The beginning of this chapter may be considered rather abrupt in some languages. In order to indicate to the reader that a new subject has been introduced, Good News Translation adds the words “One night,” under the influence of verse 30. It is, however, not altogether certain that the feast actually began at night. For this reason some translators may prefer the more neutral “One day” (see Bible en français courant), indicating any time during a twenty-four hour period. Where the word “day” refers only to the time when there is sunlight translators may prefer “One time” or simply “Once.”
In chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar was king, but here a new king is named without any indication of the transition. Some languages may require that this chapter begin with words like “In the time when Belshazzar was king, he…” or “After Belshazzar had become king, he….”
Belshazzar: this name is an Aramaic corruption of the Akkadian bel-sharra-usur, meaning “O Bel, protect the king.” Belshazzar is presented in this story as the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar (see verses 2 and 11). In fact, the name of the immediate successor of Nebuchadnezzar as Babylonian ruler was Evilmerodach (2 Kgs 25.27; Jer 52.31). The only person by the name Belshazzar known to Babylonian history is the son of the king Nabonidus (556-539 B.C.), and he was only the regent of the kingdom (person acting as king) during the absence of his father. According to the best available information on Babylonian history, he was not actually a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar. These historical suppositions, however, cannot influence the translator dealing with the text of Daniel. The text must be translated as it stands and not “corrected” on the basis of what we think we know from secular history.
A great feast: this would be what we might call a “state banquet” today. The word translated feast here originally meant “food” in general. For agricultural people this would mean “bread,” and for pastoral people it may suggest “meat.” The more common word for banquet comes from the verbal root “to drink.” In languages that do not have a term for “feast” or “banquet,” it may be necessary to speak of a “big eating and drinking.”
Lords: see 4.36 and comments.
Wine: the Aramaic word used here is equivalent to the Hebrew in 1.5, 8, 16. Translators should therefore refer to the comments in chapter 1 on the rendering of this term.
In front of the thousand: the writer almost certainly does not mean that the king was the only one to drink wine at the banquet while all the invited guests looked on. If a literal translation gives this impression, it should be modified. The Good News Translation rendering is one model, but in order to maintain the focus on the king, it is possible to say something like “he was drinking wine with the thousand guests.”
Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .