ''Archaeology and Bible History'' (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1950), 235.</ref>
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 The multiple challenges that the historical records relevant to Belshazzar present to the “critical” or anti-supernatural view of the composition of the book of Daniel may be enumerated as follows:
 # The naming of Belshazzar in the Book of Daniel is, by itself, evidence of the sixth century BC composition of the book. In the Persian rewrite of history that occurred in the time of Cyrus the Great and later,<ref>“The real Cyrus was a master of propaganda, as can be seen from the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian verse chronicle of Nabonidus’ fall, and the stories of Cyrus’ merciful treatment of conquered kings, all no doubt propagated with Cyrus’ encouragement or active participation” (Steven W. Hirsch, ''The Friendship of the Barbarians: Xenophon and the Persian Empire'' [Hanover and London: University Press of New England, 1985], 177, n. 69).</ref><ref>“Cyrus was very successful in his propaganda and modern historiography is still influenced by it” (R. J. van der Spek, “Cyrus the Great, Exiles, and Foreign Gods: A Comparison of Assyrian and Persian Policies on Subject Nations” in ''Extraction & Control: Studies in Honor of Matthew W. Stolper'' [eds. Michael Kozuh et al.; SAOC 68; Chicago: Univ. of Chicago, 2014], 260).</ref> the name of Belshazzar was erased from official records. In what is probably the earliest cuneiform text related to the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians, the [[Cyrus Cylinder]], Belshazzar is not mentioned at all (and certainly not by name), unless he, and not Nabonidus, is the “incompetent person” mentioned in the opening lines (A3) of the Cylinder. In the following portion of the Cylinder where the fall of Babylon to the armies under Cyrus is described, Nabonidus is mentioned, but not Belshazzar, who was actually reigning in Babylon at the time. This process of expunging Belshazzar from history continued in later Persian cuneiform texts, so that Xenophon, writing about 170 years after the Medo-Persian capture of Babylon, apparently does not even know the name of the king who was ruling in Babylon at the time of its fall, referring to him only as “this young fellow who has just come to the throne” (''Cyropaedia'' 5.2.27). This presents a difficulty to critics of the Bible who maintain that the Book of Daniel, or at least major parts of it, were written in the second century BC. It is, however, consistent with the traditional Jewish and Christian view that the book reflects accurately events of the sixth century BC because the book was written not long after the events it describes.
-# Further evidence of the early composition of the Book of Daniel is found in its designation of Belshazzar as king. Liberal scholarship on this matter is represented by the oft-cited author John Collins, who wrote, “The fact remains that there is no evidence to corroborate the claim of Daniel 5 that Belshazzar was king in any sense at the time of the fall of Babylon.”<ref>John J. Collins, ''Daniel: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel'' (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993), 32, 33.</ref> Collins apparently has not read the ''Verse Account'', where Nabonidus states that, when he retreated to the Arabian Desert, “He entrusted the “Camp” to his oldest (son), the first-born . . . He let (everything) go, entrusted the kingship to him.”<ref>Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref> Nor does he show any knowledge of the ''Cyropaedia'', where “this young fellow who has just come to the throne” is repeatedly given the title of king<ref>''Cyropaedia'' 4.6.3;  5.2.27; 5.4.12, 24, 26, 33; 7.5.29.</ref> If the mistaken “absence” of texts referring to Belshazzar as king can be cited as evidence of a second-century writing of Daniel by a pious fraud who did not know the true circumstances of the time, then intellectual honesty should require that this documented evidence to the contrary should be accepted as evidence for the book’s sixth-century authorship.
+# Further evidence of the early composition of the Book of Daniel is found in its designation of Belshazzar as king. Liberal scholarship on this matter is represented by the oft-cited author John Collins, who wrote, “The fact remains that there is no evidence to corroborate the claim of Daniel 5 that Belshazzar was king in any sense at the time of the fall of Babylon.”<ref>John J. Collins, ''Daniel: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel'' (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993), 32, 33.</ref> Collins apparently has not read the ''Verse Account'', where Nabonidus states that, when he retreated to the Arabian Desert, “He entrusted the “Camp” to his oldest (son), the first-born . . . He let (everything) go, entrusted the kingship to him.”<ref>Pritchard, ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts'', 313b.</ref> Nor does he show any knowledge of the ''Cyropaedia'', where “this young fellow who has just come to the throne” is repeatedly given the title of king<ref>''Cyropaedia'' 4.6.3;  5.2.27; 5.4.12, 24, 26, 33; 7.5.29.</ref> If the mistaken “absence” of texts referring to Belshazzar as king can be cited as evidence of a second-century writing of Daniel by a pious fraud who did not know the true circumstances of the time, then intellectual honesty should require that this documented evidence to the contrary should be accepted as evidence for the book's sixth-century authorship.
-# Further evidence showing the early authorship of Daniel’s account of Belshazzar is found in Daniel chapter 5, where the capture of Babylon and the end of the Neo-Bablyonian Empire is said to occur when the king and his court were involved in a great drinking party/festival (Daniel ch. 5). Both Xenophon <ref>''Cyropaedia'' 7.5.21, 25.</ref> and Herodotus<ref>''Histories'' 1.191.6.</ref> affirm that the Babylonians were carelessly involved in a festival when the city was taken. Once again, this is a historical detail that lends weight to the early authorship of the book of Daniel.
+# Further evidence showing the early authorship of Daniel's account of Belshazzar is found in Daniel chapter 5, where the capture of Babylon and the end of the Neo-Bablyonian Empire is said to occur when the king and his court were involved in a great drinking party/festival (Daniel ch. 5). Both Xenophon <ref>''Cyropaedia'' 7.5.21, 25.</ref> and Herodotus<ref>''Histories'' 1.191.6.</ref> affirm that the Babylonians were carelessly involved in a festival when the city was taken. Once again, this is a historical detail that lends weight to the early authorship of the book of Daniel.
 # Daniel 5:31 relates that Belshazzar was slain on the night of the banquet. This is confirmed by Xenophon in a passage that should be included in every commentary on the Book of Daniel (''Cyropaedia'' 7:25–30).
-# As mentioned below, the fact that Belshazzar was only able to offer Daniel the third position in the kingdom because he, Belshazzar, was still under the suzerainty of his father Nabonidus, is another indication of the sixth-century authorship of the Book of Daniel. By the second  century BC, all knowledge of this relationship between Nabonidus and Belshazzar kingship seems to have been lost. Even Belshazzar’s name was seemingly forgotten as early as when Herodotus wrote his ''Histories'' in about 430 BC and when Xenophon wrote the ''Cyropaedia'' in about 370 BC.
+# As mentioned below, the fact that Belshazzar was only able to offer Daniel the third position in the kingdom because he, Belshazzar, was still under the suzerainty of his father Nabonidus, is another indication of the sixth-century authorship of the Book of Daniel. By the second  century BC, all knowledge of this relationship between Nabonidus and Belshazzar kingship seems to have been lost. Even Belshazzar's name was seemingly forgotten as early as when Herodotus wrote his ''Histories'' in about 430 BC and when Xenophon wrote the ''Cyropaedia'' in about 370 BC.
 All of these references to the activities, position, and fate of Belshazzar in early sources outside of the Book of Daniel testify to the historical accuracy of the author of Daniel, an accuracy that is difficult to explain if Daniel chapter 5 is merely “historical fiction,” as confidently asserted by liberal scholarship and as relentlessly maintained by all blogs and encyclopedia sites controlled by atheists and others who deny the historical accuracy of the Bible.
 === Debated Points ===
-Some suggest that scenes recorded in the [[Book of Daniel]]'s lavish party as a coronation festival as Belshazzar seized the throne.<ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Hd9BDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT199&dq=%22there+is+scholarly+speculation+that+after+Cyrus+had+defeated+Nabonidas%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiroYWB74LpAhXkjeYKHbLRDgoQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=%22there%20is%20scholarly%20speculation%20that%20after%20Cyrus%20had%20defeated%20Nabonidas%22&f=false] Beacher, Dave, ''The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation''.</ref>  This point is negated by some claiming that the festival was the annual drunken and debauched fertility festival celebrating the union of Nimrod & Semarimis. Meanwhile others{{citation needed}} working from the ancient custom of 'apprentice kings' (thus creating a clear line of succession), note that Belshazzar offers the Prophet Daniel to be third in the kingdom: as [[Nabonidus]] was the first, ''Belshazzar'' was the second and Daniel was made the third ruler in the kingdom.<ref>Daniel 5:7</ref>
+Some suggest that scenes recorded in the [[Book of Daniel]]'s lavish party as a coronation festival as Belshazzar seized the throne.<ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Hd9BDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT199&dq=%22there+is+scholarly+speculation+that+after+Cyrus+had+defeated+Nabonidas%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiroYWB74LpAhXkjeYKHbLRDgoQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=%22there%20is%20scholarly%20speculation%20that%20after%20Cyrus%20had%20defeated%20Nabonidas%22&f=false] Beacher, Dave, ''The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation''.</ref>  This point is negated by some claiming that the festival was the annual drunken and debauched fertility festival celebrating the union of Nimrod & Semarimis. Meanwhile, others{{citation needed}} working from the ancient custom of 'apprentice kings' (thus creating a clear line of succession), note that Belshazzar offers the Prophet Daniel to be third in the kingdom: as [[Nabonidus]] was the first, ''Belshazzar'' was the second and Daniel was made the third ruler in the kingdom.<ref>Daniel 5:7</ref>
 ==Resources==
-*[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/cyrus-cylinder/cyrus-cylinder-translation/]Translation of the Cyrus Cylinder
+*[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/cyrus-cylinder/cyrus-cylinder-translation/] Translation of the Cyrus Cylinder
-*[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-7-nabonidus-chronicle/]The Nabonidus Chronicle
+*[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-7-nabonidus-chronicle/] The Nabonidus Chronicle
-*[http://artflsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/perseus/citequery3.pl?dbname=GreekSept18&getid=1&query=Xen.%20Cyr.%201]Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia: the education of Cyrus'', translated by Henry Graham Dakyns and revised by F.M. Stawell
+*[http://artflsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/perseus/citequery3.pl?dbname=GreekSept18&getid=1&query=Xen.%20Cyr.%201] Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia: the education of Cyrus'', translated by Henry Graham Dakyns and revised by F.M. Stawell
 *[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/anet/verse-account-of-nabonidus/] The Verse Account of Nabonidus
 *J. B. Pritchard, ed., ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament'' (3rd ed.; Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 1969).
 == References ==