Belshazzar
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.[1][2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5][6]
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).[7] 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'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[8] because he didn't have authority to promote Daniel any higher.
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.[9] Modern scholarship having discovered the Nabonidus cylinders notes thereby that Belshazzar was the oldest son of Nabonidus who left Belshazzar in charge in Babylon while he lived in Tema (or Tayma).
Debated Points
Some suggest that scenes recorded in the Book of Daniel's lavish party as a coronation festival as Belshazzar seized the throne.[10] 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.[11]
Resources
- [1]Translation of the Cyrus Cylinder
- [2]The Nabonidus Chronicle
- [3]Xenophon, Cyropaedia: the education of Cyrus, translated by Henry Graham Dakyns and revised by F.M. Stawell
- [4] 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
- ↑ Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 313b.
- ↑ Verse Account ii.5.
- ↑ Daniel 5:30
- ↑ Xenophon, Cyropaedia 7.5.30.
- ↑ Pritchard,Ancient Near Eastern Texts, p. 306b.
- ↑ Nabonidus Chronicle iii.5.
- ↑ Verse Account, ii.5; Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 313b.
- ↑ Daniel 5:7
- ↑ Becher, Dave, The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation, 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
- ↑ Beacher, Dave, The Tripartite Helmet of Hope and Salvation, 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
- ↑ Daniel 5:7