Commentary on Daniel Chapters 1-12 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
Jews, indeed, had many ceremonies, and much of what is called magnificent splendor in the worship of God, and still the principle of spiritual worship yet remained among them. The profane, while they invented gross deities which they reverenced according to their pleasure, thought it a proof of perfect sanctity, if they sang beautifully, if they used plenty of gold and silver, and if they employed showy utensils in these sacrifices. I must leave the rest for tomorrow.
PRAYER. Grant, Almighty God, since we always wander miserably in our thoughts, and in our attempts to worship thee we only profane the true and pure reverence of thy Divinity, and are easily drawn aside to depraved superstition, — Grant that we may remain in pure obedience to thy word, and never bend aside from it in any way. Instruct us by the unconquered fortitude of thy Spirit. May we never yield to any terrors or threats of man, but persevere in reverencing thy name even to the end. However the world may rage after its own diabolic errors, may we never turn out of the right path, but continue in the right course in which thou invitees us, until, after finishing our race, we arrive at that happy rest which is laid up for us in heaven, through Christ our Lord. — Amen.
Lecture Fourteenth Daniel 3:8-12 8. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
8. Itaque statim, 175 appropinquarunt viri Chaldaei, et vociferati sunt accusationem contra Iudaeos. 176
9. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 9. Loquuti sunt, et dixerut Nebuchadnezer regi, Rex, in aeternum vive. 10. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
10. Tu, rex, posuisti edictum, ut omnis homo cum audiret vocem cornu, vel, tuboe, fistulae, citharae, sambucae, psalterii, et symphoniae, et omnium instrumentorum musices, procideret, et adoraret imaginem auream.
11. And who so falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
11. Et qui non prociderit, et adoraverit, projiciatur in medium, vel, intra, fornacem ignis ardentis.
12. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
175The same hour — Calvin. 176That is, accused them clamorously and with tumult. Others translate, "brought forward an accusation." For {,{אכלakel, signifies to, ``devour,'' and they say that it is used metaphorically for ``to accuse'' when joined to this noun. But since it also signifies ``to cry out,'' this sense is suitable, as the accusers were clamorous. --- Calvin.