Bible Commentaries
Daniel 10

Verses 1-21

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 10:5-6 . 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 12:6-7, 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.