Daniel 10:1-21
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:a and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three fullb weeks.
3 I ate no pleasantc 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;
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 comelinessd 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.
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which sete 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 chieff 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.
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.
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 holdethg with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Daniel 10:1. In the third year of Cyrus, reckoned from the time that he occupied Babylon, in which he governed as viceroy for his uncle Darius. The first year of Cyrus therefore, mentioned in Daniel 1:1, must be reckoned from the time that he ascended the Persian throne.
Daniel 10:5. Behold, a certain man, clothed in linen, as Ezekiel had described him in Ezekiel 9:2. This was the dress of the priest, as appears from Exodus 28:42; Leviticus 6:10. He had a zone of the gold of Uphaz (Africa) round his waist, the girdle of a king united with the holy office of the priest. His body was like beryl, blazing with a flame of glory, as seen by Ezekiel 1:16; Exodus 28:20. His eyes were as lamps of fire, coinciding with Revelation 1:15. His face was as the appearance of lightning, shining with the majesty of God, as the electric fluid from east to west: he shone with glory like the sun. His feet were like polished brass, fused in the furnace. His voice like the brake of the sea in time of tempest.
Who was this One, this peculiar “man?” Here our arians and socinians are all at work. He was an angel; he was Gabriel; he was Michael, who appeared as a man! We leave them, and follow the faithful, for the text says he was a man. In Poole's synopsis of the biblical critics we are told, that this One, this Holy One, was the Christ, clothed in all the glory of his regal and priestly costume, never assumed by any angel, except the Angel of the covenant. This is farther apparent from the prostration of Daniel before the glory of his Majesty; and from a collation of this passage with Revelation 1:13, and Daniel 12:6, where Christ disclosed the secrets of the covenant, and uplifted the curtains of the latter day.
Daniel 10:11. Oh Daniel, a man greatly beloved; a man dear to God, a very desirable man. The Hebrew chemdoth is the same as Haggai 2:7. The plural is often applied to an individual. He bears this name of the Saviour, because he resembled him in prayers, in tears, and in zeal for the advancement of religion and truth.
Daniel 10:13 ; Daniel 10:20. The prince of Persia withstood me I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. Who is this prince, but the same that our Saviour calls the prince of this world. John 12:31; John 19:30. By these battles we must not understand a literal fight, ascribed to the gods by Homer and by Milton; but like Paul, a wrestling with principalities and powers, and with the rulers of the darkness of this world. Some however understand by the prince of Persia Cambyses, who had scruples about signing the edict for the emancipation of the jews.
REFLECTIONS.
What a view is here exhibited of the glorious person of Christ, of Christ full of zeal for his Father's house. Daniel's piety was great, but nothing in comparison with Daniel's celestial Comforter. What assurance did he bring to the fainting prophet! Oh Daniel, greatly beloved, fasting, weeping, praying for twenty three days, and fearing that thy tears only watered the ground, and that thy sighs failed of reaching heaven. I say to thee, that thy prayers were heard from the very first, and I would have come to thee twenty one days ago, but the clashing of courtly interests occasioned delays. Now, I come on a mission of great joy the edict of emancipation is signed: thy city and temple shall rise again.
How good to weep and pray for the desolations of the sanctuary to be repaired. God inspires us to cry in the time of trouble, and to plead for promised mercies that we may rejoice. The severity of Daniel's exercises, accompanied with fastings at the age of ninety years, mark the intensity of his desires. His soul could not forget the bitter woes of Zion. What a model for christians in barren places, and in distant lands.
God administers to his afflicted people the sweetest cup of consolation after deep sorrow. The Redeemer approached his servant in visions, and so sensible were the signs of his presence, that the prophet's attendants felt the power, as was the case with those that attended Paul to Damascus. What a view of providence over the church! Angels and archangels are in attendance, watchers that never sleep. Fear not, thou afflicted and long- tossed of the tempest; the Lord shall comfort Zion. I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and thy foundations with sapphires, gems of beauty and brilliant blue. The monarchies of the earth shall perish, but the church shall flourish, as the everlasting kingdom of the Lord.