Editing Belshazzar (section)

=== Portrayal in the Book of Daniel ===
[[File:Rembrandt-Belsazar.jpg|thumb|[[Rembrandt]]'s [[Belshazzar's Feast (Rembrandt)|depiction]] of the biblical account of Belshazzar seeing "[[Belshazzar's feast|the writing on the wall]]"]]
In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar ({{langx|he|בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר}}, ''Bēlšaʾṣṣar''){{sfn|Chavalas|2000|p=164}} plays a significant role in the tale of [[Belshazzar's feast]], a variation on the story of [[Daniel 4|Nebuchadnezzar's madness]] showing what happens when a king does not repent.{{sfn|Collins|1984|p=70}} During a feast, Babylonians eat and drink from the holy vessels of [[Yahweh]]'s [[First Temple|temple]], and "king" Belshazzar sees a hand writing the words ''mene, mene, tekel, upharsin'' on a wall.{{sfn|Seow|2003|pp=75}} [[Daniel (biblical figure)|Daniel]] interprets the writing as a judgment from [[Yahweh]], the god of Israel, foretelling the [[fall of Babylon]].{{sfn|Collins|1984|p=67}} Daniel tells Belshazzar that because he has not given honor to God, his kingdom will be given to the Medes and Persians.{{sfn|Seow|2003|pp=75}} Belshazzar is killed that night, and [[Darius the Mede]] takes the kingdom.{{sfn|Albertz|2003|pp=18-19}}
[[File:Bible primer, Old Testament, for use in the primary department of Sunday schools (1919) (14595449009).jpg|thumb|Depiction of Belshazzar seeing "the writing on the wall" by Adolf Hult (1919)]]
The broad consensus among scholars is that the Book of Daniel was compiled shortly after the [[Maccabean Revolt]] in the 160s BC.{{sfn|Collins|2002|p=2}} The story of Belshazzar's feast is thus deemed [[historical fiction]],<!--The academic consensus is that the Book of Daniel is historical fiction, this should not be changed without prior discussion and consensus on the article's talk page. See WP:FRINGE.--> and several details are not consistent with historical facts.{{sfn|Laughlin|1990|p=95}}{{sfn|Seow|2003|pp=4–6}} Belshazzar is portrayed as the king of Babylon and "son" of Nebuchadnezzar, though he was actually the son of Nabonidus—one of Nebuchadnezzar's successors—and he never became king in his own right, nor did he lead the religious festivals as the king was required to do.{{sfn|Seow|2003|pp=4–6}} In the story, the conqueror who inherits Babylon is [[Darius the Mede]], but no such individual is known to history.{{sfn|Seow|2003|pp=4–6}} This is typical of the "tale of court contest" in which historical accuracy is not an essential element.{{sfn|Collins|1984|p=41,67}}