¹sn This chapter begins the final unit in the Book of Daniel, consisting of chapters 10-12. The traditional chapter divisions to some extent obscure the relationship of these chapters.
²tc The LXX has “first.”
sn Cyrus’ third year would have been ca. 536 B.C. Daniel would have been approximately eighty-four years old at this time.
³tn The meaning of the Hebrew word saba’ is uncertain in this context. The word most often refers to an army or warfare. It may also mean “hard service,” and many commentators take that to be the sense here (i.e., “the service was great”). The present translation assumes the reference to be to the spiritual conflicts described, for example, in 10:16-11:1.
⁴tn Heb “three weeks of days.” The inclusion of “days” here and in v. 3 is perhaps intended to call attention to the fact that these weeks are very different in nature from those of chap. 9, which are “weeks of years.”
⁵tn Heb “mouth.”
⁶sn Anointing oneself with oil was a common OT practice due to the severity of the Middle Eastern sun (cf. Ps 121:6). It was also associated with rejoicing (e.g., Prov 27:9) and was therefore usually not practiced during a period of mourning.
⁷sn The first month would be the month of Nisan, during which Passover was observed.
⁸tn The Hebrew text has Hiddaqel. “Tigris” appears here in the LXX, since it is the Greek name for this river. Elsewhere in the OT “the great river” refers to the Euphrates (e.g., Gen 15:18; Josh 1:4), leading some interpreters to think that a mistake is involved in using the expression to refer to the Tigris. But it is doubtful that the expression had such a fixed and limited usage. The Syriac, however, does render the word here by “Euphrates” (Syr., perat), in keeping with biblical usage elsewhere.
⁹tn Heb “I lifted up my eyes.”
¹⁰tn Heb “one.” The Hebrew numerical adjective is used here like an English indefinite article.
¹¹sn The identity of the messenger is not specifically disclosed. Presumably he is an unnamed angel. Some interpreters identify him as Gabriel, but there is no adequate reason for doing so.
¹²tn The Hebrew word baddim is a plural of extension. See GKC §124.a, b, c and Joüon §136.c.
¹³tn The location of this place and even the exact form of the Hebrew name (aWp*z) are uncertain. Apparently it was a source for pure gold. (See Jer 10:9.) The Hebrew word p*z (“refined gold” or “pure gold”) is more common in the OT than aWp*z, and some scholars emend the text of Dan 10:5 to read this word. Cf. also “Ophir” (1 Kgs 9:28; Isa 13:12; Job 22:24; 28:16).
¹⁴sn Yellow jasper (Heb. tarsis) was a valuable stone. Its exact identity is somewhat uncertain. It may be the yellow jasper, although this is conjectural. Cf. NAB, NIV “chrysolite”; NASB, NRSV “beryl.”
¹⁵tn Heb “torches of fire.”
¹⁶tn Heb “The sound of his words” (cf. v. 9).
¹⁷tn Heb “the vision.”
¹⁸tn Heb “great trembling fell on them.”
¹⁹tn Heb “did not remain in.”
²⁰tn Heb “was changed upon me for ruin.”
²¹tn Heb “strength.”
²²tc Heb “I heard the sound of his words.” These words are absent in the LXX and the Syriac.
²³tn Heb “as I listened to the sound of his words.”
²⁴tn Heb “Behold.”
²⁵tc Theodotion lacks “and the palms of my hands.”
tn Heb “on my knees and the palms of my hands.”
²⁶tn Or “a treasured person.”
²⁷tn The Hebrew participle is often used, as here, to refer to the imminent future.
²⁸tn Heb “stand upon your standing.”
²⁹tn Heb “spoke this word.”
³⁰tn Heb “gave your heart.”
³¹tn Heb “and behold.”
³²tc The Greek version of Theodotion reads “I left him [i.e., Michael] there,” and this is followed by a number of English translations (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT).
³³tn Heb “speaking to me according to these words.”
³⁴tn Heb “I placed my face toward.”
³⁵tn Heb “Behold.”
³⁶tc So most Hebrew MSS; one Hebrew MS along with the Dead Sea Scrolls and LXX read “something that looked like a man’s hand.”
³⁷tn Heb “my lord,” here a title of polite address. Cf. v. 19.
³⁸tn Heb “How is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord?”
³⁹tn Heb “does not stand.”
⁴⁰tn Heb “He added and touched me.” The construction is a verbal hendiadys.
⁴¹tn Heb “treasured man.”
⁴²tn Heb “my lord may speak.”
⁴³sn The question is rhetorical, intended to encourage reflection on Daniel’s part.
⁴⁴tn Heb “a book of truth.” Several English versions treat this as a title of some sort (cf. NIV, NLT), although the NAB’s rendering “the truthful book” regards “truth” as an attributive adjective.
⁴⁵tn The word “princes” is supplied for clarity.
⁴⁶tn The pronoun is plural in Hebrew, suggesting that Michael is the angelic prince of Daniel and his people.