Daniel’s Vision by the Tigris 1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the word was true, and a great hard service. And he understood the word, and understanding was his in the appearance.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 In this way, after speaking these things, the prophet describes to us again another vision. For the blessed Daniel meditated on no other vision, lest he not be accurately taught all the things to come and he not teach and reveal these things to us again.
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 To some it seems that Daniel is mistaken about the time and the one writing the book from the beginning puts "in the third year" instead of "in the first year." And the proof of this is that the blessed Daniel says right after the beginning of the prophecy, "And Daniel continued until year one of King Cyrus." For if the prophet had lived only up until the first year of Cyrus' r…
Ishodad of Merv · AD 850 It is evident that Daniel lived up to the third year [of Cyrus] and beyond, even though at the beginning of the book we read "until the first year of the king Cyrus."
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three weeks of days.
Ephrem the Syrian · AD 373 He says that the mourning had been protracted "for three weeks," because he had fasted for all that space of time. He calls fasting "mourning" in the same sense used by our Lord, when he defended himself and his disciples from the detractions of the Pharisees.
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 We must seek the source of his grief.… Although the king permitted all who wanted their freedom and permission to return [to their homeland and rebuild the temple], most had built homes in Babylon and were held back by their bond to these houses and, thinking lightly of the chance to return, preferred a foreign land to their own.
Philoxenus of Mabbug · AD 523 And thou must also understand from the testimony of the Prophets, that they too, whenever they were held worthy to receive a vision of God or of the angels, led a life of much fasting, and then were they worthy to receive the vision of revelations, even as it is written of that beloved man Daniel, that after his fast of three weeks he was wholly worthy of the sight of angels.
3 Bread of desires I did not eat, and meat and wine did not come into my mouth, and I did not anoint myself at all, until the fulfilling of three weeks of days.
Tertullian · AD 220 This abstinence Daniel used in order to please God by humiliation, and not for the purpose of producing a sensibility and wisdom for his soul previous to receiving communication by dreams and visions, as if it were not rather to effect such action in an ecstatic state.
Ammonius of Alexandria · AD 300 The prophet teaches us that fasting is a great virtue and so too is affliction with prayer. Through these things sometimes a person is deemed worthy even of visions.
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 Daniel paid no attention to his body in these days either by anointing the outside or [by taking] food within. Quite well and usefully he has added the descriptor desirable not to meat but to bread. For bread is the most necessary food of all; the wealthy enjoy meat, but the poor as well as the rich enjoy bread.
4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was by the side of the great river, that is the Tigris.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 4. "And in the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was beside the great river which is the Tigris." Ezekiel also had seen a great vision beside a river, the Chebar (Ezekiel 1:1). And it was by the stream of the Jordan that the heavens were opened to the gaze of our Lord and Savior and also to John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-17).
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 On the fourteenth day of the first month at evening the divine law commanded them to celebrate the Passover, but blessed Daniel maintained his fast until the twenty-fourth day.… Daniel did not celebrate the Passover in obedience to the law, which expressly commands Israel to celebrate the three feast days in the place which the Lord God chose.
5 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and see, one man clothed in linen, and his loins girded with fine gold of Uphaz.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And I lifted," he says, "my eyes and I saw, and behold, one man clothed in linen." And so in the first vision he says, "Behold, the angel Gabriel came flying," [Daniel 9:21] Here however he does not speak in this way, but he sees the Lord himself, not yet perfectly man, but appearing in the shape of a man just as he says, "And behold, one man clothed in linen." [Daniel 10:5] F…
Ammonius of Alexandria · AD 300 [The Hebrew word] baddim means an intricately woven cloak, just as believers, whom Christ wears as a robe, are eminent in the weave of virtues. God puts on the faithful and girds them with the precious and pure gospel so that they might believe in the resurrection. For Orphaz means "pure."
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 5. "And I lifted my eyes and saw." We must lift up our eyes if we are to be able to discern a mystical vision. "And behold, a person clothed in linen." Instead of "linen," as Aquila rendered it, Theodotion simply puts baddim, whereas the Septuagint renders it as byssus, and Symmachus as exaireta (choice vestments), that is, "distinguished clothing" (praecipua).
6 And his body was like beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And his body was like Tharsus." [Daniel 10:6] Tharsus is interpreted as Ethiopian. For the prophet already proclaimed its difficult interpretation, as the Word will be about to appear in the flesh in the world, he will be hard to recognize for many.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 6. "And his body was like chrysolite." For "chrysolite," one of the twelve gems inserted in the oracular breastplate of the high priest, the Hebrew has trs'ys (tharsis) , a word which Theodotion and Symmachus simply left unchanged in transcription; but the Septuagint called it "the sea," according to the usage in the Psalms: "With a violent gale Thou dashest the ships of…
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 He says, "And his body was like Tharseis" instead of "it resembled purified gold brought from Tharseis," for refined gold was brought to Solomon from there. "And his face was like the appearance of lightning." He says that a radiance resembling light shone from his face.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the appearance; and the men who were with me did not see the appearance — but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled into hiding.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And, I, Daniel alone saw the vision." [Daniel 10:7] For to the saints and to those who fear him, to these only he reveals himself. For if one now expects this also to be conducted in the church, he has not the fear of God, and the assembly of the saints helps him in nothing, having not acquired the power of the Spirit in himself.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 7. "And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me saw it not; but an exceeding great terror fell upon them, and they fled away and hid themselves." The Apostle Paul had a similar experience in the Book of Acts, in that while the others could see nothing, he alone beheld the vision (Acts 22:6-9).
Philoxenus of Mabbug · AD 523 And thou must also understand from the testimony of the Prophets, that they too, whenever they were held worthy to receive a vision of God or of the angels, led a life of much fasting, and then were they worthy to receive the vision of revelations, even as it is written of that beloved man Daniel, that after his fast of three weeks he was wholly worthy of the sight of angels.
8 And I was left alone and saw this great appearance, and no strength was left in me; and my splendor was turned in me to destruction, and I retained no strength.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And I," he says, "was the only one left and I fell on my face upon the earth, and behold, with the hand of a man he touched me." [Daniel 10:8] He says, "the hand of a man," not yet a man, but indicating the coming of the economy through grace.
Ammonius of Alexandria · AD 300 "I was left alone." The unbelievers do not know Christ and flee, while the faithful will see him, since they are illuminated by him, even as faithful Daniel was.
9 And I heard the sound of his words; and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
10 And see, a hand touched me and shook me onto my knees and the palms of my hands.
Ammonius of Alexandria · AD 300 The hand indicates partial knowledge of the truth of the gospel. For Christ is the one who will raise the whole human race.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 10. "And behold, a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees..." The angel appeared in the form of a man and laid his hand upon the human prophet as he lay upon the ground, in order that he might not be terrified, beholding a form like his own.
11 And he said to me: Daniel, man greatly desired, understand the words that I am speaking to you, and stand on your standing, for now I have been sent to you. And when he spoke this word with me, I stood trembling.
Ephrem the Syrian · AD 373 "Daniel, pay attention," … that is, learn and weigh carefully the mysteries of those things whose results you asked with constant prayer and with three weeks of mourning and fast.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 11. "And he said to me, 'Daniel, thou man of desires...'" It was fitting that he be addressed as a man of desires, for by dint of urgent prayer and affliction of body and the discipline of severe fasting he desired to learn of the future and to be informed of the secret counsels of God.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Daniel was called by the angel "a man of desires." What were those desires of his, but ardent longings for the beauty of wisdom? Because in his youth he had trampled on lust, as a prisoner he had crushed the pride of kings, when shut in close he had shut the mouths of lions.
12 And he said to me: Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And he raised me from my knees and said to me, 'Daniel cherished man, understand in the words which I myself will speak to you and stand up in your place because now I am sent to you.' And when he spoke this word I stood trembling and he said to me, 'Do not be afraid Daniel because from the first day which you gave your heart to understand and to be afflicted before God, your…
Ephrem the Syrian · AD 373 "From the first day," that is, from that day when you began to fast, being inflamed by the desire to learn those things that you asked, so that you persevered in praying and supplicating before your God. "Your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words": your prayers led me, as well, to prepare a plan for the salvation of your people according to your vows.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 12. "And he said to me: 'Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day when thou didst set thine heart to understand and to afflict thyself in the sight of thy God (variant: thy Lord), thy words have been heard and granted, and I have come forth in response to thy words" (Vulgate: on account of thy words).
13 And the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me twenty-one days; and see, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I was left over there beside the kings of Persia.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 But who is Michael, but the angel who is granted to the people, as he says to Moses, "I will not go with you on the way because the people are stiff necked, but my angel will go with you"? [Exodus 33:3] This one stood against Moses in the encampment when he carried the uncircumcised boy [Exodus 4:24-25] to Egypt.
John Cassian · AD 435 We cannot possibly doubt that this prince of the kingdom of the Persians was a hostile power that befriended the nation of the Persians as an enemy of God's people.
Cosmas Indicopleustes · AD 550 And 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 left him there with the King of the Persians. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days.
14 And I have come to make you understand what will befall your people in the latter days, for the vision is yet for the days.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 14. "And I have come to teach thee what things shall befall thy people in the last days." The very petition which Daniel had requested is the thing which he deserves to hear from God, namely what is going to happen to the people of Israel, not in the near future, but in the last days, that is, at the end of the world.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 The Greek version has a more concise expression for "give me understanding," sunetison me, expressing "give understanding" by the single word sunetison, which the Latin cannot do; as if one could not say, "Heal me," and it were necessary to say, "Give me health," as it is here said, "Give me understanding"; or "Make me whole," as here it may be said, "Make me intelligent." This…
15 And when he spoke with me according to these words, I set my face to the ground and became mute.
16 And see, one like the likeness of the sons of man touched my lips; and I opened my mouth and spoke and said to the one standing before me: My lord, by the appearance my pangs have turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 For he spoke in this way, "And I saw, and behold, as an appearance of a son of man he touched me." [Daniel 10:16] And so at first he said, "as the hand of a man," [Daniel 10:8] but now he says, "as an appearance of a son of man," so that at first it was partially shown to him, but secondly the whole human nature was put on and shown to him.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Let those Anomoeans listen who, out of curiosity, are investigating into the essence of the Lord of angels. Daniel, to whom the eyes of the lions showed reverence, Daniel, who had a more than human power in his human body, could not endure the presence of his fellow servant but lay on the ground before the angel and could not breathe.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 16. "O my lord, at the sight of thee my joints are loosed..." Theodotion interprets it this way, in accordance with what we read in the One Hundred and Second Psalm: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1) For our inward nature must direct its gaze without, before we deserve to behold a vision of God; and when we actually…
17 And how can this servant of my lord speak with this my lord? And as for me, from now on no strength stands in me, and no breath is left in me.
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 Let no one think that the one who appeared to Daniel was the Lord because Daniel addressed him as "lord." For Daniel at the end of the vision said, "He stretched out his hand to the heaven and swore by the living God," confessing candidly thereby his servitude to the Lord. Daniel called him "lord" not as if he were God, but rather paying him the customary honor.
18 And again one like the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me,
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And he came close," he says, "and he touched me as an appearance of a man and he strengthened me and he said to me, 'Do not fear cherished man.
Ammonius of Alexandria · AD 300 When the strength of our life fails and we leave behind all earthly glory, so that we are no longer strong in it, then we receive the power from God, as Christ stretches out his hand upon us and says, "Be bold and strong."
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 He meant, "Do not be in distress at all; for I did not come to harm you but to make known to you what you desired to know. Cast off your fear, be brave, and be strong." And the deed followed word.
19 and he said: Do not fear, man greatly desired. Peace to you; be strong, and be strong. And when he spoke with me I was strengthened, and I said: Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And when he spoke with me I was strengthened and I said, 'Let my Lord speak because you have strengthened me.'" [Daniel 10:19] For when the Word makes us hope in the coming things, we are also easily able to hear his voice.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 19. "And as he spoke with me, I recovered strength and said, 'Speak, my Lord, for thou hast reassured me' And he said..." For unless the angel had reassured him by touching him like a son of man, so that his heart was freed of terror, he would not have been able to hearken to God's secrets.
20 And he said: Do you know why I have come to you? And now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I go out, see, the prince of Javan is coming.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so he says to him, "Do you know why I came to you? And now I will return to fight with the chief of the Persians, but I will proclaim to you what is written in the Scripture of truth, and there is no one who endures with me concerning these things except Michael your chief, and I left him there, for from the day you gave your face to be afflicted before your Lord God your p…
Ammonius of Alexandria · AD 300 Each nation has a guardian angel over them, so that they may not be harmed by the demons.… Therefore, the prince of the Greeks was also in the presence of God so that he himself heard the prophecies that were spoken concerning Alexander and those after him who would rule the world.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 20. "'Dost thou know why I have come to thee? And now I will return to fight against the prince of the Persians.'" What he means is this: I have indeed come to teach thee of the things thou hast received in answer to prayer; but I am going to return once more to contend against the prince of the Persians in the sight of God, for he is unwilling that thy people be released…
21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. And there is not one holding strong with me against these except Michael your prince.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 But who is Michael, but the angel who is granted to the people, as he says to Moses, "I will not go with you on the way because the people are stiff necked, but my angel will go with you"? [Exodus 33:3] This one stood against Moses in the encampment when he carried the uncircumcised boy [Exodus 4:24-25] to Egypt.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 21. "Nevertheless I will relate to thee what has been set down in the Scripture of truth." That is, this is the order which the words follow. The fulfilment is still in doubt.
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 He says in effect, "Why then do I speak of one or two, the prince of the Persians or that of the Greeks? For none of the heavenly powers wishes your people to obtain anything good, manifestly because of their great lawlessness.