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. Daniel 10:1; Daniel 11:1; Daniel 12:1 more fully describe the... [ Continue Reading ]
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I DANIEL WAS MOURNING - i:e., afflicting myself by fasting from "pleasant bread, flesh, and wine" (), as a sign of sorrow, not for its own sake. Compare , "fast," answering to "mourn" (), and therefore implying that fasting was a recognized ou... [ Continue Reading ]
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. I ATE NO PLEASANT BREAD - "unleavened bread, even the bread of affliction" (). NEITHER DID I ANOINT MYSELF AT ALL - the Persians largely used unguents.... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; IN THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH - Nisan, the month most suited for considering Israel's calamity, being that in which the feast of unleavened bread reminded them of t... [ Continue Reading ]
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: THEN I LIFTED UP MINE EYES - from the ground, on which they had been fixed in his mourning. AND BEHOLD A CERTAIN MAN - literally, one man. An angel of the highest... [ Continue Reading ]
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. HIS BODY ALSO WAS LIKE THE BERYL - literally, Tarshish, in Spain. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. A GREAT QUAKING FELL UPON THEM, SO THAT THEY FLED - terrified by the presence of the angel.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. MY COMELINESS - literally, vigour, i:e., lively expression and colour. WAS TURNED IN ME INTO CORRUPTION - deadliness, i:e... [ Continue Reading ]
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. YET HEARD I THE VOICE OF HIS WORDS - the sound of his words. THEN WAS I IN A DEEP SLEEP - `I sank into a deep sleep' (Lengkerke).... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. BEHOLD, AN HAND - namely, of Gabriel, who interpreted other revelations to Daniel (). (Theodoret.) TOUCHED ME, WHICH SET ME UPON MY KNEES. Gesenius translates, 'caused me to reel on my knees,' etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. A MAN GREATLY BELOVED - (, note). So 'David' means one beloved; because he was the "man... [ Continue Reading ]
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. FEAR NOT - be not affrighted at my presence. FOR FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT THOU DIDST SET THINE... [ Continue Reading ]
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. BUT THE PRINCE OF ... PERSIA WITHSTOOD ME - the angel of darkness that represented the Persian world-power, to whi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. I AM COME TO MAKE THEE UNDERSTAND WHAT SHALL BEFALL THY PEOPLE IN THE LATTER DAYS - an intimation that the prophecy, besides describing the doings of Antiochus, reaches to... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. I SET MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND - in humble reverence, the proper attitude for those receiving an immediate revelation from God (, Lot, seeing the two angels, "bowed himself with his face toward the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
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. ONE LIKE THE SIMILITUDE OF THE SONS OF MEN TOUCHED MY LIPS... [ Continue Reading ]
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. HOW CAN THE SERVANT OF THIS MY LORD TALK WITH THIS MY LORD? To avoid the tautology in the English version, join rather "this" with servant... [ Continue Reading ]
Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, THEN THERE CAME AGAIN AND TOUCHED ME ONE LIKE THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN. It was gradually that Daniel recovered his strength. Hence, there was need of the second touch, that he might hear the angel with... [ Continue Reading ]
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. O MAN GREATLY BELOVED ... PEACE BE UNTO THEE - God is favourable to thee and to thy people Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THEN SAID HE, KNOWEST THOU WHEREFORE I COME UNTO THEE? The angel asks, after Daniel had recovered from his fright, wheth... [ Continue Reading ]
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. I WILL SHOW THEE THAT WHICH IS NOTED IN THE SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH - in the secret book of God's decrees (; ); those decrees which are truth - i:e., th... [ Continue Reading ]