Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially…Commentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially…

Here may it be demanded why they spared Daniel, when it is not like that he would dissemble any thing at all when the king commanded the Image to be worshipped which he had set up. It may be that they abstained from Daniel for a time, whom they knew to be in the kings favour: & that they did accuse these three which might more easily and with less labour be oppressed. I suppose that this craft moved them that they did not name Daniel together with these three, lest peradventure the favour that he was in should mitigate the kings wrath. Now followeth the form of their accusation.

Here may it bee demaunded why they spared Daniel, when it is not lyke that hee would dissemble any thyng at all when the kyng commaunded the Image to be worshypped which he had set vp. It may be that they absteined frō Daniel for a tyme, whom they knew to be in the kynges fauour: & that they dyd accuse these thrée which might more easily and with lesse labour be oppressed. I suppose that this craft moued them that they dyd not name Daniel together with these thrée, lest peraduenture the fauour that he was in should mitigate the kynges wrath. Now foloweth the forme of their accusation.

O King, Live thou for ever. That was their common salutation. It is added afterward: Thou O king, for vehemency, as though they should say: thou of thy kingly majesty hast made a decree, that who so ever should hear the voice of the Trumpet, Harp, Pipe, and other instruments of music, he should fall down before the golden Image, and who so ever refused this, should be cast into the furnace of flaming fire. But here are Jews whom thou hast set over the charge of the province of Babylon. This they put to in despite, to charge them with ingratitude, that they being brought to so great honour by the king should despise the kings commandment, and entice others by their ensample to like disobedience. We see therefore that this was spoken to amplify the crime, that the king had set them over the province of Babylon, & they did not worship the golden Image neither honour his Gods.

O King, Liue thou for euer. That was their common salutation. It is added afterward: Thou O king, for vehemency, as though they should say: thou of thy kyngly maiesty hast made a decree, that who so euer should heare the voyce of the Trumpet, Harpe, Pipe, and other instrumentes of musike, hee should fall downe before the golden Image, and who so euer refused thys, should be cast into the fornace of flaming fire. But here are Iewes whom thou hast set ouer the charge of the prouince of Babylon. This they put to in despite, to charge them with ingratitude, that they being brought to so great honor by the king should despise the kinges commaundement, and intice others by theyr ensample to like disobedience. We sée therfore that this was spoken to amplify the crime, that the king had set them ouer the prouince of Babylon, & they did not worship the golden Image neither honor his Gods.