Daniel 10, Gabriel Along the Tigris

Daniel experienced two visions during the reigns of Belshazzar and then an angelic visitation while praying during the reign of Darius. He now a vision during the reign of Cyrus of Persia. At this time Daniel is quite elderly and has seen at least three kings come and go. This vision and its interpretation, will cover the last three chapters of this book.

Daniel 10:1, Disturbing vision

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

Daniel receives his third vision. Two previous visions had occurred during the reign of Belshazzar.

As House points out, this date roughly coincides with the dedication of the new temple in Jerusalem. See Ezra 1:1-4, 3:8-13 for a timeline of the events occurring in Jerusalem at this time. Daniel does not return to Jerusalem with Ezra and the others, but for reasons unknown, has stayed in Babylon.

Daniel 10:2-3, Mourning and fasting

At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

The vision seems to have disturbed Daniel. He now mourns for three weeks, fasting from most foods and even not using lotions (?!) during this time. The fasting and abstinence from luxuries is a physical statement of an emotional distress.

House remarks that the statement that Daniel ate no meat, no choice food, drank no wine, suggests that at other times he did indeed eat choice food, including meat, and did drink wine. (Some read Daniel 1:12 to suggest he was a vegetarian but the evidence is certainly not clear.)

Daniel 10:4-6, Glowing man

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

A little later, presumably after three weeks of fasting, Daniel see an extraordinary man before him. This occurs at the same time as the end of Passover (see Leviticus 23:5-8) which is surely significant. A man dressed in linen would have represented a priest (says House) but the similarities end there as this individual's appearance if dramatic, both in body and dress.

At the time, Daniel is apparently alongside the Tigris River, not the Euphrates.

Daniel 10:7-9, Terror and helplessness

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.

Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

Daniel's companions are frightened, even though they do not see the angelic figure. Daniel sees the man but becomes faint and helpless and passes out, lying with his face to the ground.

Daniel 10:10-14, Restoration and explanation

A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

The angelic being awakens Daniel and props Daniel up onto his hands and knees. The angelic being is not names but Daniel is once again called "highly exteemed", echoing Gabriel's assurance of 9:23. Daniel is told to stand up and listen. Daniel does so.

In the explanation of the delay, the angel explains that the "prince of Persia" resisted him but that a being called Michael provided aid. Michael is the second angelic being named in the Old Testament. One assumes that the prince of Persia is also an angelic being, but one that is not on the side of YHWH, Israel and Daniel.

Daniel 10:15-17, I can hardly breathe

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."

Daniel explains his anguish and reaction to the earlier vision. It is not clear if Daniel is speaking to the same angelic being. Daniel is not the only prophet to need supernatural help in speaking. See Jeremiah 1:9 and Isaiah 6:5-7 for other examples.

Daniel 10:18-19, Be strong

Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.

Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." 

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

The visitor encourages Daniel, again calling him "highly esteemed" and tells him to be strong. The touch of the visitor gives Daniel strength and Daniel responds.

Daniel 10:20-11:1, The Book of Truth

So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

There is something written in the "Book of Truth."  The angelic being will explain that.

The parenthetical statement crosses the artificial chapter boundary, continuing into the first verse of chapter 11.