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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 the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia. — This whole chapter is but a preface to the ensuing prophecy, or visional prediction, recorded in the two following chapters. It beginneth at the third year of Cyrus’s empire, and reacheth till the time of the Jews rising from the dust of their dispersion, say some; to the end of the world, say others, with whom I concur.

A thing was revealed unto Daniel. — Who now must needs be very old, yet at those years (a hundred or more) gave himself to understand and search into divine secrets. The more any one knoweth of God, the more he would still know. Moses, newly come from the mount, crieth to God to show him his glory. David, that gulf of holy learning, is often at his, Teach me thy statutes, …

And the thing was true, — i.e., Plain and proper; not, as former visions, figurative and obscure.

But the time appointed was long, — scil., Till all be fulfilled, which will not be till the last judgment.

And he understood the thing. — And so was the better able to propound it to the Church; for what a man doth not himself understand, he cannot well and fitly deliver to others.

And had understood the vision, — scil., Given unto him; for unless God give us both sight and light, we perceive not heavenly doctrine, neither indeed can do.

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In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

In those days I Daniel was mourning. — Though a great man still, and in great account, yet not now so great at court as to hinder and defeat the malicious designs of Cambyses’s counsellors; who, being bribed by the Jews’ adversaries, put a stop to the temple work at Jerusalem. Ezra 4:1-4 This disaster cast good Daniel into his dumps, so that he fasted three full weeks, a tanto et tali, sed non a toto, and longer might, had not the angel taken him off by an answer of peace. Daniel 10:12 Abstinet ab omni cura cultuque corporis, sua sponte. See the like, 1 Samuel 31:13 .

Three full weeks. — Heb., Weeks of days, to distinguish them from those seventy weeks of years. Daniel 9:24

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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.

I ate no pleasant bread. — Bread he ate, for animantis cuiusque vita in fuga est, life will fail if not maintained by food, but coarse bread panem cibarium, atrum, et siligineum, and no more of that either than needs must. He voluntarily abridged himself of lawful delights, macerating and mortifying his flesh, that he might communicate with his poor afflicted brethren, and pray the harder for them. Fasting inflameth prayer, and prayer sanctifieth fasting.

Neither did I anoint myself at all. — All delights of sense must be laid aside in a time of solemn humiliation, but yet without annoyance and uncomeliness, as music, mirth, perfumes, brave apparel; 2 Samuel 12:20 John 3:8 Exodus 33:4-6 1 Kings 21:27 cheerfulness, outward joy, and pleasure ( Mark 2:20 Luke 5:35 cf. Matthew 9:15 Judges 20:26 1 Samuel 7:6 ). It is spoken of as a foul sin; Isaiah 58:3 , "Behold in the day of your fast ye find pleasure."

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

And on the four and twentieth of the first month. — The day is thus noted, because the matters here revealed were most memorable.

As I was by the side of the great river. — Meditating likely, because the city was full of noise and tumult, and praying. as Acts 16:13 Broughton giveth this reason, because Seleucus Nicator, founder of the Seleucidae, much spoken of in the ensuing vision, built his chief city upon this river.

Which is Hiddekel, — i.e., Sharp swift; called also Tigris, from the swiftest of all beasts, the tiger; but Curtius and Pliny Plin, lib. vi. cap. 7. say, that Tigris in the Median language signifieth an arrow. Here Daniel was personally present, and not visionally only. See Daniel 10:7 .

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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:

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, — viz., After my long fasting, praying, and meditating. So Moses and Elias, those great fasters, met together with our Saviour gloriously in the mount at his transfiguration. It is abstinence, not fulness, that makes a man capable of heavenly visions of divine glory.

Behold a certain man. — Heb., One man; a singular man, a glorious person; Messias the prince, described here by his habit and parts as a judge, say some, or as a priest, say others. See Daniel 12:6-7 Revelation 1:13-15 ; Revelation 10:5 .

Clothed in linen. — To show his innocence and purity, as also his righteousnesses, imputed and imparted, wherewith he clotheth his saints, Revelation 19:8 that fine white linen and shining.

Whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz. — Or, Of Ophir; Peru, haply, or Malaca, or Sopbala. This golden girdle about his loins denoteth Christ’s strength and alacrity. Psalms 93:1 Luke 17:8

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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.

His body also was like the beryl. — Of an azure colour, like the heavens. The "second Adam is the Lord from heaven." 1 Corinthians 15:47 Some render it the chrysolite, which is of the colour of the sea; to note, say they, his power to purge the Church by his Word, Spirit, and judgments, as by the water of the sea.

And his face as the appearance of lightning. — Which both shineth and terrifieth, and soon appeareth from the one end of the heaven to the other; Matthew 24:27 Christ suddenly discovereth all things though never so remote. Psalms 90:8 Ezekiel 1:13

And his eyes as lamps of fire. — To note his omniscience, his wrath also and readiness to revenge. Jeremiah 32:19

And his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass. — Scintillantes purissime. To note his omnipotence in the execution of his wrath while he trampleth on his enemies, as he that hath brazen arms and feet cart easily break in pieces a potter’s vessel.

And the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. — Strepitus - i.e., Maris. Or, As the noise of many waters, Revelation 1:15 noting the efficacy of Christ’s doctrine. See Acts 2:4 .

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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.

And I Daniel alone saw the vision. — Holy prophets alone are capable of holy visions. 2 Peter 1:19

For the men that were with me saw not. — Sensible they were of some alteration upon the waters, and somewhat wrought upon; not for their information, but separation from Daniel, that he might more freely undergo the heavenly rapture. See the like, Acts 9:7 .

But a great quaking fell upon them. — Through sense of sin and fear of wrath. This served to show the truth of the vision.

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Therefore 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.

Therefore I was left alone. — Daniel, though much frightened, keepeth his station, when the rest fled and hid themselves. Good is the counsel of the apostle, Hebrews 12:13 , "Make straight steps unto your feet, lest that which is halting be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."

For my comeliness, … — See Daniel 7:15 ; Daniel 7:28 ; Daniel 8:27 .

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