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Daniel 10

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Daniel's Preparation and Vision Setting 1–4

1
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. ​
2
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. ​
3
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; ​

The Appearance of the Divine Messenger 5–9

5
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: ​
6
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7
And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. ​
8
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. ​
9
Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

The Explanation of the Delay 10–15

10
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. ​
11
And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. ​
12
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. ​
13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. ​
14
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. ​
15
And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

Daniel Strengthened to Receive the Message 16–19

16
And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. ​
17
For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18
Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
19
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. ​

The Purpose of the Revelation and Future Conflict 20–21

20
Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. ​
21
But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Daniel 10

Verse 1

the time appointed was long — Tsava, usually ‘host’ or ‘warfare’, here means a term of service, as in ‘an appointed time to man upon earth’ (Job 7:1). The date is the third year of Cyrus, two years after 1:21 said Daniel ‘continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus’. He is still called by his Babylonian name, given in 1:7.

Verse 2

three full weeks — Literally ‘three weeks of days’, the same word for ‘weeks’ as in the seventy weeks of 9:24, with ‘days’ added; v.3 repeats it as ‘three whole weeks’. ‘Mourning’ (abal) is Nehemiah’s verb for his mourning over Jerusalem ‘certain days’ with fasting (Neh 1:4). The twenty-one days match the ‘one and twenty days’ of v.13.

Verse 4

the first month — This is the month of Passover and unleavened bread, ‘the first month of the year’ (Ex 12:2), when bread is eaten ‘until the one and twentieth day’ (Ex 12:18). Daniel stands ‘by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel’, named in Gen 2:14 as the third river of Eden, ‘which goeth toward the east of Assyria’.

Verse 5

a certain man clothed in linen — Ish, ‘man’, is the word used of Gabriel, ‘the man Gabriel’ (9:21). Linen (bad) is the dress of holy service, as in the priest’s ‘holy linen coat’ (Lev 16:4), and the ‘man clothed in linen’ returns in 12:6. Gold of Uphaz is named in Jer 10:9, and Rev 1:13 sees the Son of man ‘girt about the paps with a golden girdle’.

Verse 7

I Daniel alone saw the vision — The men with him saw nothing, yet ‘a great quaking’ (charadah) fell on them and they fled. Paul’s companions likewise ‘stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man’ (Acts 9:7) and ‘saw indeed the light, and were afraid’ (Acts 22:9). The sight belongs to the one to whom the message is sent: ‘unto thee am I now sent’ (v.11).

Verse 8

my comeliness was turned in me into corruption — Hod, ‘comeliness’, is the word for ‘majesty’ in Ps 104:1, ‘clothed with honour and majesty’. Mashchit, ‘corruption’, means ruin and occurs only here in Daniel. ‘No strength’ is said again in vv.16–17. John’s response to a like vision was to fall ‘at his feet as dead’ (Rev 1:17).

Verse 10

an hand touched me — The verb naga returns for the touch on his lips in v.16 and the touch that ‘strengthened me’ in v.18. Each touch brings a further step: knees and palms here, then speech, then strength. A coal ‘touched’ Isaiah’s lips (Isa 6:7), and John, fallen as dead, was raised when a right hand was laid on him (Rev 1:17).

Verse 11

a man greatly beloved — Chamudot, ‘desirable things’, is the word rendered ‘pleasant’ in ‘no pleasant bread’ (v.3). The same title is given in 9:23 and v.19. ‘Stand upright’ is literally ‘stand upon thy standing’, as Ezekiel is told ‘stand upon thy feet’ (Ezek 2:1). Gabriel, ‘caused to fly swiftly’, had likewise come to him (9:21–23).

Verse 12

thy words were heard — The answer dates from ‘the first day’ Daniel set his heart ‘to understand’ (bin) and ‘to chasten’ himself (anah, the verb of ‘afflict your souls’, Lev 16:29). 9:23 said the same: ‘At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth’. Cornelius is told in like terms, ‘thy prayer is heard’ (Acts 10:31).

Verse 13

the prince of the kingdom of Persia — This sar, ‘prince’, ‘withstood’ the messenger ‘one and twenty days’, as long as Daniel mourned (v.2), and is distinct from ‘the kings of Persia’. Paul speaks of ‘principalities… powers… the rulers of the darkness of this world’ (Eph 6:12). Michael is ‘one of the chief princes’, ‘the great prince’ of 12:1, ‘the archangel’ of Jude 9.

Verse 14

the latter days — Acharit, ‘latter’, is the word of Jacob’s ‘in the last days’ (Gen 49:1). The vision ‘is for many days’, as 8:26 said of the earlier one: ‘it shall be for many days’. ‘Make thee understand’ uses bin again, as in vv.1, 11 and 12; chapters 11 and 12 then give what the messenger promises in 11:2, ‘now will I shew thee the truth’.

Verse 16

one like the similitude of the sons of men — Demut, ‘likeness’. A touch on the lips comes before speech here as in Isa 6:7 and Jer 1:9, ‘the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth’. ‘Sorrows’ (tsir) are pangs, like those of ‘a woman that travaileth’ (Isa 21:3). ‘My lord’ (adoni) is the address to the messenger again in vv.17 and 19.

Verse 19

be strong, yea, be strong — Chazaq, ‘to be strong’, stands four times in this verse and again in v.18, ‘he strengthened me’, and v.21, ‘holdeth with me’. ‘Peace be unto thee; fear not’ is what the LORD said to Gideon (Judg 6:23), and ‘Be strong and of a good courage’ what Joshua heard (Josh 1:9).

Verse 20

the prince of Grecia — Yavan, the name of Javan, a son of Japheth (Gen 10:2). The rough goat of 8:21 is ‘the king of Grecia’, and 11:2 says the fourth Persian king ‘shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia’. The messenger goes back ‘to fight’ (lacham) the prince of Persia, and when he has gone forth the prince of Grecia comes.

Verse 21

the scripture of truth — Ketav emet, a writing of truth; ‘noted’ (rasham, to inscribe) occurs only here. Chapter 11 follows with ‘now will I shew thee the truth’ (11:2), and 12:1 speaks of those ‘found written in the book’. ‘Holdeth’ is chazaq, as in v.19; the messenger says in 11:1 that he ‘stood to confirm and to strengthen’ Darius the Mede.