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…

¶ The Meditation.

Here Daniel declareth that Nebuchadnezzar commaū dead those children of the kings seed of Judah to be fed from his own table of his own meat & wine, that he might make them drunken with his delicates and thereby cause them to forget their own nation. We know that if there be any craft in the world it is chiefly practised in kings Courts. Nebuchadnezzar therefore seeing that he had to do with a stubborn people (as the Jews were) would by this practise win him servants which should freely and willingly serve him: and therefore doth he labour to overcome them by his dainty fare from his own table: As this is the greatest honour that can be done to any in the Court at this day, to be served of the same service with the Prince. But the king doth not this save only for his own purpose, to make them like well the Chaldees manners and to renounce their own nation. Howbeit God preserved Daniel and his fellows with his spirit from this devilish craft, that they abstain from the kings meat and drink, lest they should be polluted. For this cause also the king changeth the names of these young men, to put away the memory of their kindred and original, and that they should thus become altogether Chaldees. The which thing they could not withstand nor let, though this were a great grief unto them: ⟨p. 3⟩therefore they suffer it and keep them selves from all the pollutions that they can, still desiring to live in the fear of God and in the remembrance of their country and captivity: Therefore do they refuse those dainties of Babylon and choose a spare and poor diet that was more meet for mourners and prisoners.

Here Daniel declareth that Nebuchadnezer commaū ded those children of the kynges séede of Iuda to be fed from hys owne table of hys owne meate & wyne, that he might make them dronken with his delicates and thereby cause them to forget their own nation. We know that if there be any craft in ye world it is chiefly practised in kyngs Courts. Nebuchadnezer therfore seyng that he had to do with a stubburne people (as the Iewes were) would by this practise wynne hym seruaunts which should fréely and willyngly serue hym: and therfore doth he labour to ouercome thē by his dainty fare from his own table: As this is the greatest honor that can be done to any in the Court at this day, to be serued of the same seruice with the Prince. But the kyng doth not this saue onely for hys owne purpose, to make them lyke well the Chaldees maners and to renoūce theyr owne nation. Howbeit God preserued Daniel and hys felowes with his spirite from this deuilish craft, that they absteyne from the kynges meate and drinke, lest they should be polluted. For this cause also the kyng chaungeth the names of these young men, to put away the memory of their kinred and original, and that they should thus become altogether Chaldees. The which thyng they could not withstand nor let, though this were a great grief vnto thē: