← All characters

Olney Hymns · Character

Belshazzar

The Babylonian king who saw the handwriting on the wall and was slain that night.

minor

First appearance: book i on select texts of scripture

Belshazzar shows up with force in Belshazzar. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Profanely bold, defied the Lord of hosts, saw the handwriting on the wall, trembled, and was humbled by vengeance.
In the storyBelshazzarOpen this moment free

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

In Belshazzar: Profanely bold, defied the Lord of hosts, saw the handwriting on the wall, trembled, and was humbled by…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Belshazzar sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Belshazzar in book i on select texts of scripture

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Belshazzar sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

TNThe NarratorADAdamGOGodELElijahESEsauBEBelshazzar

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Divine Judgment and Mercy
  • Faith and Redemption Figures
  • Patriarchs and Grace

+3 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

The emotional peak occurs in stanza V, where the speaker’s hope is violently extinguished as Satan obscures ev…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

In the story

Belshazzar appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Belshazzar unlock in the free preview.

See Belshazzar in book i on select texts of scripture