John Calvin Commentary Mark 5:10

"And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country." — Mark 5:10 (ASV)

And entreated him earnestly. Luke says they requested not to be sent into the deep. Some explain these words to mean that they wished to avoid uninhabited places.⁵⁵⁵

I, however, view it as referring to their rage for doing mischief. Because devils have no other object than to prowl among men, like lions in search of prey, they are grieved at being plunged into the deep, where they will have no opportunity to injure and ruin men.

That this is the true meaning may be inferred from the words of Mark, who says they requested not to be compelled to go out of the country. In short, they manifest their disposition to be such that there is nothing they more eagerly desire than the destruction of mankind.

⁵⁵⁵ “Ce qu'aucuns exposent comme si les diables n'eussent point voulu aller en lieu desert;” — “which some explain as if the devils did not wish to go into a desert place.”;” — “which some explain as if the devils did not wish to go into a desert place.”