1 In the third H7969 year H8141 of Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia H6539 a thing H1697 was revealed H1540 unto Daniel, H1840 whose name H8034 was called H7121 Belteshazzar; H1095 and the thing H1697 was true, H571 but the time appointed H6635 was long: H1419 and he understood H995 the thing, H1697 and had understanding H998 of the vision. H4758
2 In those days H3117 I Daniel H1840 was mourning H56 three H7969 full H3117 weeks. H7620
3 I ate H398 no pleasant H2532 bread, H3899 neither came H935 flesh H1320 nor wine H3196 in my mouth, H6310 neither did I anoint H5480 myself at all, H5480 till three H7969 whole H3117 weeks H7620 were fulfilled. H4390
4 And in the four H702 and twentieth H6242 day H3117 of the first H7223 month, H2320 as I was by the side H3027 of the great H1419 river, H5104 which is Hiddekel; H2313
5 Then I lifted up H5375 mine eyes, H5869 and looked, H7200 and behold a certain H259 man H376 clothed H3847 in linen, H906 whose loins H4975 were girded H2296 with fine gold H3800 of Uphaz: H210
6 His body H1472 also was like the beryl, H8658 and his face H6440 as the appearance H4758 of lightning, H1300 and his eyes H5869 as lamps H3940 of fire, H784 and his arms H2220 and his feet H4772 like in colour H5869 to polished H7044 brass, H5178 and the voice H6963 of his words H1697 like the voice H6963 of a multitude. H1995
7 And I Daniel H1840 alone saw H7200 the vision: H4759 for the men H582 that were with me saw H7200 not the vision; H4759 but H61 a great H1419 quaking H2731 fell H5307 upon them, so that they fled H1272 to hide H2244 themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone, H7604 and saw H7200 this great H1419 vision, H4759 and there remained H7604 no strength H3581 in me: for my comeliness H1935 was turned H2015 in me into corruption, H4889 and I retained H6113 no strength. H3581
9 Yet heard H8085 I the voice H6963 of his words: H1697 and when I heard H8085 the voice H6963 of his words, H1697 then was I in a deep sleep H7290 on my face, H6440 and my face H6440 toward the ground. H776
10 And, behold, an hand H3027 touched H5060 me, which set H5128 me upon my knees H1290 and upon the palms H3709 of my hands. H3027
11 And he said H559 unto me, O Daniel, H1840 a man H376 greatly beloved, H2532 understand H995 the words H1697 that I speak H1696 unto thee, and stand H5975 upright: H5977 for unto thee am I now sent. H7971 And when he had spoken H1696 this word H1697 unto me, I stood H5975 trembling. H7460
12 Then said H559 he unto me, Fear H3372 not, Daniel: H1840 for from the first H7223 day H3117 that thou didst set H5414 thine heart H3820 to understand, H995 and to chasten H6031 thyself before H6440 thy God, H430 thy words H1697 were heard, H8085 and I am come H935 for thy words. H1697
13 But the prince H8269 of the kingdom H4438 of Persia H6539 withstood H5975 me one H259 and twenty H6242 days: H3117 but, lo, Michael, H4317 one H259 of the chief H7223 princes, H8269 came H935 to help H5826 me; and I remained H3498 there with H681 the kings H4428 of Persia. H6539
14 Now I am come H935 to make thee understand H995 what shall befall H7136 thy people H5971 in the latter H319 days: H3117 for yet the vision H2377 is for many days. H3117
15 And when he had spoken H1696 such words H1697 unto me, I set H5414 my face H6440 toward the ground, H776 and I became dumb. H481
16 And, behold, one like the similitude H1823 of the sons H1121 of men H120 touched H5060 my lips: H8193 then I opened H6605 my mouth, H6310 and spake, H1696 and said H559 unto him that stood H5975 before me, O my lord, H113 by the vision H4759 my sorrows H6735 are turned H2015 upon me, and I have retained H6113 no strength. H3581
17 For how H1963 can H3201 the servant H5650 of this my lord H113 talk H1696 with this my lord? H113 for as for me, straightway H6258 there remained H5975 no strength H3581 in me, neither is there breath H5397 left H7604 in me.
18 Then there came again H3254 and touched H5060 me one like the appearance H4758 of a man, H120 and he strengthened H2388 me,
19 And said, H559 O man H376 greatly beloved, H2532 fear H3372 not: peace H7965 be unto thee, be strong, H2388 yea, be strong. H2388 And when he had spoken H1696 unto me, I was strengthened, H2388 and said, H559 Let my lord H113 speak; H1696 for thou hast strengthened H2388 me.
20 Then said H559 he, Knowest H3045 thou wherefore I come H935 unto thee? and now will I return H7725 to fight H3898 with the prince H8269 of Persia: H6539 and when I am gone forth, H3318 lo, the prince H8269 of Grecia H3120 shall come. H935
21 But H61 I will shew H5046 thee that which is noted H7559 in the scripture H3791 of truth: H571 and there is none H259 that holdeth H2388 with me in these things, but Michael H4317 your prince. H8269
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Daniel 10
Commentary on Daniel 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
Da 10:1-21. Daniel Comforted by an Angelic Vision.
The tenth through twelfth chapters more fully describe the vision in the eighth chapter by a second vision on the same subject, just as the vision in the seventh chapter explains more fully that in the second. The tenth chapter is the prologue; the eleventh, the prophecy itself; and the twelfth, the epilogue. The tenth chapter unfolds the spiritual worlds as the background of the historical world (Job 1:7; 2:1, &c.; Zec 3:1, 2; Re 12:7), and angels as the ministers of God's government of men. As in the world of nature (Joh 5:4; Re 7:1-3), so in that of history here; Michael, the champion of Israel, and with him another angel, whose aim is to realize God's will in the heathen world, resist the God-opposed spirit of the world. These struggles are not merely symbolical, but real (1Sa 16:13-15; 1Ki 22:22; Eph 6:12).
1. third year of Cyrus—two years after Cyrus' decree for the restoration of the Jews had gone forth, in accordance with Daniel's prayer in Da 9:3-19. This vision gives not merely general outlines, or symbols, but minute details of the future, in short, anticipative history. It is the expansion of the vision in Da 8:1-14. That which then "none understood," he says here, "he understood"; the messenger being sent to him for this (Da 10:11, 14), to make him understand it. Probably Daniel was no longer in office at court; for in Da 1:21, it is said, "Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus"; not that he died then. See on Da 1:21.
but the time appointed was long—rather, "it (that is, the prophecy) referred to great calamity" [Maurer]; or, "long and calamitous warfare" [Gesenius]. Literally, "host going to war"; hence, warfare, calamity.
2. mourning—that is, afflicting myself by fasting from "pleasant bread, flesh and wine" (Da 10:3), as a sign of sorrow, not for its own sake. Compare Mt 9:14, "fast," answering to "mourn" (Da 10:15). Compare 1Co 8:8; 1Ti 4:3, which prove that "fasting" is not an indispensable Christian obligation; but merely an outward expression of sorrow, and separation from ordinary worldly enjoyments, in order to give one's self to prayer (Ac 13:2). Daniel's mourning was probably for his countrymen, who met with many obstructions to their building of the temple, from their adversaries in the Persian court.
3. no pleasant bread—"unleavened bread, even the bread of affliction" (De 16:3).
anoint—The Persians largely used unguents.
4. first month—Nisan, the month most suited for considering Israel's calamity, being that in which the feast of unleavened bread reminded them of their Egyptian bondage. Daniel mourned not merely for the seven days appointed (Ex 12:18), from the evening of the fourteenth to the twenty-first of Nisan, but thrice seven days, to mark extraordinary sorrow. His mourning ended on the twenty-first day, the closing day of the passover feast; but the vision is not till the twenty-fourth, because of the opposition of "the prince of Persia" (Da 10:13).
I was by … the … river—in waking reality, not a trance (Da 10:7); when younger, he saw the future in images, but now when old, he receives revelations from angels in common language, that is, in the apocalyptic mode. In the patriarchal period God often appeared visibly, that is, theophany. In the prophets, next in the succession, the inward character of revelation is prominent. The consummation is when the seer looks up from earth into the unseen world, and has the future shown to him by angels, that is, apocalypse. So in the New Testament there is a parallel progression: God in the flesh, the spiritual activity of the apostles and the apocalypse [Auberlen].
Hiddekel—the Tigris.
5. lifted up mine eyes—from the ground on which they had been fixed in his mourning.
certain man—literally, "one man." An angel of the highest order; for in Da 8:16 he commands Gabriel to make Daniel to understand the vision, and in Da 12:6 one of the two angels inquires of him how long it would be till the end predicted.
linen—the raiment of priests, being the symbol of sanctity, as more pure than wool (Ex 28:42); also of prophets (Jer 13:1); and of angels (Re 15:6).
girded with … gold—that is, with a girdle interwoven with gold (Re 1:13).
6. beryl—literally, "Tarshish," in Spain. The beryl, identical with the chrysolite or topaz, was imported into the East from Tarshish, and therefore is called "the Tarshish stone."
7. they fled—terrified by the presence of the presence of the angel.
8. comeliness—literally, "vigor," that is, lively expression and color.
into corruption—"deadliness," that is, death-like paleness (Da 5:6; 7:28).
9. voice of his words—the sound of his words.
was I in a deep sleep—"I sank into a deep sleep" [Lengkerke].
10. an hand—namely, of Gabriel, who interpreted other revelations to Daniel (Da 8:16) [Theodoret].
set me upon my knees—Gesenius translates, "cause me to reel on my knees," &c.
11. man … beloved—(See on Da 9:23).
understand—"attend to." See Da 8:17, 18.
12. Fear not—Be not affrighted at my presence.
didst set thine heart to understand—what shall come to pass to thy people at the last times (compare Da 10:14).
chasten thyself—(Da 10:2, 3).
thy words were heard—(Ac 10:4). Prayer is heard at once in heaven, though the sensible answer may seem to be delayed. God's messenger was detained on the way (Da 10:13) by the opposition of the powers of darkness. If in our prayers amidst long protracted sorrows we believed God's angel is on his way to us, what consolation it would give us!
for thy words—because of thy prayers.
13. prince of … Persia—the angel of darkness that represented the Persian world power, to which Israel was then subject. This verse gives the reason why, though Daniel's "words were heard from the first day" (Da 10:12), the good angel did not come to him until more than three weeks had elapsed (Da 10:4).
one and twenty days—answering to the three weeks of Daniel's mourning (Da 10:2).
Michael—that is, "Who is like God?" Though an archangel, "one of the chief princes," Michael was not to be compared to God.
help me—Michael, as patron of Israel before God (Da 10:21; 12:1), "helped" to influence the Persian king to permit the Jews' return to Jerusalem.
I remained—I was detained there with the kings of Persia, that is, with the angel of the Persian rulers, with whom I had to contend, and from whom I should not have got free, but for the help of Michael. Gesenius translates, "I obtained the ascendency," that is, I gained my point against the adverse angel of Persia, so as to influence the Persian authorities to favor Israel's restoration.
14. what shall befall thy people in the latter days—an intimation that the prophecy, besides describing the doings of Antiochus, reaches to the concluding calamities of Israel's history, prior to the nation's full restoration at Christ's coming—calamities of which Antiochus' persecutions were the type.
vision is for many days—that is, extends far into the future.
15. face toward the ground—in humble reverence (Ge 19:1).
dumb—with overwhelming awe.
16. touched my lips—the same significant action wherewith the Son of man accompanied His healing of the dumb (Mr 7:33). He alone can give spiritual utterance (Isa 6:6, 7; Eph 6:19), enabling one to "open the mouth boldly." The same one who makes dumb (Da 10:15) opens the mouth.
sorrows—literally, "writhings" as of a woman in travail.
17. this … this my lord—to avoid the tautology in English Version, join rather "this," with "servant," "How can this servant of my lord (that is, how can I who am so feeble) talk with this my lord (who is so majestic)?" Thus Daniel gives the reason why he is so overwhelmed with awe [Maurer].
18. again … touched me—It was gradually that Daniel recovered his strength. Hence there was need of the second touch, that he might hear the angel with composure.
19. peace be unto thee—God is favorable to thee and to thy people Israel. See Jud 13:21, 22, as to the fear of some evil resulting from a vision of angels.
20. Knowest thou wherefore—The angel asks, after Daniel had recovered from his fright, whether he has understood what was revealed (Da 10:13). On Daniel, by his silence, intimating that he did understand, the angel declares he will return to renew the fight with the evil angel, the prince of Persia. This points to new difficulties to the Jews' restoration which would arise in the Persian court, but which would be counteracted by God, through the ministry of angels.
prince of Grecia shall come—Alexander the Great, who conquered Persia, and favored the Jews [Calvin]. Rather, as the prince of Persia is an angel, representing the hostile world power, so the prince of Grecia is a fresh angelic adversary, representing Greece. When I am gone forth from conquering the Persian foe, a fresh one starts up, namely, the world power that succeeds Persia, Greece; Antiochus Epiphanes, and his antitype Antichrist, but him, too, with the help of Michael, Israel's champion, I shall overcome [Gejer].
21. noted in the scripture of truth—in the secret book of God's decrees (Ps 139:16; Re 5:1), which are truth, that is, the things which shall most surely come to pass, being determined by God (compare Joh 17:17).
none … but Michael—To him alone of the angels the office of protecting Israel, in concert with the angelic speaker, was delegated; all the world powers were against Israel.