Bible Strands
Belshazzar
Belshazzar, the last Emperor of Babylon, is mentioned in the book of Daniel as the son of Nebuchadnezzar (though historically known as the son of Nabonidus).
From Easton's Bible Dictionary
Bel protect the king!, the last of the kings of Babylon (Dan. 5:1). He was the son of Nabonidus by Nitocris, who was the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar and the widow of Nergal-sharezer. When still young he made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and when heated with wine sent for the sacred vessels his "father" (Dan. 5:2), or grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from the temple in Jerusalem, and he and his princes drank out of them. In the midst of their mad revelry a hand was seen by the king tracing on the wall the announcement of God's judgment, which that night fell upon him. At the instance of the queen (i.e., his mother) Daniel was brought in, and he interpreted the writing. That night the kingdom of the Chaldeans came to an end, and the king was slain (Dan. 5:30). (See NERGAL-SHAREZER.)
Easton's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897 — public domain, quoted in full and unedited.
Family
Parents
Nebuchadnezzar
From STEPBible's TIPNR genealogy data. A relationship the data marks uncertain is not shown here.
First named at Daniel 5:1.
See Belshazzar in the family tree →
Verses that name Belshazzar
- Daniel 5:1 Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
- Daniel 5:2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
- Daniel 5:9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.
- Daniel 5:22 But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.
- Daniel 5:29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
- Daniel 5:30 That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain,
- Daniel 7:1 In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
- Daniel 8:1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier.