Daniel 10:1-7

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.

 

In these final three chapters of Daniel, he records his fourth and final vision.  The third

year in this verse represents the third year after Cyrus conquered Babylon.  The date would be approximately 536 B.C. and Daniel would have been very old at this time.  He would probably been in his mid 80’s at this time.  Daniel now states that a thing which would be a vision had been revealed unto him.  He confirms that the vision was true.  In this final vision we are going to see a final conflict and that is what made Daniel ill for three weeks.  The words “the time appointed” in the Hebrew carries with it the meaning of a ”war or a campaign” and the word “long” in the Hebrew carries with it the meaning of “great.”  This means that Daniel’s final vision was going to reveal a conflict which will end up on the last day in Chapter 12.  Daniel also makes known that he understood the vision along with the events contained within that vision.

 

Daniel 10:2

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

 

The fact that Daniel had understood the meaning of the vision had probably caused him to mourn for three full weeks.  His mourning was not just one of sad countenance but the word in the Hebrew for “mourning” carries with it the meaning of “lament or bewail.”  His mourning was verbal and not silent.  This is how intense it was.

 

Daniel 10:3

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

 

Daniel then states that because of his mourning he ate no pleasant bread which is reference to delicacies nor did he even eat any meat or drink any wine.  He literally went on a major fast because of this vision.  Daniel also refrained from anointing himself which was something the Jews did frequently with oil.  The Persians used different types of salve to anoint themselves.  Daniel continued this until the entire three weeks were completed. 

 

Daniel 10:4

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

 

Then after the twenty one days were completed Daniel went to the great river called Hiddekel.  This would have been in the month Nisan.  Esther 3:7 (KJV)   In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.  The verse mentions the river Hiddekel.  This would not have been the same river which was in the Garden of Eden since it was destroyed and no one knows where it was located.  Genesis 2:14 (KJV)   And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.  This river was the Tigris river also known as the “Hiddekel” which meant it was a rapid river, no doubt, a very fast moving river.  This is why Daniel called it a “great river.”  It was probably a strategic river like the Nile was in Egypt.

 

Daniel 10:5

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

 

Here Daniel describes an amazing man which is a Christophany or a pre-incarnate vision of Christ.  This could not be Gabriel because the description does not fit an angel.  It is believed that Uphaz is another term for Ophir.  The gold of Uphaz was described as fine, extremely high quality, refined gold.  Jeremiah 10:9 (KJV) Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.  Uphaz was believed to be located in southern Arabia. 

 

Daniel 10:6

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

 

Beryl was a gold colored gem and that was the color of his body which was not clothed by the linen.  Then his face had the appearance of lightning which meant it was very bright.  Matthew 17:2 (KJV)   And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  The face of Christ shown very bright on the Mount of Transfiguration.  His eyes were as lamps of fire.  Revelation 1:14 (KJV)   His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  His feet were colored as polished brass.  Revelation 1:15 (KJV) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  The fine brass in Revelation 1:15 refers to brass as formed in a furnace which represented the death of Christ.  Then the voice of his words were like the voice of a multitude.  We also see this description in Revelation 1:15 as his voice was the sound of many waters or a multitude.  The multitude on many waters would be preaching out the Gospel of Grace to the world which is built on many waters.  When someone preaches the Gospel it is like the voice of Christ going into the world.

 

Daniel 10:7

And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

 

Daniel alone had seen the vision of this man but those who were with him did not see it but they knew something was happening and they fled.  The Apostle Paul had the same situation.   He alone heard and saw the vision while those who were with him did not yet became afraid. This also shows that God’s calling was specific.  He was to reach Paul on his way to Damascus and only he at that time was being called.  It is known as the “Effectual Calling of God.”

 

Acts 9:7 (KJV)   And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  Acts 22:9 (KJV)   And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

 

The Lord Jesus faced the same situation when He went to the cross.  Mark 14:27 (KJV)   And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.  The sheep had to scatter because only Christ alone was able to go through what He did.  If any of the disciples were with Him, then religious people would claim that it was not only Christ who died but one of His disciples and would turn that into some type of religious ceremony.

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