Daniel Chapter 10 Commentary

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Daniel Chapter 10

Based on the American Standard Version of 1901 Concise PRESENTATION NOTES
by Charles Dailey
(Black underlined words match words in the Bible text.)

This chapter is the introduction to detailed prophecies about Israel's future, chapter 11 is the main content and chapter 12 presents some conclusions.

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, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. – This vision came two years after Daniel retired from government service, based on Daniel 1:21.
- Daniel had not returned to Jerusalem in the first wave of returnees.
- The prophet had not immediately understood some previous visions, but this one was clear to him.

2) In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. – His understanding of the future left him in mourning. It was not a pretty picture.

3) I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. – Aged Daniel fasted in a modified way. The Message reads: "I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up."

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 Passover begins on the 14th of Nisan (the first month). This fasting and vision was just after that feast.
- The Hiddekel is the Hebrew name for the Tigris River, so we know where Daniel was located.

5) I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: – Butler describes the man: "The being who appeared to Daniel with the revelation of God was dressed in linen (symbolizing purity) ; girded with pure gold (symbolizing high station); his body was like a rare gem from Tarshish (symbolizing association with royalty); his face flashed with startling brilliance like lightning (symbolizing truth); his eyes flamed like torches burning in the night, (symbolizing judgment); his arms and feet glistened like polished brass (symbolizing power); his voice thundered like a roar of the mighty sea (symbolizing power also)."

6) his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished 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, and they fled to hide themselves. – In his advanced years, Daniel was still in the company of other men. They were not allowed to see the vision, but the thing they did experience was scary enough. They quickly exited the scene and left Daniel alone.

8) So 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. – Daniel lost any vitality that he had. The Message reads: "I went weak in the knees, the blood drained from my face." - At this point in the story, there is little by way of encouragement to offer his Jewish brethren, some of whom had already returned to Jerusalem. Others would be following.

9) Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground. – Getting a message from a heavenly being was not trivial. Some people today report messages from the Lord that arrive with less fanfare than the TV news. Those proported messages are not like this model.

10) And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. – Daniel's previous guide in the heavenly realm had been Gabriel. 8:16. Perhaps here also. - Daniel was off of his face and on his hands and knees.

11) And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou 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. – He was beloved in the heavenly realm. Such an honor! - The speaker had made the trip from the realm of God to the location of Daniel specifically to help him to understand the vision.
- Daniel was trembling - "shook" as we might say it.

12) Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake. – God heard Daniel when he first prayed, but the response was withheld for three weeks. Verse 2.
- Humbling here included prayer and fasting.
- This response was clearly in answer to Daniel's prayer.

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. – This is a very rare look into the world of angels.
- This prince was in the spiritual or heavenly realm, not on earth. He was withstanding the speaker that we take to be Gabriel. We also take it that he was an evil angel. The angel Michael was assisting Gabriel.
- There was a struggle in the heavenly realm that earth was unaware of. We wonder what the local news tablets were reporting.

14) Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days: – The purpose of the vision is focused. It was not about the end of the world, but the latter days of a still-shackled Israel.

15) and when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb. – Daniel looked down and was speechless.

16) And, behold, one in the likeness 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 reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength. – The heavenly messenger gave Daniel a non-verbal permission to speak. We do similar things when we give others permission to forgive themselves and even permission to die. It is a sad event when a loved one insists that a dying person is needed at home and should not die. Permissions from authority figures is important.

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 was there breath left in me. – Daniel knew that he was not in equal company.
- The Message says it well: "I'm paralyzed. I can hardly breathe!"

18) Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. – The heavenly messenger has caused the reactions in Daniel but now moved to strengthen his man.

19) And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. – The angel assured Daniel and revived him.
- The Message says: "Even as he spoke, courage surged up within me. I said, 'Go ahead, let my master speak. You've given me courage.'"

20) Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come. – Daniel DID understand why the messenger came.
- This angel, whom we take to be Gabriel, had to go fight with the wicked angel-prince of Persia and as soon as that struggle was won, another wicked angel-prince would appear on behalf of Greece.

21) But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince. – The Book of the Future was about to be opened and the future angelic wars revealed.
- Gabriel had only one ally and that was Michael, the godly angel-prince of Israel.

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Daniel Chapter 10
Based on the American Standard Version of 1901	*Concise PRESENTATION NOTES* by Charles Dailey (Black underlined words match words in the Bible text.)
	This chapter is the introduction to detailed prophecies about Israel's future, chapter 11 is the main content and chapter 12 presents some conclusions.
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, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.	– This vision came two years after Daniel retired from government service, based on Daniel 1:21. - Daniel had not returned to Jerusalem in the first wave of returnees. - The prophet had not immediately understood some previous visions, but this one was clear to him.
2) In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.	– His understanding of the future left him in mourning. It was not a pretty picture.
3) I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.	– Aged Daniel fasted in a modified way. The Message reads: "I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up."
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 Passover begins on the 14th of Nisan (the first month). This fasting and vision was just after that feast. - The Hiddekel is the Hebrew name for the Tigris River, so we know where Daniel was located.
5) I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz:	– Butler describes the man: "The being who appeared to Daniel with the revelation of God was dressed in linen (symbolizing purity) ; girded with pure gold (symbolizing high station); his body was like a rare gem from Tarshish (symbolizing association with royalty); his face flashed with startling brilliance like lightning (symbolizing truth); his eyes flamed like torches burning in the night, (symbolizing judgment); his arms and feet glistened like polished brass (symbolizing power); his voice thundered like a roar of the mighty sea (symbolizing power also)."
6) his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished 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, and they fled to hide themselves.	– In his advanced years, Daniel was still in the company of other men. They were not allowed to see the vision, but the thing they did experience was scary enough. They quickly exited the scene and left Daniel alone.
8) So 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.	– Daniel lost any vitality that he had. The Message reads: "I went weak in the knees, the blood drained from my face." - At this point in the story, there is little by way of encouragement to offer his Jewish brethren, some of whom had already returned to Jerusalem. Others would be following.
9) Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.	– Getting a message from a heavenly being was not trivial. Some people today report messages from the Lord that arrive with less fanfare than the TV news. Those proported messages are not like this model.

10) And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.	– Daniel's previous guide in the heavenly realm had been Gabriel. 8:16. Perhaps here also. - Daniel was off of his face and on his hands and knees.
11) And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou 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.	– He was beloved in the heavenly realm. Such an honor! - The speaker had made the trip from the realm of God to the location of Daniel specifically to help him to understand the vision. - Daniel was trembling - "shook" as we might say it.
12) Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake.	– God heard Daniel when he first prayed, but the response was withheld for three weeks. Verse 2. - Humbling here included prayer and fasting. - This response was clearly in answer to Daniel's prayer.
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.	– This is a very rare look into the world of angels. - This prince was in the spiritual or heavenly realm, not on earth. He was withstanding the speaker that we take to be Gabriel. We also take it that he was an evil angel. The angel Michael was assisting Gabriel. - There was a struggle in the heavenly realm that earth was unaware of. We wonder what the local news tablets were reporting.
14) Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days:	– The purpose of the vision is focused. It was not about the end of the world, but the latter days of a still-shackled Israel.
15) and when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb.	– Daniel looked down and was speechless.
16) And, behold, one in the likeness 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 reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.	– The heavenly messenger gave Daniel a non-verbal permission to speak. We do similar things when we give others permission to forgive themselves and even permission to die. It is a sad event when a loved one insists that a dying person is needed at home and should not die. Permissions from authority figures is important.
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 was there breath left in me.	– Daniel knew that he was not in equal company. - The Message says it well: "I'm paralyzed. I can hardly breathe!"

18) Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.	– The heavenly messenger has caused the reactions in Daniel but now moved to strengthen his man.
19) And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.	– The angel assured Daniel and revived him. - The Message says: "Even as he spoke, courage surged up within me. I said, 'Go ahead, let my master speak. You've given me courage.'"
20) Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come.	– Daniel DID understand why the messenger came. - This angel, whom we take to be Gabriel, had to go fight with the wicked angel-prince of Persia and as soon as that struggle was won, another wicked angel-prince would appear on behalf of Greece.
21) But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.	– The Book of the Future was about to be opened and the future angelic wars revealed. - Gabriel had only one ally and that was Michael, the godly angel-prince of Israel.
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