Daniel 10King James Version
Daniel is mourning for three full weeks, eating no pleasant food. By the Tigris, a man appears in linen, his face like lightning, his eyes like lamps of fire. Daniel falls as dead. The man tells him the prince of the kingdom of Persia had withstood him twenty one days. Michael, one of the chief princes, had come to help.
In Cyrus's third year, Daniel fasts for three weeks and sees a glorious figure by the Tigris whose appearance overwhelms him completely. A messenger explains that he was delayed for twenty-one days by the prince of Persia until Michael came to help, and he has come to explain what will happen to Daniel's people in the latter days. Daniel is strengthened twice by a touch and is told to be strong. The messenger will return to fight the prince of Persia and then the prince of Greece.
The prayer that seems unanswered is actually contested in an unseen conflict, and the answer was dispatched the moment the prayer began.
12: "Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words." Twenty-one days of silence, and then this: from day one.
The third year of Cyrus is approximately 536 BC. The first wave of returning exiles has already left Babylon under Zerubbabel. Daniel has not returned to Jerusalem; at his age, the journey would be brutal. He is still in Babylon, still mourning and praying, while the restoration he served for is actually underway without him. The Tigris is one of the great rivers of his exile world.
Daniel, now in his eighties and overwhelmed by the vision; the unnamed glorious messenger, whose appearance matches descriptions elsewhere of heavenly beings; Michael, the archangel described as Israel's prince who helped break the Persian spiritual delay.
Chapter 10 opens the curtain on a spiritual geography that runs beneath political history: angelic princes correspond to nations, battles in heaven shape events on earth, and intercession participates in that conflict. This passage has anchored Christian theology of spiritual warfare and prayer more than almost any other.
For when you have been praying for three weeks and nothing seems to be moving. The messenger comes and says the answer was sent on day one. The silence was not absence.
1In 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.
2In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
3I 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.
4And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
5Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
6His 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.
7And 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.
8Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
9Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
15And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
16And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
17For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
19And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
20Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
21But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.