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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 9:20-27

We have here the answer that was immediately sent to Daniel's prayer, and it is a very memorable one, as it contains the most illustrious prediction of Christ and gospel-grace that is extant in all the Old Testament. If John Baptist was the morning-star, this was the day-break to the Sun of righteousness, the day-spring from on high. Here is, I. The time when this answer was given. 1. It was while Daniel was at prayer. This he observed and laid a strong emphasis upon: While I was speaking... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 9:20

And while I was speaking and praying ,.... Speaking to God in prayer; for it seems his prayer was vocal, and not mental only: and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel ; Daniel, though so holy and good a man, was not without sin, and thought it his duty to confess it before the Lord; and which he did in the first place, and then the sin of his people; which is the way to succeed with the Lord for the application of pardoning grace, and the enjoyment of other mercies and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 9:21

Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer ,.... Which is repeated, that it might be observed, that while he was in prayer, before he had finished it, or got off of his knees, an answer was sent him; see Isaiah 65:24 , even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning ; either at the beginning of Belshazzar's reign, in the third year of it, Daniel 8:1 , or rather "before", as the Syriac version renders it; before this time, in the vision of the ram and he goat, Daniel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 9:22

And he informed me, and talked with me ,.... He informed him, by talking with him, of the will of God, to restore the captivity of his people, to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, and of the coming of the Messiah: or, "he caused me to attend" F14 ויבן "attendere fecit", Michaelis. , "and talked with me"; he excited his attention to what he had to say, and caused him to advert to his discourse, in order to understand it: and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth ; just now come from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 9:23

At the beginning of thy supplications ,.... As soon as ever he began to pray. This circumstance shows how ready the Lord is to hear the prayers of his people; and yet it was not owing to the prayers of the prophet, and to any intrinsic virtue or merit in them that the Lord did what he afterwards declares should be done; and, besides, more is revealed and promised than Daniel asked for: the commandment came forth ; either the order from the Lord to the angel, dispatching him on this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 9:21

The man Gabriel - Or the angel Gabriel, who had appeared to me as a man. איש ish is the same here as person - the person Gabriel. Being caused to fly swiftly - God hears with delight such earnest, humble, urgent prayers; and sends the speediest answer. Gabriel himself was ordered on this occasion to make more than usual speed. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 9:20

Verse 20 As to the translation, some take it as I do; others say “flying swiftly,” implying fatigue and alacrity. Some derive the word for “flying” from עוף, gnof, which signifies to fly, and they join it with its own participle, which is common Hebrew; others again think it derived from יעף, yegnef; signifying to fatigue, and then explain it metaphorically as flying hastily. (108) Here Daniel begins to shew us that his prayers were by no means useless, nor yet without their fruit, as Gabriel... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 9:21

Verse 21 In the last Lecture we explained the appearance of the angel to Daniel, who satisfied the eagerness of his desires. For he prayed with great earnestness when he perceived the time to have elapsed which God had fixed beforehand by the mouth of Jeremiah, while the people still remained in captivity. (Jeremiah 25:11.) We have shewn how the angel was sent by God to the holy Prophet, to alleviate his sorrow and to remove the pressure of his anxiety. He called the angel a man, because he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 9:22

Verse 22 Here the angel prepares the Prophet’s mind by saying, he came from heaven to teach him. I went forth, says he, to cause thee to understand. For Daniel ought to understand from this angel’s duty, what he ought himself to do. As God had deigned to honor him so highly by setting before him one of his angels as his master and teacher, the Prophet ought not to neglect so singular a favor, lest he should seem ungrateful to God. We now understand why the angel testifies to his coming to teach... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 9:23

Verse 23 Here the angel not only exacts docility from the Prophet, but also exhorts him to greater attention. We shall afterwards perceive that this singular and extraordinary prophecy needed no common study. This is the reason why the angel not only commands Daniel to receive his message with the obedience of faith, but also to pay greater attention than usual, because this was an important and singular mystery. He states first of all — the word went forth from the time when the Prophet began... read more

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