Daniel 5:1-6

About 20 years had passed between chapters four and five. Nebuchadnezzar had been succeeded by a son who reigned just a few years before being assassinated by his own brother-in-law.

For a short time, two other rulers occupied the throne, but now we come to see Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar as king of the city of Babylon.

Babylon, in its day, was the New York City of the world. It was a city that was known to be so great that it was unable to be broken into. Around Babylon were walls 300 feet high. The walls were 80 feet wide at the top so that four chariots could travel side-by-side. Chariot races often occurred here. It had over 100 towers for defense above its walls and had enough food in storage to last 20 years in case of siege. The Euphrates River flowed through it for water.