1 As is clear from the extra-biblical records, it was actually Nabonidus ( 556–539 b.c.) who was king of Babylon at this time. However, Nabonidus spent long periods of time at Teima, and during those times Belshazzar his son was de facto king of Babylon. This arrangement may help to explain why later in this chapter Belshazzar promises that the successful interpreter of the handwriting on the wall will be made third ruler in the kingdom. If Belshazzar was in effect second ruler in the kingdom, this would be the highest honor he could grant.
2 This scene of a Babylonian banquet calls to mind a similar grandiose event recorded in Esth 1:3–8. Persian kings were also renowned in the ancient Near Eastern world for their lavish banquets.
3 The king probably sat at an elevated head table.
4 Aram “the thousand.”

In other versions

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.

King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine in their presence.

Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.

Belshazzar the king made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and in the presence of the thousand lords he was drinking wine.

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

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