Daniel 10

Ver. 1.—he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.] He had a clear view of the succession of the Persian and Grecian monarchies, and of the series of the kings of Syria and Egypt under the latter of them: although the remaining parts of the vision were obscure, especially with respect to their final event. See chap. xii. 8. W. Lowth.

Daniel 10:2

2.—I Daniel was mourning.] The reason seems to have been, the interruptions that were caused in the building of the temple according to the decree of Cyrus two years before; and the disposition of some of his brethren who chose rather to continue in the land of their captivity, than to go up to Jerusalem to hasten and forward that work. Wintle.

—three full weeks.] In the Hebrew, as in the margin, “three weeks of days:” probably to distinguish them from the weeks of years prophesied of in the last chapter. W. Lowth.

Daniel 10:3

3. I ate no pleasant bread, &c.] Meaning, that he kept a fast by abstaining from better sorts of food. Wintle.

Daniel 10:5

5.—behold a certain man clothed in linen, &c.] Behold, the Son of God stood before me, in the form of a man clothed in pure white linen, to signify his perfect holiness; and his loins were girt about with a girdle of the finest gold. Bp. Hall.

He appeared in the habit of an high priest; see Exod. xxviii. 4. 39; xxix. 5. The description which St. John gives of Christ as High Priest of the Church, Rev. i. 13, corresponds with this place of Daniel; which proves, that the person here described can be no other than the “Son of God:” which may be farther confirmed by comparing the Person described here, and chap. xii. 5, 6, with Rev. x. 2. 5, 6: who is there represented as “setting his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the land,” as sovereign Lord of both elements. Compare Matt. xxviii. 18. W. Lowth.

—Uphaz.] See note on Jer. x. 9. 6. His body also was like the beryl, &c.] His body was of a bright celestial colour; and his face glorious and shining, like the appearance of lightning; his eyes, from which nothing can be hid, were beaming and piercing, like flames of fire; his arms and feet were resplendent, like to polished brass; to signify the pureness and unquestionable perfection of his proceedings; and the voice of his words was mighty and forcible. Bp. Hall.

Daniel 10:8

8.—there remained no strength in me.] See the note on Gen. xv. 12. “My comeliness” is better rendered in the margin “my vigour.” W. Lowth.

Daniel 10:12

12.—from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand.] Previously to the communication of this

Daniel being troubled with fear, is comforted by the angel. Before CHRIST about 534. Or, the first. derstand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

Daniel 10:21

21. — in the scripture of truth.] Or, “in the writing of truth;” that is, what is certain and irrevocable. God’s decrees are spoken of as if they were committed to writing, and registered in a book. See Deut. xxxii. 34; Ps. lvi. 8; Isa. lxv. 6; Mal. iii. 16. W. Lowth.

Chap. XI. This and the following chapter contain the substance of Daniel’s last vision, or a series of prophetic story from the third year of Cyrus to the end of time. The dominion is soon made to pass from the Persians to the Grecians; the state of the Greek empire is continued through various changes and revolutions, and particularly with respect to Syria and Egypt, till at length it yields to the Romans. Several particulars afterwards follow that must relate to the fate of the Church of Christ; and the last chapter has a peculiar respect unto the “time of the end,” to the end of all prophecy, or to the grand consummation of all things. Wintle.

It is the usual method of the Holy Spirit, to make the latter prophecies explanatory of the former; and revelation is “as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day,” Prov. iv. 18. The four great empires of the world, which were shewn to Nebuchadnezzar in the form of a great image, were again more particularly represented to Daniel in the shape of four great wild beasts. In like manner the memorable events, which were revealed to Daniel in the vision of the ram and the he goat, are here again more clearly and explicitly revealed in this vision by an angel; so that this latter prophecy may not improperly be said to be a comment and explanation of the former. Bp. Newton.

Ver. 1. Also I in the first year of Darius &c.] This verse should have been joined to the last chapter: the angel adds that as he now joins in defending the cause of the Jewish nation, so, at the time of the overthrow of the Babylonish monarchy, he assisted in advancing Darius to the succession, which was the occasion of restoring the Jewish captivity. W. Lowth.