According to the Bible, Daniel, because he was considered able to interpret the gods' wishes, became an adviser to Belshazzar, who ruled Babylon as co-regent while his father, Nabonidus (555-539 B.C.E.), was in Arabia. In this tale, Nebuchadnezzar is not literally the king's "father" but rather his "ancestor" Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 B.C.E.). The queen addressed Belshazzar as follows:

There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him; in your father's time, illumination, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods were to be found in him, and your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, exorcists, Chaldeans, and diviners. Seeing that there is to be found in Daniel (whom the king called Belteshazzar) extraordinary spirit, knowledge and understanding to interpret dreams, to explain riddles and solve problems...