Daniel 10

Daniel 10:1

IN the third yeare of Cyrus king of Persia] He noteth this third yeare, because at this time the building of the Temple began to be hindred by Cambyses Cyrus sonne, when the father made warre in Asia Minor against the Scythians, which was a discouraging to the godly, and a great feare to Daniel.

Belteshazzar] See Chap. 1. 7.

but the time appointed was long] Heb. And the army-like ordered time, great. The word Zaba is an army, meaning the warres told here: and an appointed time, Job 7. vers. 1. Both fall out fitly here, and may be joyned: for in a time determined, the parts are disposed by God in a convenient order, as souldiers in an army: therefore the godly should not hasten too much, but patiently abide the issue of Gods promise.

and he understood the thing] Contained in Chap. 11. & 12.

of the vision] Of this that he saw upon Tygris, vers. 4.

Daniel 10:2

In those dayes I Daniel was mourning] Because Judahs enemies had prevailed, to the hinderance of the Temples building. See Ezra 4. 4, 5.

three full weeks] Heb. weeks of dayes. He putteth a distinction, for the sevens of years, told Chap. 9. 24.

Daniel 10:3

I ate no pleasant bread] Heb. bread of desires.

Daniel 10:4

And in the foure and twentieth day of the first moneth] Of this present yeare, called Abib, which containeth part of March and part of April.

Hiddekel] Genesis 2:14. Some say now being in Persia, it is like he was in that province where Tigris was. Others, being carried by the Spirit to have the sight of this river called Tigris of Greeks: in notation, Sharp-swift. The Persians chiefe glory was in those quarters: and likewise the Seleucians Throne, and Seleucus Nicator built upon Tigris Seleucia, the most famous town which he built.

Daniel 10:5

a certain man clothed in linen] Heb. one man. The resemblance of a man representing the Sonne of God, who was to take humane flesh upon him. See Ezekiel 1:26. & Ezekiel 40:3. Dan. 12. 6, 7. Apoc. 1. 14, 15.

whose loyns were girded with fine gold of Ʋphaz] Revel. 1. 13, 14, 15. Jeremiah 10:9.

Daniel 10:6

His body also was like the beryll] Ezekiel 1:16. & Ezekiel 10:9.

in colour to polished brasse] Revelation 1:15.

Daniel 10:7

And I Daniel alone saw the vision] Acts 9:8.

Daniel 10:8

for my comelinesse was turned in me into corruption] Or, vigour. Chap. 7. 28.

then was I in a deep sleep] Chap. 8. 18.

Daniel 10:10

And behold] The person that next speaketh, termed a resemblance in sight as a man, is thought to be Gabriel, named Chap. 8. 16. At whose coming to him, Daniel was frighted, and fell in a slumber on his face to the ground: and was touched by him, and set upon his feet, who also Chap. 9. 25. telleth of Christ: as here again.

an hand touched me] Chap. 8. 18. and 9. 21. Revelation 1:17.

which set me upon my knees] Heb. moved.

Daniel 10:11

a man greatly beloved] Heb. a man of desires. Chap. 9 23.

and stand upright] Heb. stand upon thy standing.

Daniel 10:12

for from the first day] See vers. 2.

that thou didst set thine heart to understand] By fasting and devotion dispose thy self to receive some Propheticall revelation from God, concerning the strate of the Church, to which the reestablishment of the Temple, and of the worship of God was forbidden, and the quiet restauration of Jerusalem, though the seventie yeares which were prefixed be past.

for thy words] Namely, to fulfill thy prayers.

Daniel 10:13

the prince of the kingdome] Meaning, Cambyses, who reigned in his fathers absence, and did not onely for this space hinder the building of the Temple, but would have further raged if God had not sent me to resist him; and therefore have I stayed in Persia the space of three weekes, (which was the time of Daniels fasting, vers. 2.) for the profit of the Church.

Michael] That is, Arch-angel, Jude 1:9. which terme is hence taken: here Angels are the first Princes in comparison with rulers on the earth: and the Captaine of their host is the first of this company, namely, Christ Jesus, who is tearmed in vers. 21. the head of the Church: and in Daniel 12:1. the defender thereof: and Revelation 12:7. head of Angels.

one of the chiefe] Or, the first. Daniel 1:21.

Daniel 10:14

latter dayes] Namely, in the declining, and almost at the end of their temporall state: a little before the coming of the Messias: under whom began an other age, and a spirituall state of the Church. See Ezekiel 38:8. Hab. 2. 3.

Daniel 10:15

set my face] Through reverence and feare.

Daniel 10:16

one like the similitude] This was the same Angel that spake with him before, in the similitude of a man, that is, Gabriel, named above in Chap. 8. 16. & 9. 21.

by the vision] I was overcome with feare and sorrow, when I saw the vision.

Daniel 10:17

the servant of this my lord] Or, this servant of my lord. Daniel turning himself to the Angel Gabriel, which was before him, speaketh of Christ that glorious person which appeared vers. 4. saying to this effect: Seeing I am so affraid talking with thee, how should I be able to endure to talke with yonder my Lord?

Daniel 10:19

greatly beloved] Chap. 9. 23. & 10. 11.

peace be unto thee] He declareth hereby that God would be mercifull to the people of Israel.

I was strengthened] Which declareth that when God smiteth down his children, he doth not immediately lift them up at once, (for now the Angel had touched him twice) but by little and little. Though it was Christ that appeared, vers. 4. yet the rest is done by an Angel, who as Gods minister, on this behalfe doth minister strength unto Daniel.

Daniel 10:20

wherefore I] Even to shew what shall befall thy people, as it was told vers. 14.

and now will I return] I will go afresh to oppose all the plots of the Kings of Persia against thy people, and at my parting thence, Alexander is to come in and to destroy the Empire of Persia.

the prince of Grecia] Chap. 8. 21. At 120. years after this vision, great Alexander set on Asia. Now whereas Cyrus perished in the Scythian warres, soon after the hinderance of the Temple: and Cambyses soon after by a wound in the thigh, given by himselfe against his will: and Darius Hystaspis lived but 43. yeers (in Ctesias) aged about 20. yeers at Tomyris and Cyrus warre, and for Esthers sake had somewhat a longer reign that Darius her sonne (by the Jews) might be of some good years to help Judah, when he reigned in Xerxes absence, and still after: and Xerxes great army perished to the astonishment of all the world: we must in all these affairs consider the government of God by the army of heaven for Judah tearmed the armie of heaven: and how the Kings after Darius that built Jerusalem had somewhat better successe then the former: heathen stories may be used for a commentarie of this place.

Daniel 10:21

that which is noted] That is, the determinate counsell of God, which is, as it were, all written in his mind and providence: figurative termes. See Psalms 139:16. & Psalms 149:9. Malachi 3:16.

none that] No humane force sustaineth the Church: but onely Christ, the head, by the ministerie of his Angels, vers. 13. Joshua 5:14-15.

holdeth with me] Heb. strengtheneth himself.

your prince] This attribute sheweth who Michael is: not a created Angel, but the onely Arch-angel, and the Captain of the host of the Lord, the Sonne of God, who thought it no robbery to be equall with God. And so much the name signifieth. Yet some think he was a created Angel.