The Belshazzar of Daniel and the Belshazzar of History1
نویسنده
چکیده
In a recent issue of this journal William H. Shea has discussed the question of Belshazzar in the light of current scholarship, concluding among other things that the writer of Dan 5 was an eyewitness of the events narrated in that chapter.2 While some of the article is devoted to giving evidence for this conclusion, much of it is predicated on the assumption that Dan 5 is historically accurate. In other words, a good deal of Shea's discussion assumes what he is attempting to prove! T o begin with a prime example, Shea discusses the important question of whether Belshazzar was ever made king over Babylon, and in doing so he faces squarely the difficulties involved. In the end, Shea tacitly recognizes that we have no external evidence that Belshazzar was ever formally king, for he speaks of "two possible explanations." 3 He obviously favors one of these, giving a lengthy and ingenious explanation-virtually a tour de force-of how Belshazzar could have been made king at the last minute. But it is all pure conjecture and assumes the accuracy of Daniel's ascription of kingship to Belshazzar. Shea does not mention another possible explanation, one favored by the majority of O T scholars: that even though there is a historical figure behind Dan 5, much of the chapter is unhistorical theologizing. Shea mentions the important study of R. P. Dougherty more than half a century ago.4 He does not refer to the lengthy review of
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Nabonidus, Belshazzar, and the Book of Daniel: an Update
More than half a century has now passed since R. P. Dougherty 's significant monograph was published in 1929, summarizing what was known up to then about Nabonidus and Belshazzar. ' Certain further pieces of information about these two historical figures have surfaced in the meantime, and the present seems like an appropriate juncture at which to review the evidence and examine the relationship...
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