BELTESHAZZAR
Belteshazzar is a figure mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Daniel, as a prominent character in the Babylonian court during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.
He is better known by his Hebrew name, Daniel, which means “God is my judge.” Belteshazzar was one of the young Israelite nobles taken into captivity in Babylon after the conquest of Jerusalem.
According to the Book of Daniel, Belteshazzar was chosen, along with three other young men, to be trained for service in the royal court of Babylon. Despite being in a foreign land and faced with numerous challenges, Belteshazzar remained faithful to his God and refused to defile himself by eating the food and wine provided by the king.
Instead, he requested to be given only vegetables and water, which ultimately proved to be more nourishing than the royal diet.
Belteshazzar’s wisdom and intelligence soon became evident to King Nebuchadnezzar, who appointed him as one of his chief advisers. Throughout his life, Belteshazzar interpreted dreams, received visions, and demonstrated a profound understanding of God’s will and sovereignty.
He famously interpreted the king’s dream about a great statue representing successive kingdoms, foretelling the rise and fall of empires, including the reign of God’s eternal kingdom.