Daniel Comforted by an Angelic VISION. –“Chs. 10–12. more fully describe the vision in ch. 8, by a second vision on the same subject, just as the vision in the seventh chapter explains more fully that in the second. The tenth chapter is the prologue; the eleventh, the prophecy itself; and the twelfth, the epilogue. The tenth chapter unfolds the spiritual world as the background of the historical world (Job 1:7; 2:1, &c.; Zech. 3:1, 2), and angels as the ministers of God’s government of men… In that of history here, Michael, the champion of Israel, and with him another angel, whose aim is to realize God’s will in the heathen world, resist the God-opposed spirit of the world…These struggles are not merely symbolical, but real (so “the evil spirit from the Lord troubled Saul,” when “the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him;” whereas “the Spirit of the Lord came upon David,” 1 Sam. 16:13–15; “a lying spirit” also was “in the mouth of the prophets of Ahab,” 1 Ki. 22:22; Eph. 6:12).” Fausset A. R.
- Daniel may have been mourning because of the poor conditions of the returned captives. The Samaritans were opposing reconstruction of the temple, and the work had been stopped (Ezr 4:5,24).” HCSB Study Bible
- Pastor Keith Thomas said among other things on the importance of fasting to faith with reference to Matt. 17:14-21 and the parallel passages in Lk. 9:37-43, Mk, 9:14-28. “…this kind” “I think it refers to stubborn situations that each of us go through which a normal habit of prayer has not resolved. In these instances there is a spiritual stronghold which needs to be loosened through prayer and fasting. …A desperate situation resolved through desperate measure –fasting. Fasting adds intensity, earnestness and authority to prayers.”
- bstinence from food. This is quite different from self denial which is equally important to our life as believers in Christ.
- Act.13:2-3. it can be from one day and one night, to forty days both day and night.
