Epilogue To The Banquet Room
I can hear the men, already drunk, roaring with laughter in the banquet hall, yet the night is still young. My maid tucks the final curl under my jeweled crown and says, “You are ready, Queen Itani.”
With my head held high, I carefully walk toward the sound of the men's banter, arriving at the banquet hall. My husband, King Belshazzar, rises to greet me, thankfully more sober than most of the nobles. The room erupts in applause as Belshazzar leads me to a couch the dais, gazing at me adoringly.
“A toast!” he shouts. “To the most beautiful woman in the kingdom!”
The men raise their golden goblets and respond, “To Queen Itani!”
The banquet continues on, and more of the King’s wives and concubines trickle in. As I observe the room, I realize that the vessels being used are not what we normally use at parties. …show more content…
“From where did we get these vessels that we are eating and drinking from? I do not recognize them.”
Belshazzar replies, “They are the golden vessels from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem. My grandfather Nebuchadnezzar brought them when he besieged Jerusalem. The great god Bel sent me a dream last night and told me to honor him by using these vessels tonight.”
I look down as I always do when he mentions one of the many Babylonian gods. When I married Belshazzar, his mother, Queen Nitocris, began to teach me about Yahweh. I don't know what I believe anymore. There is a battle raging with the prize being my heart, but I do not know which side I am on.
As I sit, my mind still warring, a chant rises. “Praise to the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone! Praise be the great god Bel!”
The chant is repeated over and over until it is a deafening roar. I resist the urge to place my hands over my ears, but I close my eyes tightly. Suddenly, an earsplitting scream echoes throughout the room, followed by many
With my head held high, I carefully walk toward the sound of the men's banter, arriving at the banquet hall. My husband, King Belshazzar, rises to greet me, thankfully more sober than most of the nobles. The room erupts in applause as Belshazzar leads me to a couch the dais, gazing at me adoringly.
“A toast!” he shouts. “To the most beautiful woman in the kingdom!”
The men raise their golden goblets and respond, “To Queen Itani!”
The banquet continues on, and more of the King’s wives and concubines trickle in. As I observe the room, I realize that the vessels being used are not what we normally use at parties. …show more content…
“From where did we get these vessels that we are eating and drinking from? I do not recognize them.”
Belshazzar replies, “They are the golden vessels from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem. My grandfather Nebuchadnezzar brought them when he besieged Jerusalem. The great god Bel sent me a dream last night and told me to honor him by using these vessels tonight.”
I look down as I always do when he mentions one of the many Babylonian gods. When I married Belshazzar, his mother, Queen Nitocris, began to teach me about Yahweh. I don't know what I believe anymore. There is a battle raging with the prize being my heart, but I do not know which side I am on.
As I sit, my mind still warring, a chant rises. “Praise to the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone! Praise be the great god Bel!”
The chant is repeated over and over until it is a deafening roar. I resist the urge to place my hands over my ears, but I close my eyes tightly. Suddenly, an earsplitting scream echoes throughout the room, followed by many