Belshazzar

BELSHAZZAR, the Son of Evilmerodach, and Grandson to the Great Nebuchadnezzar. This Prince made an entertainment for a thousand of his most eminent Dan. v. 1, 2, &c.Courtiers, at which every one drank according to his Age¹. The King overpowered with wine, commanded the gold and silver vessels to be produced before him, which Nebuchadnezzar his Grandfather brought from the Temple of Jerusalem, that he might drink out of them with his Wives, his Concubines, and the Grandees of his Court. They began therefore to drink and praise their false Gods; at that very instant there was an appearance seen as it were of a man’s hand and fingers, writing upon the wall of the King’s hall over against the candlestick.² Belshazzar observing this, was very much astonished, made a great outcry, and commanded all the Diviners and Sages of Babylon to be sent for, in order to have that explained which was written on the wall.

When they came the King promised, that whoever should expound this writing, should be clothed with scarlet, should wear a gold chain round his neck, and should be the third person of his Kingdom in place and power. The Magi could comprehend nothing at all of this writing, which increased the disorder and uneasiness that the King was in and his whole Court. In the midst of this disturbance, the Queen Mother, Wife³ to the late Nebuchadnezzar the Great, coming into the room of entertainment, told Belshazzar, that there was one Daniel in his Dominions, who had more knowledge than all the Magi and Soothsayers of Chaldæa, and had given proofs of his sufficiency in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Hereupon the King immediately sent for him, and directed him, if he could, to interpret what was written on the wall, with an assurance, that he should have the third place in his Kingdom, should be clothed in scarlet, and wear a gold chain about his neck. Daniel thanked him for the presents which he mentioned, and promised to perform what he required of him.

He reproached him with great freedom for his ingratitude to God, who had advanced him to the rank and authority of a Sovereign, and for his profanation of the Vessels which were consecrated to the Lord; then he said, the writing is this, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, which is to be thus interpreted, Mene God hath computed the days of thy reign, and hath appointed the end of it. Tekel, thou hast been weighed in the balance, and found light. Peres thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

Daniel hereupon was clothed with scarlet, had a gold chain put on, and was proclaimed the third person in the Kingdom: and that very night Belshazzar was killed, and Darius the Mede succeeded him in his Kingdom at the age of sixty two years. This is what we read in the fifth chapter of Daniel concerning Belshazzar. But we are infinitely perplexed, when we attempt to reconcile profane History with the account of this particular in the sacred Writings. It is generally believed, that Evil-merodach was succeeded by Nerigliffor, and that Nerigliffor was succeeded by Laborosoardoch; and that Belshazzar is the same as Nabonidas or Labynites. See our Comment upon Dan. v. 1. pages, 627, 628, 629, and 638. and the Discourse concerning the four great Monarchies prefixed to our Comment on Isaiah, pages 57 and 58.

All the marks whereby Nabonidas is described in History, agree with Belshazzar. Herodotus⁴ says, that Nabonidas, otherwise called Labynites, was the last King of Babylon, that he was not of Nerigliffor’s or Laborosoardach’s Family, but was the Son of the great Queen Nitocris. Belshazzar in like manner is the last King of the Chaldæans, Son to a King of Babylon, Dan. v. 2.who can be no other than Evilmerodach. Daniel somewhere calls Belshazzar the Son of Nebuchadnezzar; but this is because the Grandsons, in the stile of the Hebrews have often the name of Sons given them. Lastly, Jeremiah says expressly, that all the Jerem. xxvii. 6, 7.nations shall be subject to Nebuchadnnezzar his Son, and Grandson, till the time shall come when vengeance is to be taken on himself and his country.

Xenophon⁵ says, that Cyrus took Babylon by stratagem, having cut the channel of the Euphrates in several places: and diverted the Waters of it into ditches dug long before by Queen Semiramis; that his Army entred into the City by the channel of the river, and the gates through which it had a passage into Babylon; that the whole City was then engaged in debauchery and joy, by reason of some Festival which was that day celebrated; that the King of Babylon was put to death in his palace by the people belonging to Gadutas and Gobrias Babylonians, who had deserted to the party of the Medes, in order to revenge themselves on the King of Babylon.

Berosus and Megasthenes⁶ relate, that Nabonidas was attacked by Cyrus in the seventeenth year of his reign; Nabonidas gave him battle and lost it. He fled for security with some few of his troops to Borsippe. Cyrus by this means became master of Babylon, and having demolished the outward walls of it he marched directly to Borsippe; but Nabonidas did not think it proper to stand a siege, he surrendered therefore to Cyrus, who treated him with humanity, and gave him a retreat in Carmania, where he passed the rest of his life. This doubtless is very different from what the Scripture tells us of Belshazzar.

But what variety soever may be observed in the different Historians, the result of their accounts is always this, that the Prophecies against Babylon were for the most part literally fulfilled at the death of Belshazzar. This City was besieged by an Army composed of Medes, Elamites, and Armenians, according to the Predictions of Isaiah and Jeremiah, that the fords of the If. xiii. 17. xxi. 2. Jerem. l. 11, 27, 28, 29, 30. Jerem. l. 38. li. 36.river should be seized, that confusion and disturbance should prevail throughout the City, that the bravest of the inhabitants should be in a consternation, that the river Euphrates should be made dry, and the City taken in a time of rejoicing, that its Princes, Sages and Captains should be overwhelmed with drunkenness, and pass from a natural to an eternal sleep, out of which they never should awake, that the City Jerem. li. 39, 57.which was formerly so beautiful, so powerful, and so flourishing, should become a dwelling for bitterns Isaiah xiv. 23.and birds of bad omen.

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