belshazzar enters with vanity and his new bride, idolatry. he wants them to embrace each other. they do so and ask him what is on his mind. he relates the story of the great flood and also the tower of babel. after he tells his stories, his two wives decree that he is their king and god. belshazzar asks what can break their bond, and daniel informs him that “the hand of god,” can break up belshazzar, vanity, and idolatry. belshazzar gets upset with daniel and threatens his life. daniel says that god will save him. vanity and idolatry tell belshazzar that daniel is annoying them and they want to leave. as they leave, belshazzar tells daniel he owes his life to the two queens, not to god. the thought tells daniel that he has learned a valuable lesson – by invoking the hand of god, his life can be spared in future situations.