On a dramatic day in the history of the Babylonian Empire, a massive feast took place that blended military triumph with theological defiance. Belshazzar, the king of Babylon—who was the son of Evil-Merodach and the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar [רש״י, מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא]—decided to celebrate the might of his rule. He hosted an enormous banquet, a grand meal traditionally referred to by the serving of bread [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The immediate reason for this gathering stemmed from the events of that very day, in which Belshazzar fought against the camp of Darius the Mede and Cyrus, achieving a significant military victory [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].
A deeper motive, however, lay beneath the joy of battlefield success. Belshazzar was well aware of Jeremiah's prophecy, which foretold that the Babylonian empire would fall after seventy years. Having calculated the timeline and observing that his kingdom remained powerful and victorious, he mistakenly concluded that the prophesied deadline had passed and that the idols of Babylon had triumphed over God. Thus, the feast was designed to celebrate his survival and to openly display contempt for God [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].
The banquet was held in honor of the thousand great officers who had fought and won alongside the king [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. During the celebration, Belshazzar drank wine in the presence of these thousand men. The primary approach among commentators notes that this action was a significant departure from standard royal etiquette, as kings of that era typically ate and drank in a separate, private chamber. By sitting and drinking directly with his officers, Belshazzar intended to show them exceptional honor and affection [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, as part of this display of camaraderie, the king participated in a custom where a person drinks a cup of wine and passes it to a companion. Belshazzar drank a full cup of wine corresponding to each of his thousand officers, demonstrating highly unusual physical stamina and an intense appetite for pleasure [יוסף אבן יחיא].
The progression of the banquet was carefully calculated; the king first filled himself with food before turning his full attention to the wine [אלשיך]. This focus on the king drinking wine in the presence of a thousand men serves a crucial narrative purpose. Despite consuming an enormous quantity of alcohol, Belshazzar did not become intoxicated, nor did he lose his senses. This detail establishes that the grave offenses he would commit later in the feast were not the result of a drunken stupor or a lack of awareness. Instead, they were executed with a completely clear mind, driven by immense arrogance and a deliberate, calculated rebellion against God [אלשיך].