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Belshazzar’s Role as Coregent of Nabonidus: Was He a King?

The Nabonidus Cylinders and the Nabonidus Chronicle provide crucial archaeological evidence that supports the biblical narrative regarding Belshazzar, a figure who had long been questioned by critics of the Bible. Before these inscriptions were discovered and deciphered, many scholars doubted the historical accuracy of the account in the book of Daniel that refers to Belshazzar as “king of Babylon” (Daniel 5:1-9). The cuneiform inscriptions on the Nabonidus Cylinder, as seen in the image you provided, are essential in understanding the political structure of Babylon at the time of its downfall and the unique role that Belshazzar played as co-regent under his father, King Nabonidus.

Babylonian temple cylinder that names King Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar

The text on these cylinders records Nabonidus’s reign, his religious devotion to the moon god Sin, and his restoration of various temples. While these inscriptions do not directly mention Belshazzar, other historical documents, such as the Nabonidus Chronicle and Verse Account of Nabonidus, provide more direct evidence of Belshazzar’s co-regency and authority in Babylon, which aligns with the biblical account. The inscriptions, along with other ancient sources, confirm that Nabonidus spent a significant portion of his reign in Tayma, a distant oasis in Arabia, leaving his son Belshazzar to rule Babylon in his absence. This arrangement explains why Belshazzar is referred to as “king” in the book of Daniel, despite the fact that Nabonidus was the official king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

The Historical Background of Nabonidus and His Absence from Babylon

Nabonidus became king of Babylon in 556 B.C.E., following the reign of Labashi-Marduk. Unlike his predecessors, Nabonidus was not fully devoted to the worship of Marduk, the chief god of Babylon. Instead, he elevated the worship of Sin, the moon god, particularly in Harran and Tayma. His religious reforms caused friction with the powerful priesthood of Marduk in Babylon. To further distance himself from these tensions, Nabonidus left Babylon in the care of his son, Belshazzar, and spent nearly a decade in Tayma, where he focused on building temples and promoting the worship of Sin.

The Nabonidus Chronicle, another important ancient source, confirms that during Nabonidus’s extended absence, Belshazzar acted as the de facto ruler of Babylon, overseeing the kingdom’s administration, military, and religious duties. This historical reality is reflected in the biblical text, where Belshazzar holds a great feast, confident in his authority as ruler of Babylon (Daniel 5:1).

The Cylinder Inscriptions: Religious Devotion and the Role of Belshazzar

While the Nabonidus Cylinders primarily focus on Nabonidus’s piety toward Sin and his temple restoration projects, other documents reveal that Belshazzar played a key role in maintaining Babylon’s religious traditions during his father’s absence. The book of Daniel presents Belshazzar as the acting king who, during a lavish banquet, committed an act of sacrilege by using the sacred vessels from the temple in Jerusalem to drink wine and praise Babylonian gods (Daniel 5:1-4). The Bible emphasizes that this blasphemous act was a direct insult to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and that it set the stage for Babylon’s downfall, which was prophesied long before by Isaiah and Jeremiah (Isaiah 47:1-11; Jeremiah 50:1-3, 51:11).

Although the Nabonidus Cylinders themselves do not detail Belshazzar’s actions during this time, other historical texts indicate that Belshazzar, as coregent, offered sacrifices to Babylonian deities such as Sin and Marduk, performing religious duties that would have otherwise been carried out by Nabonidus. These actions reinforced his position as ruler in his father’s stead, even though his official title was “crown prince” rather than “king.” The discovery of texts such as the Nabonidus Chronicle and the Verse Account of Nabonidus provides invaluable evidence that Belshazzar exercised royal prerogatives, lending credibility to the biblical portrayal of his authority in Babylon.

The Biblical and Archaeological Corroboration of Belshazzar’s Role

The Bible refers to Belshazzar as the son of Nebuchadnezzar II, although it is more likely that Belshazzar was the grandson or descendant of Nebuchadnezzar through his mother, Nitocris, who may have been Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter. This common usage of familial terms to refer to royal successors is well-attested in ancient Near Eastern texts. For instance, rulers were often referred to as the “sons” of their predecessors, even if the relationship was not one of direct parentage. This explains why the book of Daniel refers to Nebuchadnezzar as Belshazzar’s “father” (Daniel 5:2, 11).

The Bible accurately reflects the political situation in Babylon, particularly the fact that Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the position of “third ruler in the kingdom” (Daniel 5:16), since Belshazzar himself was second in command under Nabonidus. This detail aligns perfectly with the historical reality of Belshazzar’s co-regency, further attesting to the reliability of the biblical text.

The Fall of Babylon: The Role of Belshazzar and the Medo-Persian Conquest

On the night of October 5, 539 B.C.E., while the city of Babylon was under siege by Cyrus the Great and the Medo-Persian army, Belshazzar hosted a great feast for a thousand of his nobles. According to the book of Daniel, during this feast, Belshazzar’s sacrilegious use of the sacred vessels from the temple in Jerusalem led to the divine judgment written on the wall: “Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin” (Daniel 5:25). Daniel interpreted this message as the impending destruction of Babylon, with the kingdom being “divided and given to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:28).

That same night, as the Nabonidus Chronicle confirms, Cyrus’s army entered Babylon without a battle, capturing the city and ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Belshazzar was killed, fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy of judgment (Daniel 5:30). The capture of Babylon was a pivotal event in biblical history, marking the fulfillment of Jehovah’s prophecy through Isaiah and Jeremiah regarding the fall of Babylon and the eventual restoration of the Jewish exiles to their homeland (Isaiah 45:1-2; Jeremiah 29:10-14).

The Significance of the Nabonidus Inscriptions in Biblical Archaeology

The Nabonidus Cylinders and other cuneiform texts provide crucial historical context for the biblical account of Belshazzar and the fall of Babylon. The inscriptions confirm that Belshazzar was indeed a historical figure, acting as coregent during his father Nabonidus’s absence. The archaeological evidence from these inscriptions dispels earlier doubts about the existence of Belshazzar and corroborates the Bible’s portrayal of him as a ruler of Babylon.

Furthermore, the discovery of these texts highlights the Bible’s accuracy in recording the political and religious dynamics of the ancient world. The Bible’s depiction of Babylon as a proud and idolatrous city destined for divine judgment is consistent with the historical reality of its fall to the Medo-Persian Empire. The prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel all emphasize that Babylon’s downfall was part of Jehovah’s plan to bring about the return of the Jewish exiles and the restoration of Jerusalem.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).