Editing Belshazzar (section)

=== Portrayal in later Jewish tradition ===
In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar is not malevolent (he rewards Daniel and raises him to high office).{{sfn|Seow|2003|p=7}} The later authors of the [[Talmud]] and the [[Midrash]] emphasize the tyrannous oppression of his Jewish subjects, with several passages in the [[Nevi'im|Prophets]] interpreted as referring to him and his predecessors. For example, in the passage, "As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him" ([[Book of Amos|Amos]] {{bibleverse-nb|Amos|5:19|9}}), the lion is said to represent Nebuchadnezzar, and the bear, equally ferocious if not equally courageous, is Belshazzar. The Babylonian kings are often mentioned together as forming a succession of impious and tyrannical monarchs who oppressed Israel and were therefore foredoomed to disgrace and destruction. [[Isaiah]] {{bibleverse-nb|Isaiah|14:22|9}}, "And I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant and son and grandchild, saith the Lord", is applied to the trio: "Name" to Nebuchadnezzar, "remnant" to [[Amel-Marduk]], "son" to Belshazzar, and "grandchild" [[Vashti]] (ib.). The command given to [[Abraham]] to cut in pieces three heifers ({{bibleverse|Genesis|15:9|9}}) as a part of the covenant established between him and his God was thus elucidated as symbolizing Babylonia, which gave rise to three kings, Nebuchadnezzar, Amel-Marduk, and Belshazzar, whose doom is prefigured by this act of "cutting to pieces" (Midrash Genesis Rabbah xliv.).<ref name="auto">{{Jewish Encyclopedia|no-prescript=1|title=Belshazzar}}</ref>

The Midrash literature enters into the details of Belshazzar's death. Thus the later tradition states that [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] and [[Book of Daniel#Darius the Mede|Darius]] were employed as doorkeepers of the royal palace. Belshazzar, being greatly alarmed at the mysterious handwriting on the wall, and apprehending that someone in disguise might enter the palace with murderous intent, ordered his doorkeepers to behead anyone who attempted to force an entrance that night, even though such person should claim to be the king himself. Belshazzar, overcome by sickness, left the palace unobserved during the night through a rear exit. On his return, the doorkeepers refused to admit him. In vain did he pled that he was the king. They said, "Has not the king ordered us to put to death anyone who attempts to enter the palace, though he claims to be the king himself?" Suiting the action to the word, Cyrus and Darius grasped a heavy ornament forming part of a candelabrum, and with it shattered the skull of their royal master ([[Shir ha-Shirim Rabbah]] 3:4).<ref name="auto" />