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5:1 Older critical scholars have claimed that Belshazzar was never a king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.167However modern discoveries have shown that Belshazzar acted as king during his father's frequent and prolonged absences from Babylon.
"The last actual Chaldean king, Nabonidus, entrusted the kingship' in 539 B.C. to his son Bel-sar-usur during his ten-year absence from Babylon, returning as the threat from Cyrus grew."168
Banquets the size described in this verse also drew the attack of critics. Yet the ancient historian Ktesias wrote that Persian kings frequently dined daily with 15,000 people (cf. Esth. 1).169
Later we will read that Belshazzar hosted this banquet on the night the city of Babylon fell (vv. 30-31). The invading Medes and Persians, led by Ugbaru, commander of the Persian army, would have already taken the surrounding countryside, and everyone in the city would have known of their intentions. However, Babylon had not fallen to an invading army for 1000 years because of its strong fortifications. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Babylon was about 14 miles square with a double wall system enclosing a moat between the two walls. The outer wall was 87 feet thick, wide enough for four chariots to drive abreast on. It was 350 feet high with 100 gates, plus hundreds more towers reaching another 100 feet above the walls.170
Belshazzar's confidence in the security of his capital is evident in his banqueting and getting drunk while his enemy was at his door. His name, which means "Bel [also known as Marduk] has protected the king,"171may have increased his sense of invulnerability. Herodotus also mentioned that a festival was underway in Babylon when the city fell.172
"With the armies of a conqueror pressing at the capital this deputy ruler took refuge in an orgy of wine."173
5:2-4 Nebuchadnezzar was Belshazzar's grandfather rather than his father, but the original language commonly used "father"in the sense of ancestor.
"Neither in Hebrew, nor in Chaldee, is there any word for grandfather,' grandson.' Forefathers are called fathers' or fathers' fathers.' But a single grandfather, or forefather, is never called father's father' but always father' only."174
Evidently the vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple had been stored as trophies of war and not used previously (cf. 1:2). Their presence in the warehouses of Babylon was sufficient humiliation of Yahweh who in the minds of the Babylonians could not prevent their theft. However using these vessels in praise of Babylon's gods was even more sacrilegious than just possessing them.
"Have you noticed how in recent years the world has stepped into the sanctuary' of faith and laid its ruthless hands on some of the things we hold most sacred? Our day has seen this impious sacrilege carried into many other realms, as well. Is God unmindful of this? Will He not visit for such defiance?"175
Again, as in chapters 3 and 4, a pagan king set himself up as superior to Yahweh. Perhaps Belshazzar did what he did to strengthen nationalistic pride among the Babylonians as well.
The description of Babylon's gods as gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone probably reflects the Hebrew perspective of the writer (cf. v. 23). For the Israelites the gods that Belshazzar honored were no gods at all.
