Nebuchadnezzar ruled for 43 years and died. His son, Evil-Merodach ruled for two years (II Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34) and was assassinated by his brother-in-law Neriglassar, who ruled for four years and died. (Jeremiah 39:3; 13) His son, Laborosoarchod, an only child with a mental disability ruled for nine months was lynched by a gang of conspirators. One of the conspirators, Nabonidus became the king. Nabonidus’ eldest son was Belshazzar. During the last years of his reign, Nabonidus ruled from Arabia while Belshazzar was co-regent in Babylon from 553 BC until the fall of Babylon in 539 BC, as Daniel interpreted the Writing on the Wall. (Daniel 5)
Casual: Kings have the responsibility to protect the nation, enact laws, and implement justice. However, Belshazzar probably was not a faithful steward to fulfill his responsibility.
Carefree: Probably, Nabonidus had been at the forefront of waging war and was captured by the Medo-Persian army; the army surrounded Babylon. Belshazzar at that time made a great feast with about one thousand leaders, without realizing the danger.
Confident: His confidence was a strong defense of Babylon. The outer walls of Babylon were 17 miles (27 kilometers) long; the walls were 22 feet (7 meters) thick and about 90 feet (28 meters) high; the outer walls had guard towers another 100 feet (30 meters); city gates were made of bronze; there were moats between the outer and inner walls.
Contempt: Belshazzar had contempt for Jews, Jerusalem, and Judaism. He commanded to bring the vessels taken from the Temple of Jerusalem, placed in the temple of Bel. He used them for his drinking party as he praised gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Careless: When Daniel came to interpret the writing on the wall, he rebuked Belshazzar for not understanding and learning lessons from history.
Consultant: Like Nebuchadnezzar, he also had magicians as his consultant and did not seek Daniel for his advice.
River Euphrates was stopped, and the army led by Gobryas, entered the city walking on a dry riverbed into the castle. Gobryas was made governor by Cyrus.
Do I have false confidence in the wrong things?