The story of Belshazzar
Belshazzar was a king of Babylon mentioned in the book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. He was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar II and is known for his behavior of blasphemy and impiety. According to the Bible, Belshazzar held a feast and brought out the vessels that had been taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, using them for drinking and praising the gods of gold and silver. During this feast, he saw a mysterious hand writing on the wall, foretelling his doom. That night, Belshazzar was killed and his kingdom was given to Darius the Mede. The exact historical accuracy of Belshazzar and his rule is still debated among scholars.
Name meaning
The name "Belshazzar" is of Babylonian origin and it means "Bel, protect the king" or "Bel's prince." "Bel" is a title used in Mesopotamian religions to refer to various deities, most notably Marduk, the chief god of Babylon. The name is most famously associated with Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, mentioned in the Book of Daniel in the Bible, who is known for the story of the "writing on the wall" during his feast.
Name origin
Akkadian
Role
Crown prince, viceroy
First mention
Daniel 5:1
Appearances in the Bible
8 mentions