Trustworthy History

 The Bible book of Daniel tells us that a man by the name of Belshazzar once ruled as king in Babylon. (Daniel 5:1) However, some secular sources have stated in the past that Belshazzar, though powerful, was never king.  Was the Bible wrong? Archaeologists have uncovered a number of clay cylinders in the ruins of Mesopotamia.  The cuneiform inscription on one cylinder included a prayer by Babylonian King Nabonidus for "Bel-sar-ussur, my eldest son." Later findings confirmed that Belshazzar had "acted as regent for more than half his father's reign," states the New Bible Dictionary, "during which time he was to all intents and purposes king."

History also shows that ancient Babylon was an extremely religious city, rife with astrology and divination. For example, at Ezekiel 21:21, we read that the king of Babylon resorted to divination in order to determine whether to attack Jerusalem.  The king "looked into the liver," the Bible says. Why the liver? The Babylonians used this organ in quest of omens. The book Mesopotamian Astrology tells us that at just one site in ancient Babylon, archaeologists found "32 [clay] liver models, all inscribed with omens. 

Noted archaeologists Nelson Gluek once said: "I have excavated for thirty years with a Bible in one hand and a trowel in the other, and in matters of historical perspective I have never found the Bible to be in error." 

Next time: Trustworthy Prophecy

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