Belshazzar appears in the Book of Daniel, primarily in chapter 5. He is introduced as the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 5:1 begins,
“Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.”
What He Did
Belshazzar’s reign is marked by pride, irreverence, and spiritual blindness. During a lavish feast, he committed a grave offense against the God of Israel. Daniel 5:2–3 recounts,
“While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple… Then they brought the gold vessels… and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.”
This sacrilege showed not only disrespect for holy things, but also a complete failure to learn from Nebuchadnezzar’s own humbling. Instead of humility, Belshazzar chose mockery. Daniel 5:4 says,
“They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.”
The Divine Response
God responded swiftly. A hand appeared and wrote on the wall. None of the king’s wise men, astrologers, or soothsayers could interpret the writing. In desperation, the queen reminded Belshazzar of Daniel. Daniel 5:11–12 says,
“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God… now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
Belshazzar turned to the pagan magicians first, trusting in the same failed sources that Nebuchadnezzar had once relied upon. Only after their failure was Daniel summoned. Daniel, full of the Spirit of God, interpreted the writing:
“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” (Daniel 5:25)
Daniel explained in Daniel 5:26–28 that God had numbered Belshazzar’s kingdom, weighed him and found him wanting, and declared that his kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
His Significance
Belshazzar serves as a final warning. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar who was humbled and restored, Belshazzar’s judgment came swiftly. He had seen and heard the works of God in the previous generation and yet rejected them. Daniel 5:22 confronts him,
“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.”
He represents the folly of relying on false wisdom, of turning to pagan counselors, and of disregarding the fear of the Lord. That very night, Belshazzar was slain (Daniel 5:30), and Darius the Mede took the kingdom.
My Final Thoughts
Belshazzar is a tragic figure—one who had access to truth but rejected it for pride, pleasure, and pagan counsel. He trusted in idols and earthly power, and he fell suddenly. His story is a solemn warning to honor what is holy, to seek wisdom from God, and to remain humble before the Lord.
