CHAPTER X _This and the two following chapters give an account of Daniel's_ _last vision, wherein the succession of the Persian and Grecian_ _monarchies is described, together with the wars that should_ _take place between Syria and Egypt under the latter monarchy._ _The last part of the vision... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:2. _I-WAS MOURNING THREE FULL WEEKS._] The weeks are most probably dated from the time of the termination of the last vision. _Calmet_ proves this by several reasons.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:3. _I ATE NO PLEASANT BREAD_] This fast was rather a general _abstinence_; living all the while on _coarse_ and _unsavoury food_; drinking nothing but _water_; not using the _bath_, and most probably wearing _haircloth_ next the skin, during the whole of the time.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:4. _BY THE SIDE OF - HIDDEKEL_] The same as the _Tigris_, the great river of Assyria; as the _Euphrates_ of Syria, and the _Nile_ of Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:5. _CLOTHED IN LINEN_] The description is intended to point out the _splendour_ of the garments. _GOLD OF UPHAZ_] The same as _Ophir_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:6. _HIS BODY ALSO_ WAS _LIKE THE BERYL_] The description of this person is very similar to that of our Lord in Revelation 1:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:7. _THE MEN THAT WERE WITH ME SAW NOT THE VISION_] An exactly parallel case with what occurred at the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, Acts 9:7. There was a Divine influence which they all felt, but only Daniel saw the corporeal appearance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:9. _WAS I IN A DEEP SLEEP_] I fell into a swoon.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:10. _A HAND TOUCHED ME_] Nothing was _apparent_ or _palpable_ but a _hand_. A hand had written Belshazzar's fate upon the wall; and the hand is frequently mentioned when the _power_ or _majesty_ of _God_ is intended. Perhaps by _hand_ God himself may be meant. It is remarkable that i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:12. _I AM COME FOR THY WORDS_] On account of thy prayers I am sent to comfort and instruct thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _BUT THE PRINCE OF THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA WITHSTOOD ME_] I think it would go far to make a _legend_ or a precarious _tale_ of this important place to endeavour to maintain that either a _good_ or _evil_ ANGEL is intended here. _Cyrus_ alone was the _prince of_ _Persia_, and God had destined... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _FOR YET THE VISION_ IS _FOR_ MANY _DAYS._] There are many things which remain yet to be revealed, and the time of their accomplishment is very distant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _I SET MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND_] He was standing upright, Daniel 10:11, and he now bent his body in reverence, and looked down upon the ground. _AND BECAME DUMB._] Found himself unable to speak.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _LIKE THE SIMILITUDE OF THE SONS OF MEN._] I think Gabriel is here meant, who appeared to Daniel in a _human form_; and so in Daniel 10:18, and see also Daniel 9:21. _TOUCHED MY LIPS_] Before this he was unable to speak. _BY THE VISION_] The vision that I have already had, and of which I... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _NEITHER IS THERE BREATH_] He could not breathe freely; he was almost suffocated with sorrow.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:19. _O MAN, GREATLY BELOVED_] איש חמדות _ish chamudoth_, man of delights; the most amiable of men. _LET MY LORD SPEAK_] I am now so strengthened and encouraged, that I shall be able to bear any revelation that thou mayest make.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:20. _KNOWEST THOU WHEREFORE I COME_] So high art thou in the favour of God, that he hath sent me unto thee to give thee farther satisfaction; though I was elsewhere employed upon a most important mission, and I must speedily return to accomplish it, _viz_.: - _TO FIGHT WITH THE KING... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 10:21. _NOTED IN THE SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH_] Perhaps this refers to what he had already _written_ down. See the preceding visions, which Daniel did not fully understand, though a general impression from them had filled his heart with sorrow. _MICHAEL YOUR PRINCE._] The archangel mentione... [ Continue Reading ]