Belteshazzar

This name was given to Daniel by the Chaldeans in the time of the captivity. (Dan. i. 7.) And no doubt, the design was evil; that he might in it lose sight both of his own name, and with it the remembrance of the Lord God of his fathers. And what a change it was! Daniel, a compound of Dan, judgment; and I, E1, my God: my judgment is with God, or God is my judge. Whereas, Belteshazzar was a compound of Bel, the idol which the Babylonians worshipped; and Shassar, from Etzar, to lay up. And as the idol’s name was derivedfrom Bulat, secret, they both together implied the laying up in secret. From Daniel’s history, it should seem to convey the idea, as though the name Belteshazzar was given to him in compliment, on account of his great wisdom; but there can be but little question, that the great object was, that he might, in time, forget the Lord God of Israel, and be incorporated with the Chaldeans. See Abednego.

Belteshaz´zar [DANIEL]

Belteshaz’zar. (favored by Bel). See Daniel; Daniel, The Book of.

(Heb. Belteshatstsar’, בֵּלְטְשִׁאצִּר, Bel’s prince, that is, whom Bel favors; Sept. Βαλτάσαρ), the Chaldee or Assyrio-Babylonish name, given to Daniel at the court of Nebuchadnezzar, in Babylon (Dan 1:7, etc). SEE DANIEL.

Belteshazzar (bĕl’te-shăz’zar), Bel’s prince, or Bel protect Ms life. The name given to the prophet Daniel at the court of Nebuchadnezzar. Dan 1:7. See Daniel.

[Belteshaz’zar] See DANIEL.

By: Richard Gottheil, Gerson B. Levi

The name given to Daniel by the chief of the eunuchs (Dan. i. 7). The writer of the Book of Daniel sees in the first syllable the god Bel, but it is more probable that the name is to be explained as the Babylonian "balaṭsu [or "balaṭushu"]-uṣur," "May [Bel] guard his life" (Schrader, "C. I. O. T." ii. 125; compare Kohler, in "Zeit. für Assyriologie," iv. 49). George Hoffmann, however, translates the name "May Belit guard the king" ("Zeit. für Assyriologie," ii. 56).

BELTESHAZZAR.—Nebuchadnezzar is said to have conferred this name on the youthful Daniel (Dan 1:7). The Babylonian form would be Balatsu-usur (“protect his life!”) or, according to Dan 4:8, Bel balatsu-usur. The LXX [Note: Septuagint.] and Theodotion employ Baltasar both for it and for Belshazzar (ch. 5); and pseudo-Epiphanius repeats a legend that Nebuchadnezzar wished to make the two men co-heirs.

J. Taylor.

bel-tē̇-shaz´ar (בּלטשׁאצּר, bēlṭa’ccar Babylonian Balaṭ-sharuṣur “protect his life”; Dan 4:8): The Babylonian name given to Daniel (Dan 1:7; Dan 2:26; Dan 5:12). Not to be confounded with Belshazzar.