John Calvin Commentary Daniel 2:48

"Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon." — Daniel 2:48 (ASV)

Here, another point is also added: namely, how King Nebuchadnezzar elevated God’s Prophet and bestowed upon him the highest honors. We have spoken of that preposterous worship which he himself displayed and commanded others to offer. Concerning gifts and the fulfillment of public duties, we can neither condemn Nebuchadnezzar for honoring God’s servant, nor Daniel for allowing himself to be exalted in this way.

All God’s servants should be careful not to profit from their office, and we know how very pernicious the disease is when prophets and teachers are addicted to gain, or readily accept gifts offered to them. For when money is not held in contempt, many vices necessarily arise, since all avaricious and covetous men adulterate God’s word and traffic in it (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Therefore, all prophets and ministers of God should guard against being greedy for gifts. But as far as Daniel is concerned, he could receive what the king offered him, just as Joseph could lawfully undertake the government of all Egypt (Genesis 41:40). There is no doubt that Daniel had motives other than his private and personal advantage.

We must not believe him to be greedy for gain, considering he bore his exile so patiently and, moreover, at the risk of his life, had preferred to abstain from the royal food rather than alienate himself from the people of God. Since he clearly preferred the shame of the cross that God’s people were then bearing in their oppression over opulence, luxury, and honor, who will think him blinded by greed through receiving gifts?

But since he saw the sons of God being miserably and cruelly oppressed by the Chaldeans, he wished, as much as he was able, to help them in their suffering. Because he knew well that this position would provide some comfort and support to his people, he allowed himself to be made prefect of a province. And the same reason influenced him to seek positions of authority for his companions.