For many years, skeptics have contested the authenticity of the book of Daniel. Some skeptics do not believe that there can be miracles1 such as:
- Daniel being unharmed after being thrown into the lion’s den (Daniel 6);
- The three Hebrews not being burned in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3); or,
- Daniel’s accurate prediction of future events (Daniel 8).
Skeptics also say that the biblical book of Daniel talks about a Babylonian King, Belshazzar, who does not exist (Daniel 5).
In this article, we will take a brief look at this last point, and show that archaeology has proven that the biblical account of Belshazzar is correct. First, we look at some background information starting with an approximate timeline.
Kings from Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar
Between chapter 4 and chapter 5 of Daniel, approximately twenty-three years elapsed. In this period, a number of monarchs had succeeded Nebuchadnezzar. Biblical prophets Isaiah and Jerimiah are included in the timeline because of their predictions of the defeat of Babylon.
Approximate Dates BC
711 Isaiah prophesied about Cyrus’ role in the defeat of Babylon (Isaiah 44)
605 – 562 Nebuchadnezzar reigns
586 Jeremiah prophesied against Babylon (Jeremiah 51)
562 Evil-Merodach reigns
560 Neriglisar reigns
556 Laborosoarchod reigns
556 Nabonidus (married Nitocris, daughter of Nebuchadnezzar)
553 – 539 Belshazzar co-regency with Nabonidus
539 Babylon conquered by the Medes
Berosus is a Chaldean priest of Bel in Babylon who wrote a work in three books (in Greek) on the history and culture of Babylonia about 290 BC (c. 324–261 BC). It was widely used by later Greek compilers, whose versions in turn were quoted by religious historians such as Eusebius of Caeserea and Josephus.
The second and third books contained the chronology and history of Babylon and of later Assyria, beginning with the “ten kings before the flood [of Noah],” then the story of the flood itself, followed by the restoration of kingship with a long line of kings “after the flood,” and finally the later history of Assyria, Babylon, and the Persians.
According to Berosus, Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son, Evil-Merodach, who was killed in 560 BC. He was followed by Neriglissar, a son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar who died in 556 BC of natural causes. He was succeeded by Laborosoarchad, a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, who was assassinated after less than a year. Nabonidus assumed the throne in 556 BC and reigned until 539 BC when conquered by the Medes.
Nabonidus cylinders
Archaeologist J.G. Taylor found four cuneiform cylinders in the foundation of a ziggurat at Ur in 1854. Each cylinder is approximately six inches in length. This find has come to be known as the Nabonidus Cylinder which is a commentary on repairs made to a temple. The great ziggurat of Ur was built by Ur-Nammu around 2100 BC and was dedicated to Nanna, the moon god. The Sumerians worshiped this moon god as Nanna, his Akkadian name was Su’en, later contracted to Sin. His symbol is depicted in artifacts as a crescent moon which is also associated with the horns of a bull.2 Later cultures included the addition of a star inside the crescent.
Nabonidus, the King of Babylon at the time, commissioned the temple repairs. The Nabonidus Cylinders are classified as foundation texts, because they were found in the foundation of buildings of a temple complex. The foundation cylinder’s main purpose was to record the work of repairing and rebuilding the temple complexes. The Nabonidus Cylinder also mentions Nabonidus’ son Belshazzar, who stood in as temporary ruler whenever his father was away.
Nabonidus, as King of Babylon, paid little attention to the politics, religion, or affairs of Imperial Babylon preferring instead to travel and research the older buildings, temples, and objects of antiquity that lay in the outer most parts of his Empire. Nabonidus is included in archaeology’s ‘hall of fame’ because he abandoned his royal duties in favour of performing some of the first archaeological investigations.3
Conclusion
Until the discovery of the Nabonidus Cylinder, no mention of Belshazzar, whom Daniel declares to be king of Babylon, had been found in extra-biblical literature. Critics of the authenticity and historicity of Daniel questioned whether any such person as Belshazzar existed. Since the discovery of the Nabonidus Cylinder, there is no longer grounds for questioning the historicity of Belshazzar, nor of the authenticity of the book of Daniel.
This would put the beginning of Belshazzar’s reign at about 553 BC, when Nabonidus went to Teima. The record in Daniel, as well as the extra-biblical evidence, is now sufficient to support the conclusion of Belshazzar’s co-regency with Nabonidus.
Appendix
I have learned many things from the book of Daniel. Please see the links below for some of the lessons that I have written about:
Daniel’s life is the inspiration for my article: Heart for God.
I mention Nebuchadnezzer from Daniel 4:28-37 in, The Gentleman Spirit?
To see some of the amazing prophecies given through Isaiah and Jeremiah foretelling the future fall of Babylon, see my post Belshazzar’s Banquet.
Belshazzar is terrified by the Handwriting on the Wall.
The vision of Daniel chapter 8 is discussed in, The Ram & The Goat.
1 Defined as, “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs // the healing miracles described in the Gospels” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miracle 5/19/22
2 http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/nannasuen/ 5/5/22