DANIEL 10
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. – Daniel 10:1-9
DANIEL 10 THE VISION OF THE MAN
The vision of the man that was given to Daniel at the Tigris was assumed by some scholars as either the Son of God or an angel. However, what the man said especially in verse 13 which is not in this account yet has made scholars to prefer the view that this man was an angel.According to sources, The similarities between this man, and the one Ezekiel and the Apostle John saw, argue for his being divine (Ezekiel 1:26-28; Revelation 1:13-16; Revelation 2:18). However, what this man proceeded to say (esp. Daniel 10:13) has led some to prefer the view that he was an angel. The verse says “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia.” This would indicate it wasn’t the Son of God since the man was asking for help. The man described here looked like what John saw in Revelation 1:13-16 which illustrates a person of great glory and splendor. Walvord comments “The impression given to Daniel was that the entire body of the man in the vision was like a gigantic transparent jewel reflecting the glory of the rest of the vision.”
REFLECTION
- How different was this vision of Daniel from the rest of his other visions?
