Finding Belteshazzar, the Daniel of the Bible
Rochelle A. HouserFebruary 14, 2019

Abstract: There is a man named Innin-šar-usur in the archives of Erech that dates
to the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Nabonidus.1 The “ININ” part of his name isThe goddess of Uruk, who was known by many names in the Neo-Babyloniantimes.2 When one substitutes one of her names, “Belti-*’, for “INNIN”, his namethen becomes Belteshazzar, which is the name Daniel was given when he got toBabylon3. Innin-šar-usur shares a grandfather with a person who can be shown tobe Shadrach, one of Daniel’s known friends4, and he lived in the right time period
and place to be the Daniel of the Bible. There is no other contradictory
information known about this man that prevents him from being Daniel, and he has
four positive, identifying characteristics that match Daniel. Therefore, until otherinformation proves otherwise, this man could be the Daniel of the Bible, recorded
as his Babylonian name of Belteshazzar.
Preface: I have been praying for twenty years that Daniel would be found in theBabylonian records. I am very thankful and grateful that God answered my prayer,and has helped me find Daniel this year as both his Belteshazzar name, and hisown name in the archives of Babylon. Because of Exodus 23:135, I will not fully
spell out the names of the Babylonian gods or goddesses in this paper. If alogogram is used, then I will quote the logogram, because it is usually notpronounced the way it is written. If the reader wishes to know the full names of thedeities, the references are given where the names are spelled out fully.
1See Daugherty, Raymond Phillip, “Archives From Erech Time of Nebuchadrezzar and Nabonidus”, which can beaccessed as a pdf file here: : http://etana.org/sites/default/files/coretexts/20281.pdf page 43.
2For a discussion about INNIN, see Heffron, http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/inanaitar/ . To
see that the goddess of Uruk had multiple names during the Neo-Babylonian times, see page 77 in the pdf version,or 128 in the original paper of Paul-Alain Beaulieu’s paper “The Pantheon of Uruk During Neo-Babylonian Period”
found here: https://ia801408.us.archive.org/19/items/ThePantheonOfUrukDuringTheNeoBabylonianPeriod/ThePantheonOfUrukDuring.pdf
3
See Daniel 1:1-7 here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A1-7&version=KJV
4
See Daniel 1:7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A7&version=KJV , Daniel 4:8
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+4%3A8&version=KJV and Daniel 5:12
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A12&version=KJV
5

See Exodus 23:13 here: https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+23%3A13&version=KJV

1I.

INNIN = Goddess of Uruk = Belti-*
Beltiya = Generic Goddess

In the book Archives From Erech: Time of Nebuchadrezzar and Nabonidus6, byRaymond Philip Daugherty, there is a collection of cuneiform tablets from
Gaucher College that mention the name Innin-šar-usur.7 According to thewebsite “Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses,8” the cuneiform
logogram INNIN represents the goddess of Uruk. This goddess was known byat least four other names through the time of the Neo-Babylonian Empire9.
Therefore, since a logogram does not need to sound like it is spelled10, and since
this goddess had more than one name in use during the time period that thisman was alive, it is just as valid to translate this man’s name into any of thegoddess’ other names. One of her names was Belti-*.11
It seems that the term “Beltiya” meant “My Lady”, and was a generic name fora goddess12. It was also a specific name for the Goddess of Uruk, but wasbecoming slightly archaic13 when Daniel got to Babylon in the 20th year ofNabopolassar.

II.

Innin-šarru-uṣur = Belti-šarru-uṣur = Belteshazzar

Therefore, by substitution, the name Innin-šarru-uṣur could also be translated as
Belti-šarru-uṣur. Several other Babylonian names ending in “šarru-uṣur” are6Daugherty, Raymond Phillip, “Archives From Erech”, which can be accessed as a pdf file here: :http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/inanaitar/
http://etana.org/sites/default/files/coretexts/20281.pdf
7
See Daugherty, p. 43.
8
See the page for ININ here: http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/inanaitar/9
See page 77 in the pdf version, or 128 in the original paper of Paul-Alain Beaulieu’s paper “The Pantheon of Uruk
During Neo-Babylonian Period” found here:
https://ia801408.us.archive.org/19/items/ThePantheonOfUrukDuringTheNeobabylonianPeriod/ThePantheonOfUrukDuring.pdf
10
For example the logogram LUGAL is pronounced “sharru”. See footnote 14.
11
I will not write out the full name of this goddess by her real name, because of Exodus 23:13 “And in all things
that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heardout of thy mouth.” To see this goddess’ full name, look on page 78 (128) of Paul-Alain Beaulieu’s paper “ThePantheon of Uruk During Neo-Babylonian Period”, found here:
https://ia801408.us.archive.org/19/items/ThePantheonOfUrukDuringTheNeobabylonianPeriod/ThePantheonOfUrukDuring.pdf
12
See “Beltiya” http://godfinder.org/index.html?q=Akkadian13
See footnote 9. The Goddess’ “Belti*- “ name was prominent in the early years of Nabopolassar, but was pretty
well discarded by the 6th year of his reign. Daniel got to Babylon in Nabopolassar’s 20 th year. Therefore, peoplestill knew this goddess by the Belti*-name, but it was becoming archaic.

2represented in the Bible with the ending “shazzar14”. When we apply this sametransformation to “Belti-šarru-uṣur”, we get Belteshazzar, exactly matching theBiblical account of Daniel’s Babylonian name15. Therefore, the man recorded asInnin-šarru-uṣur above could be the Belteshazzar, or Daniel, of the Bible.

III.

Another Case of Substitution of This Goddess’ Name

There is another case of a substitution of the names of this goddess in another personin this same archive. In the index of names, a man named M*duka is the father ofthese people: Gimillu, Ibni-Innina, and Ibni-Is*tar.16 It appears that this man

had three children, but he probably really only had two children: Gimillu andIbni-Goddess of Uruk. In one document, Ibni must have been called “IbniInnina”, and in another document he was called “Ibni-Is*tar”. Otherwise,Gimillu would have a “brother Ibni”, and his “other brother Ibni”. The best
explanation of this situation, is that the names of the goddess of Uruk were
substituted freely during this time, and not that Gimillu had two brothers withnearly identical names.

IV.

Daniel Recorded His Babylonian Name as Belteshazzar

When Daniel got to Babylon, the chief of the eunuchs changed Daniel’s nameto Belteshazzar.17 The form of the name we see in the Bible is either the genericname for “Goddess”, or a specific name of the goddess of Uruk, with the last
14

I am citing Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Nergalsharezer. For Nebuchadnezzar, see Daniel 1:1
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A1&version=KJV. His name in the Babylonianrecords is Nabû-kudurri-uṣur. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II For Belshazzar, see Daniel 5:1
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A1&version=KJV His name in the Babylonian
records is dBel-sar-usur . See Dougherty, “Archives From Erech”, p. 37
http://etana.org/sites/default/files/coretexts/20281.pdf For Nergalsharezer, see Jeremiah 39:3
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+39%3A3&version=KJV . His name in the Babylonian
records is U.GAR-LUGAL-u-sar, which is the logogram of his name. See Da Riva, Rocio, “Nebuchadnezzar’s Prism”,
https://www.academia.edu/2110205/_Nebuchadnezzar_IIs_Prism_E%C5%9E_7834_a_new_edition_Zeitschrift_f%
C3%BCr_Assyriologie_und_Vorderasiatische_Arch%C3%A4ologie page 213. The logogram LUGAL is pronounced“sharru”. See Syllabary Ea 07, line 101 here: http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/dcclt/signlists/pager . Scroll topage 3, and then find the link to Ea 07.
15
See Daniel 1:7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A7&version=KJV , Daniel 4:8
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+4%3A8&version=KJV and Daniel 5:12
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A12&version=KJV
16
See page 46 in “Archives of Erech” here: http://etana.org/sites/default/files/coretexts/20281.pdf If Ibni-Innina
is a girl, perhaps this is Mordecai and Esther? The father would be Mordecai, (M*-duka) and the daughter wouldbe Esther (Ibni-Ish*tar). Esther 2:5-7 here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+2%3A57&version=NKJV to see that Mordecai adopted his cousin, and treated her as his own daughter.
17
See Daniel 1:7 https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A7&version=KJV

3syllable cut off. Daniel may have preferred to refer to himself as this modified,generic form, which also was a real, but slightly archaic name for this goddess,rather than saying the goddess’ current, more popular name directly; because inExodus 23:13, his own God had prohibited him from saying the false gods’
names18. This verse is also why I do not spell out the names of the gods andgoddess fully, either. Therefore, if Daniel used a generic form of “Goddessshazzar” to refer to himself, and that was what he recorded in the Bible, hecould communicate his name in good conscience without saying the goddess’current name. This would be equivalent to saying his name was “Tissueshazzar”, instead of “Kleenex-shazzar”. People would understand both terms tomean the same thing, with one being a brand name of the other generic form ofthe item. This gives us a reason that we may find Daniel in the Babylonianrecord with a different name than what is recorded in the Bible. Thesedocuments may have required him to use his legal name, or one of the current
forms of this goddess’ name. For example, when I write a personal letter, I sign
my name as my informal name of “Shelley”, but when I sign my checks, I am
“Rochelle”.
V.

Confirmation By Time Period, Place, and Peers

As confirmation of this assignment of Innin-šarru-uṣur to Belteshazzar, or Daniel,
the time period for the records from Erech in the book are correct for this man to beDaniel. Daniel got to Babylon in the 20th year of Nabopolassar19 and was active in theBabylonian and Persian governments through the first year of Cyrus.20 The records ofInnin-šarru-uṣur are from the time of Nebuchadnezzar through Nabonidus.
These records were found in Erech (Uruk), a major city of the Neo-Babylonian
Empire21. It is reasonable that Daniel would have done business in this city over thecourse of the nearly 70 years he was in Babylon. Therefore, the place matches for

Innin-šarru-uṣur to be Daniel.

18

See footnote 5 or https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+23%3A13&version=KJV
See Houser, Rochelle A. “How the Babylonian Chronicles ABC 4 and ABC 5 Establish Bible Prophesy and Events inDaniel, II Kings, II Chronicles, Esther, and Jeremiah” p. 11
https://www.academia.edu/33530603/How_the_Babylonian_Chronicles_ABC_4_and_ABC_5_Establish_Bible_Pro
phesy_and_Events_in_Daniel_II_Kings_II_Chronicles_Esther_and_Jeremiah
20
See Daniel 1:21 here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A21&version=KJV
21
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruk194

Also, when we look at the family connections of Innin-šarru-uṣur, we see that hehad the same grandfather as Shadrach22, one of Daniel’s known friends.23 From
this index of the archives of Erech, then, we can surmise that Daniel andShadrach were either brothers or cousins.
IV. Conclusion
In conclusion, the man named Innin-šar-usur in the archives of Erech has a name thatmatches Daniel’s Babylonian name when the goddess’ name that is recorded issubstituted with one of her other known names. The goddess’ name that is recordedin the Bible as Daniel’s Babylonian name is not only a specific name for the Goddessof Uruk, but also is a generic name for any goddess. We know a reason why Daniel
would have preferred the generic form of this goddess’ name over a specific one, andthus there is an additional rational for a substitution in the goddess’ names, to match
what is recorded in the Bible. It is reasonable that Daniel would have done business
in Erech, so the place matches. The time period is the same, and Innin-šar-usur isrelated to a person who can be shown to be one of the same peers and associates as
the Daniel of the Bible. There is no contradictory information known yet about thisman that would prevent him from being the Daniel of the Bible. With threeidentifying characteristics being a minimum to make a positive identification, we cantherefore say that a man named Belteshazzar has been found in the Babylonianrecords, and he is most likely the Daniel of the Bible. Daniel was a real person, andthe details about his name change and at least one of his friends are confirmed until
proven otherwise. My forthcoming paper will show that Daniel is in also in theBabylonian records as his own name.

Rochelle A. Houser, aka Shelley Helzerman Houser

22See Dougherty, p 42. The entry for Gimil-dNa-na-a shows that he was the grandfather of Innin-šarru-uṣur andM*duk-šum-iddin, which can be shown to be the Babylonian name for Hananiah, or Shadrach. (Houser,forthcoming). A short derivation is here, but the full discussion is forthcoming. The Jews were not supposed to say
the names of the false gods. See Exodus 23:13.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+23%3A13&version=KJV So, they used corrupted formsof the god names. To get Shadrack from this name, the “šum” part of his name has a “sh” sound. Then shorten the“iddin” to “ad” to form “Shad”. Now, take the ending for the false god “M*rduk, to get the “rack” for the Shadrach
name. His other records confirm that he is the Shadrach of the Bible. You can also think of this as his familiar“nickname” that Daniel called him, instead of his formal name. For example, my name is Rochelle Annette
Helzerman Houser, but my familiar name that everyone calls me is Shelley. In the same way, “M*duk-šum-iddin
can be shortened and made into the nickname “Shadrach.” The full proof is coming in another paper later.
23
See Daniel 1:7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A7&version=KJV and Daniel 2:49
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+2%3A49&version=KJV
5

Bibliography
Beaulieu, Paul-Alain. The Pantheon of Uruk During the Neo-Babylonian Period.
Brill, 2003. Can be accessed online here:
https://ia801408.us.archive.org/19/items/ThePantheonOfUrukDuringTheNeobabylonianPeriod/ThePantheonOfUrukDuring.pdf“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Exodus 23:13
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+23%3A13&version=KJV“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Daniel 1:1
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A1&version=K
JV“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Daniel 1:7
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A7&version=K
JV“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Daniel 1:21
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A21&version=
KJV“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Daniel 4:8
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+4%3A8&version=K
JV“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Daniel 5:1
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A1&version=K
JV“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Daniel 5:12
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A12&version=
KJV“BibleGateway.” Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway Blog, Jeremiah 39:3
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+39%3A3&version=KJV
6

“DCCLT/Reading the Signs.” Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses,
http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/dcclt/signlists/pager .
Dougherty, Raymond Philip. Archives from Erech Time of Nebuchadrezzar andNabonidus Pub. for Goucher College by Yale University Press, 1923, :http://etana.org/sites/default/files/coretexts/20281.pdf page 43.
Heffron, Yaǧmur. “Inana/Ištar (Goddess).” Ancient Mesopotamian Gods andGoddesses, Oracc and the UK Higher Education Academy, 2016,
http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/inanaitar/Houser, Rochelle A. “How the Babylonian Chronicles ABC 4 and ABC 5
Establish Bible Prophesy and Events in Daniel, II Kings, II Chronicles, Esther, andJeremiah.” Academia.edu - Share Research,https://www.academia.edu/33530603/How_the_Babylonian_Chronicles_ABC_4_a
nd_ABC_5_Establish_Bible_Prophesy_and_Events_in_Daniel_II_Kings_II_Chronicles_Esther_and_Jeremiah“Nebuchadnezzar II.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2019,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II
Riva, Rocio Da. “‘Nebuchadnezzar II's Prism (EŞ 7834): a New Edition,"Zeitschrift Für Assyriologie Und Vorderasiatische Archäologie.”
Academia.edu - Share Research,https://www.academia.edu/2110205/_Nebuchadnezzar_IIs_Prism_E%C5%9E_7834_a_new_edition_Zeitschrift_f%C3%BCr_Assyriologie_und_Vorderasiatische_Arch%C3%A4ologie p. 213“Table of Gods.” Ancient Gods & Goddesses,
http://godfinder.org/index.html?q=Akkadian .
“Uruk.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Nov. 2018,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruk7