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 Daniel showeth briefly that this prophecy was fulfilled the same night: as we have said before, that there was then a solemn feast, because it was a festival day, which the Babylonians did yearly keep: and by this occasion the City was betrayed by two governors, Gobria and Gabatha, for so they are named of Xenophon. And in this place do the Hebrew rabbins utter their impudency and ignorance, as they are bold to babble after their manner, of things unknown. For they say that the king was slain, because that one of the Guard heard the voice of the Prophet, and therefore would execute that judgement of God: as though forsooth, that the judgement of God should depend of one profane mans will or pleasure. Wherefore passing over such childish trifles, we must remember the truth of the history, that Beltsazar was taken in his feast, when he had made himself drunken and rioted with his noble men and concubines. In the mean time we may observe the marvellous mercy of God toward the Prophet. For it was not possible but that he was in danger amongest the rest. For he was clothed with purple: & within an hour after the Medes & the Persians entered the City. In that tumult he could not have escaped, if God had not covered him with the shadow of his hand. We see therefore how God careth for his, and delivereth them from most great dangers, as though he did draw them forth of the grave. And there is no doubt but that this holy Prophet was sore troubled in that tumult: for he was no stock. But it was necessary that he should be thus exercised, that he might know ye God was the keeper of his life, and that he should therefore prepare ⟨p. 92⟩himself more readily to serve him, because he did see that there could be nothing better then to cast all his cares upon God.

Here Daniel sheweth briefly that this prophecy was fulfilled the same night: as we haue sayd before, that there was then a solemne feast, because it was a feastiuall day, which the Babylonians did yearely kéepe: and by thys occasion ye Citie was betrayed by two gouerners, Gobria and Gabatha, for so they are named of Xenophon. And in this place do the Hebrue rabbines vtter their impudēcy and ignoraunce, as they are bolde to bable after their manner, of thinges vnknowne. For they say that the kyng was slaine, because that one of the Garde heard the voyce of the Prophet, and therefore would execute that iudgement of God: as though forsooth, that the iudgemēt of God should depend of one prophane mans wyll or pleasure. Wherefore passing ouer such childish trifles, we must remember the truth of the history, that Beltsazar was taken in hys feast, when he had made hymselfe dronken and rioted wyth his noble men and concubines. In the meane time we may obserue the meruelous mercy of God toward the Prophet. For it was not possible but that he was in daunger amongest the rest. For he was clothed with purple: & wythin an houre after ye Medes & the Persians entred ye Citie. In that tumult he could not haue escaped, if God had not couered him with the shadow of hys hand. We sée therefore how God careth for hys, and deliuereth them from most great daungers, as though he did draw them forth of the graue. And there is no doubt but that this holy Prophet was sore troubled in that tumult: for he was no stocke. But it was necessary that he should be thus exercised, that he might know ye God was the kéeper of hys lyfe, and that he should therefore prepare