Daniel 10:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 10:1-9

This vision is dated in the third year of Cyrus, that is, of his reign after the conquest of Babylon, his third year since Daniel became acquainted with him and a subject to him. Here is, I. A general idea of this prophecy (Dan. 10:1): The thing was true; every word of God is so; it was true that Daniel had such a vision, and that such and such things were said. This he solemnly attests upon the word of a prophet. Et hoc paratus est verificare?He was prepared to verify it; and, if it was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 10:1

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia ,.... Not of his being king of Persia only, but of the Medopersian empire, after he had subdued the Babylonian empire, and annexed it to his dominions; and this is not to be reckoned from the time of his taking Babylon, and putting the government of it into the hands of his uncle Darius, with whom he jointly reigned; but from the time of his uncle's death, when he was sole monarch of the whole empire: he reigned thirty years, as Cicero F20 De... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 10:2

In those days I Daniel was mourning ,.... Either on account of what had been revealed to him in the last vision or prophecy of the seventy weeks; by which it appeared what wickedness the people of the Jews would be guilty of in cutting off the Messiah; and what desolations would come upon their land, city, and temple, for such usage of him: as also because of the present case of his people; many of them continuing in the country of Babylon, when they had liberty to return to their land: or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 10:3

I ate no pleasant bread ,.... Or, "bread of desires" F4 לחם חמדות "panem desideriorum", Pagninus, Montanus; "desiderabilium", Junius & Tremellius; "desiderabilem", V. L. Vatablus, Piscator. ; such as was made of the finest of the wheat, and was eaten in the courts of princes where Daniel was: according to some Jewish Rabbins in Ben Melech, hot bread is meant; but in general it means the best of bread, such as had good qualities to make it desirable; and this Daniel refrained... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 10:1

In the third year of Cyrus - Which answers to the first year of Darius the Mede. The time appointed was long - גדול וצבא vetsaba gadol , but the warfare long; there will be many contentions and wars before these things can be accomplished. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 10:2

I - was mourning three full weeks - The weeks are most probably dated from the time of the termination of the last vision. Calmet proves this by several reasons. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 10:3

I ate no pleasant bread - This fast was rather a general abstinence; living all the while on coarse and unsavory food; drinking nothing but water; not using the bath, and most probably wearing haircloth next the skin, during the whole of the time. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 10:1

Verse 1 We observe the Prophet by no means content with the usual method of address, for the purpose of stirring up the attention of the pious, and of assuring them how worthy of special notice are the prophecies which follow. He marks the time, the third year of King Cyrus, as the Jews were then forbidden by a new edict to build their temple, although liberty to do so had been previously granted to them. He says, “a word ” was made known to him, and he adds, the word was true, although the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 10:2

Verse 2 We gather from this passage why the angel appeared to the Prophet in the third year of Cyrus. He says, he was then in the greatest sorrow; and what was the cause of it? At that period we know an interruption of the work of rebuilding the temple and city to have taken place. Cyrus was gone to a distance; he had set out for Asia Minor, and was carrying on war with the Scythians. his son Cambyses was corrupted by his couriers, and forbade the Jews to proceed with the rebuilding of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 10:1

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, but the time appointed was long; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. The Septuagint rendering is, "In the first year of Cyrus King of the Persians." This is at variance with all other versions. As, however, these other versions are derived from the Palestinian recension, they unitedly do not much more than counterbalance the ... read more

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