Daniel 10.19-Daniel is Strengthened After the Unidentified Angel Commends and Encourages Him
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday March 18, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 10.19-Daniel is Strengthened After the Unidentified Angel Commends and Encourages Him
Lesson # 314
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 10:1.
Daniel 10:1 During Cyrus’s third year, king over Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel who was called by his name Belteshazzar. Specifically this message was truth and concerning a great conflict because he understood this message, yes he possessed understanding concerning this revelation. 2 During those days, I myself, Daniel caused myself to enter the state of mourning for three weeks. 3 I never ate expensive choice food or meat. Also, wine never entered into my mouth likewise I never anointed myself with oil until the end of the three weeks. 4 Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month while I myself was beside that great river, namely the Tigris, 5 while I lifted up my eyes, I then stared as behold there was a certain man dressed in linen. Specifically, his waist was girded with gold from Uphaz, 6 his torso like chrysolite, his face like a glittering appearance, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms as well as his legs like the appearance of polished bronze, and in addition the sound of his words like the sound of a large crowd. 7 Now, I myself, Daniel alone saw this revelatory vision while the men who were with me never saw this revelatory vision. However, a great panic fell upon them. In fact, they fled because they were hiding themselves. 8 Thus, I myself was left alone while staring at this great revelatory vision. However, absolutely no strength was left in me. Also, to my dismay, my facial appearance was transformed into a deathly pale state. Indeed, I retained absolutely no strength. 9 However, despite this, I could hear the sound of his words. In fact, as soon as I myself heard the sound of his words, I myself was then caused to enter the state of being in a deep sleep on my face, yes my face to the ground. 10 Then, behold, a hand touched me. Next, it set me trembling on my knees and the palms of my hands. 11 Immediately after this, he said, “O Daniel, a precious man. Please understand the message which I myself am about to communicate to you. Therefore, please stand in your place because for your benefit, I have been sent.” Consequently when he communicated this statement for my benefit, I stood shaking. 12 Then, he said to me, “Please do not be terrified, Daniel, because from the first day that you applied your heart in order to understand as well as to humble yourself in the presence of your God, your words were heard. Consequently, I myself have come because of your words. 13 But the ruler over the Persian kingdom stood opposing me twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of our chief rulers came to help me because I myself was left there opposing the kings ruling over Persia. 14 Now, I have come in order to cause you to understand what will take place for and against your people during the latter days because the revelation pertains to these days as in the future.” 15 Consequently, when, for my benefit, he communicated with these statements, I turned my face to the ground while I became speechless. 16 Then, behold, for my benefit, one who resembled the sons of Adam touched my lips so that I could open my mouth in order that I could speak. Therefore, I spoke to the one who was standing directly in front of me, “O my lord, because of this revelation, I have been overcome by feelings of anguish, disabling me so that I retained absolutely no strength. 17 Furthermore, how can someone like my lord’s servant speak with someone like my lord? Indeed, as for me, even now, absolutely no strength is present in me because absolutely no breath is left in me.” 18 Then, he did it again, namely, he whose appearance resembled a human’s, touched me so that he strengthened me. (My translation)
Daniel 10:19 He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” (NASB95)
The verse presents the next event that took place after the event recorded in verse 18, which records Daniel telling the reader that the elect angel whose appearance resembled a human being’s touched him so that he strengthened him.
“Do not be afraid” expresses the elect angel’s strong desire that Daniel would no longer be terrified from being in his presence or from the revelation he received as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
“O man of high esteem” is referring of course to Daniel and indicates that God and the elect angels considered Daniel a treasure, someone of great value and worth.
“Peace be with you” is not a request but a result clause attached to the previous angelic request that Daniel no longer be terrified.
It is composed of the masculine singular noun šā·lôm (שָׁלוֹם) (shaw-lome´), “peace” which is followed by the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) “with” and its object is the second person masculine singular pronominal suffix ʾǎt·tā(h) (אַתָּה), “you.”
The noun šā·lôm means “peace” since it refers to the absence of fear of the threat of harm, and thus a “sense of security” or “peace of mind.”
The second person masculine singular independent personal pronoun ʾǎt·tā(h) means “you” referring of course to Daniel and is the object of the preposition lĕ, which is functioning as a marker of result indicating that the angel is requesting that Daniel not be terrified so that he has peace of mind.
It is also a marker of possession indicating that the angel is requesting that Daniel possess peace of mind as a result of not being terrified any longer.
“Take courage and be courageous!” is composed of the imperative form of the verb ḥā·zǎq (חָזַק) (khaw-zak´), “take courage” and then we have the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and” which is followed by the imperative form of the verb ḥā·zǎq (חָזַק) (khaw-zak´), “be courageous.”
In both instances the verb ḥā·zǎq refers to the act of the angel strengthening Daniel by speaking to him so that he recovered his mental and emotional strength to receive the revelation of the future of the nation of Israel during and after the Times of the Gentiles.
The imperative conjugation of this verb is an imperative of request indicating that this unidentified elect angel is requesting Daniel that he would become strong, yes very strong.
The conjunction wa is used to join this double use of the qal imperative form of this verb ḥā·zǎq in order to communicate one idea, which is called “hendiadys.”
Therefore, these two words express one idea, namely the degree to which the unidentified elect angel’s wants Daniel to be strengthened emotionally so that he can receive the revelation God had sent him to communicate to him.
This figure of hendiadys not only emphasizes the urgency of the angel’s request but also stresses the degree to which the angel wants to Daniel to be strengthened.
“Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength” presents the result of the previous request by the unidentified elect angel that Daniel become strong, yes very strong.
It refers to Daniel becoming strong emotionally in the sense of recovering from being disabled in the angel’s presence and because of what the angel told him as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
It indicates that Daniel caused himself to enter the state of becoming strong emotionally and mentally as a result of the angel making the request that he would become strong.
“And said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me” denotes Daniel is requesting that the angel now speak to him because he was strengthened mentally and emotionally by the angel’s commendation and assurance and request that he become strong, yes very strong.
Daniel 10:19 Then, he said, “Please do not be terrified, O precious man so that you possess peace of mind. Please become strong, yes very strong!” Consequently, as soon as he spoke for my benefit, I caused myself to enter the state of being strengthened. Then, I said, “O my lord, please speak because you caused me to enter the state of being strengthened.” (Author’s translation)
A comparison of Daniel 10:18 and 19 reveals that the angel’s touch strengthened Daniel physically but his requests strengthened Daniel mentally or emotionally.
This is indicated by the fact that in verse 18 he tells the reader he was strengthened by the angel touching him whereas in verse 19 he says that he was strengthened as a result of the angel speaking to him.
If Daniel was strengthened physically as recorded in verse 18, why the need to repeat this again to the reader here in verse 19?
The fact that Daniel says that the angel’s words strengthened him in verse 19 and that the angel’s touch strengthened him as well in verse 18 would indicate that that he is distinguishing the results of the angel touching him with that of the angel speaking to him.
The former strengthened him physically and the latter emotionally or mentally.
As recorded in Daniel 10:16, Daniel told the angel that he was overcome by feelings of anguish because of the revelation he communicated to him as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
Then, in Daniel 10:17, he informs the angel that he was overcome by feelings of anguish because of being in the presence of this mighty angel.
Therefore, here in Daniel 10:19, it appears the angel spoke to him words of encouragement so that he would have peace of mind rather than feelings of anguish.
As he did in Daniel 10:10, the angel addresses Daniel as a “precious man” which means that God and the elect angels considered him as a treasure of someone of great value in regards to the plan of God.
The repetition of this address would serve to encourage Daniel emotionally and rid him of the feelings of anguish.
The angel’s first request in Daniel 10:19 that Daniel would no longer be terrified so that he possessed peace of mind rather than feelings of anguish would further encourage him emotionally.
The angel’s second request that Daniel become strong, yes very strong would serve to encourage him emotionally.
Therefore, the angel’s two requests served to encourage and assure Daniel that he had no reason whatsoever to fear being in his presence.
After receiving encouragement and reassurance from the unidentified elect angel Daniel was ready to receive the revelation from God which God had sent the angel to communicate to him.
The amount of detail Daniel provides the reader with regards to his preparation in receiving this revelation and the amount of time he devotes to his preparation in receiving it emphasizes with the reader that this revelation is extremely important.
