Daniel’s Age at the Time of His Vision

from Google Images

As we begin chapter eight of the Book of Daniel, we find that Daniel has another vision. This one came to him during the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, which some Biblical scholars conclude was his final year, and immediately before the fall of Babylon. However, if historical scholars are correct, Belshazzar reigned sixteen years before Babylon was conquered by the Medes and the Persians (Daniel 5:30-31). Assuming this is correct, his reign would extend backward into the reign of his father, when he was co-regent with him. In fact, some believe it was Belshazzar who placed his father on the throne of Babylon, which makes one wonder, if Evil-Merodach was assassinated, was Belshazzar responsible, and, if so, and being the power behind the throne of his father, was he co-regent with him from the beginning of his father’s reign? Many questions can be asked, but at the end of the day, all we really know is that Daniel’s vision came to him during the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, perhaps as co-regent, or near the end of the Babylonian Empire, during the third year of Belshazzar’s sole reign as the king of Babylon.