Why was Daniel generous to King Nebuchadnezzar but dismissive to King Belshazzar?
The first few chapters of Daniel place the audience in a state of suspense. The Israelites are now in exile, and our main protagonists are trying to understand where God is in a godless place like Babylon.
We see characters like Daniel face different obstacles with the Babylonian leaders, often being threatened with execution. Daniel and the faithful Israelites try to respect their governing authorities without compromising their covenant with God, and every time God delivers His faithful followers from destruction.
One of the main themes in Daniel is sovereignty, and who is really in control. God’s people may be in exile, but God is still on the throne.
So why is it halfway through the book that Daniel’s attitude towards the Babylonian king changes? The first few chapters explore Daniel’s relationship with King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel is unapologetically Jewish, and isn’t shy about worshiping the one true God. However, Daniel still shows respect to Nebuchadnezzar, acknowledging his authority and even showing sincere care for his well being. (Daniel 4:19)
King Belshazzar, on the other hand, is more apathetic. Belshazzar’s relationship with Daniel is cold and short. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel refuses to accept Belshazzar’s gifts for interpreting his divine message. (Daniel 5:17) Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar is not given multiple chances to repent and acknowledge God. He is told that he has gone too far and will die.
Who was King Belshazzar?
To better understand why Daniel’s attitude toward Belshazzar is different, it might help knowing some of the political context in Daniel’s day.
“Belshazzar, referred to throughout the chapter in terms of his familial relationship to Nebuchadnezzar, was neither the biological son of the great Babylonian monarch nor even technically deserving of the title ‘king’. His actual father, Nabonidus, was the last reigning king of Babylon, though ‘reigning’ overstates his activity for much of his seventeen-year tenure...
While the king was away from Babylon, his oldest son, Belshazzar, served in his stead. Although Babylonian records never assign Belshazzar the royal title, he was as good as king when Nabonidus was away.”
When Belshazzar sees the frightening hand writing on the wall, he is adamant to see who in the kingdom can interpret the divine message. Unlike his predecessor, Belshazzar doesn’t even know Daniel. It seems after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign that Daniel and his high standing was forgotten about, or at the very least dismissed.
When Daniel is brought before the king, he reminds him of Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony of God’s punishment and redemption described personally by Nebuchadnezzar himself in the previous chapter. The Babylonian king’s testimony was not just to show God’s power and mercy, but to warn fellow leaders to humble themselves before the Lord of all (remember the ongoing theme of sovereignty).
“...when his (Nebuchadnezzar’s) heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over human kingdoms and sets anyone he wants over them.
But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens.”
Belshazzar not only dismissed Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony and the reputation of Daniel. He took vessels from the sacred Jerusalem temple and used them for his own drunken, pagan feast, a blatantly disrespectful act toward God and the Jewish people.
To put it simply, the book of Daniel shows Belshazzar as a fool, posing as a king, ignoring the warnings and testimonies of those around him and doing what he pleases. It’s interesting to note that the next chapter tells the famous story of Daniel in the lions’ den. This time around Darius is king, and seems to have a much better relationship with Daniel. He seems to be very aware of Daniel’s history and prophetic status. And as we see toward the end of the story, Darius praises God in a similar way Nebuchadnezzar did in 4:34-35.
Daniel 4:34b-35
For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
Daniel 6:26b-27
For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He rescues and delivers; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for he has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.
Bibliography
Widder, W. (2016). The Story of God Bible Commentary: Daniel. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Thumbnail Image: “Belshazzar’s Feast” -By Rembrandt (1635-1638)