In his pride and arrogancy, with a reckless feeling of security Belshazzar "made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand." All the attractions that wealth and power could command, added splendor to the scene. Beautiful women with their enchantments were among the guests in attendance at the royal banquet. Men of genius and education were there. Princes and statesmen drank wine like water and reveled under its maddening influence.

Belsazzars stolthed, hovmod og hånlige foragt for faren gav sig udslag i, at han "gjorde et stort gæstebud for sine stormænd og drak vin med dem". Alt, hvad den rige og mægtige nation kunne opbyde, var taget i anvendelse for at kaste glans over festen. Smukke, charmerende kvinder taltes blandt gæsterne ved den kongelige banket. Der var intelligente og højt uddannede mænd til stede. Her var fyrster og statsmænd, der drak vin som vand og kastede alle hæmninger over bord i deres beruselse.