John Calvin Commentary Daniel 5:7

"The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." — Daniel 5:7 (ASV)

The Prophet narrates how King Belshazzar sought a remedy for his anxiety; from this we gather how his mind was so quickly wounded, and how he felt he could not escape God’s hand, otherwise he would not have summoned the wise men so suddenly in the middle of the banquet. Again, when the Prophet says, He cried out loudly, he was clearly so astonished that he forgot he was king, for crying out at the table was not consistent with his dignity.

But God drove all pride from him, by compelling him to cry out, like a man completely beside himself. We must now consider the remedy he resorted to: he ordered the Chaldeans, and magi, and astrologers to be called. From this we learn how exceedingly prone men are to vanity, lying, and falsehood.

Daniel should have been first, even among the Chaldeans, for the answer he had given to this king's grandfather—when he predicted his becoming like the beasts of the forest—was worthy of remembrance. Since this prophecy was confirmed by the event, his authority should have flourished for a thousand years.

He was in the king’s sight daily, yet he was neglected, while the king sent for all the Chaldeans, and astrologers, and diviners, and magi. Indeed, these men were then held in such great esteem that they deservedly obscured Daniel's fame, for they were indignant that a captive was preferred over native teachers, since they knew their own glory among all peoples depended on the belief that they were the only wise men.

Therefore, since they wished to retain their good opinion as God’s counselors, it is no wonder they despised this stranger. But this feeling cannot stand for a moment before God: for what can be said in defense of the king’s impiety? His grandfather was a memorable example of God’s vengeance, when he was rejected from human society and compelled to live among the wildest beasts of the forest.

Truly, this could not seem to be a matter of chance. God, then, had first admonished him by a dream, and then sent His own prophet as the interpreter of the oracle and the vision. As I have said, the fame of this event should have been everlasting among the Chaldeans, yet King Nebuchadnezzar's grandson had forgotten his example, insulted the God of Israel, profaned the temple vessels, and triumphed with his idols!

When God set before him the sign of His judgment, he called together the magi and the Chaldeans, and passed by Daniel. And what possible excuse could he have for this? We have seen, as I have said, how very prone men are to be deluded by Satan’s deceptions, and the well-known proverb proves true, — The world loves to be deceived!

This also is worthy of notice, because in the present day, and in troubled times, many protect themselves with the shield of their ignorance. But the explanation is at hand — they are willingly blind; they shut their eyes in the clearest light; for if God considered King Belshazzar without excuse when the Prophet was once presented to him, what excuse can the ‘blind’ of these days allege?

Oh! If I could determine what God’s will is for me, I would instantly submit myself to it, because God daily and openly calls to us, invites us, and shows us the way; but no one answers Him, no one follows Him — or at least, how very few! Therefore, we must diligently consider the example of the King of Babylon when we see him full of anxiety, yet not seeking God as he should.

And why so? He wanders about in great indecision; he sees himself constrained, yet he cannot flee from the judgment of God, but seeks consolation in magi, Chaldeans, and other impostors. For, as we have seen, they had once or twice been proven to be so, and this should have been sufficiently well-known and notorious to all men. We see, then, how blind King Belshazzar was, since he closed his eyes to the light offered to him.

So, in the present day, almost the entire world continues in blindness. It is not that it is forced to wander in darkness; rather, when light shines on it, it closes its eyes, rejects God’s grace, and deliberately desires to throw itself headlong. This behavior is far too common.

Now the Prophet says, — The king promised the wise men a gift of a chain of gold to whoever read the writing; and besides this, clothing of purple, and the third rank in the kingdom! This shows he had not been sincerely touched by the fear of God.

And this contradiction is worthy of observation in the wicked, who dread God’s judgments, yet the pride of their hearts is not corrected and subdued, as we saw in this king's case. For his knees smote one against the other, and the joints of his loins were loosened: he trembles throughout his entire body, and becomes half dead with fear, because God’s terror seizes all his senses.

Meanwhile, we see a hidden pride lurking in his mind, which breaks forth in the promise, whoever shall interpret the writing, shall be the third in rank in the kingdom! God had already deprived him of his royal dignity; yet he still wishes to exalt others in defiance of God!

What, then, is the meaning of this? We see how often the wicked are terrified, and yet how deeply they cherish a hidden stubbornness, so that God never subdues them. They show, indeed, many signs of repentance; but if anyone carefully weighs all their words and deeds, he will find the Prophet’s narration concerning King Belshazzar completely confirmed, because they rage against God, and are never teachable or obedient, but utterly stupefied.

We saw this partly in a former verse, and will see it again more clearly at the end of the chapter. As to the latter clause of the verse, he shall rule as third in the kingdom, it is uncertain whether he promises the third portion or the third rank; for many think the queen, who will soon be mentioned, was King Nebuchadnezzar's wife and King Belshazzar's grandmother. It follows: —