Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 5:1

1 BElshazzar , the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

His name is from Riches and Power, they were wont, when they were promoted, to take new names, which also were significant, as this is. Belshazzar, Bel hath or gives power and riches, this they attributed to the honour of their Idol, which belongs only to the God of Heaven. There is much contest among the learned who this Belshatsar was, let us mind the Scripture and not trust to heathen Historians, in the second verse here he is called the Son of Nebuchadnezzar, his Father, so verse the 11 twice, and ver. 13.18, 22. if he were his Son then was he called also Merodach or Evilmerodach. Yet he might be called his Son though his Grand-Son, under these three was the Captivity, Ier. 27.7. Nebuchadnezzar, Evilmerodach, and Belshazzar.

After the manner of the East who shewed their magnificence this way, and pleased the Epicurean Palates of his Nobles herein, it being no small piece of policy with some Princes to oblige their grandees by Balls and Compotations, this I believe: Yet I conceive also, this Feast was Anniversary for the honour of their Idol Bel, as Herodotus testifieth. But this is prodigious that he should carouse when the City was besieged, and ready to be taken by Darius the Mede, for saith the Text he drank Wine before the 1000, these Bacchanalian Feasts have often proved fatal and Tragical, Es[illegible: 1 letter]h. 1.

Marginal references: Jer. 51.39.