Daniel 11.1-The Unidentified Angel Rendered Defensive Assistance to Michael During the First Year of the Reign of Darius the Mede
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday March 26, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 11:1-The Unidentified Angel Rendered Defensive Assistance to Michael During the First Year of the Reign of Darius the Mede
Lesson # 318
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 11:1.
The chapter division at this point in the book of Daniel is unfortunate since the statement in Daniel 11:1 records the angel speaking about Michael and is connected to Daniel chapter 10 since it is connected to the statement about Michael in Daniel 10:21.
Daniel 11:1 “In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him.” (NASB95)
This verse presents a comparison between Michael providing support for this unidentified angel speaking to Daniel while he fought against the angel of Satan who ruled Persia and this same angel providing support for Michael while he fought the kingdom of darkness during the first year of Darius the Mede.
“In the first year of Darius the Mede” denotes that during the first year of Darius the Mede’s reign as king of Babylon, this unidentified elect angel speaking to Daniel provided defensive assistance for Michael while he fought the kingdom of darkness during the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.
“I arose to be an encouragement” is composed of the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) which is prefixed to the qal active infinitive construct form of the verb ʿā∙mǎḏ (עָמַד) (aw-mad), “arose” which is followed by the first person singular pronominal suffix ʾǎnî (אֲנִי) (an-ee), which is not translated and then we have once again the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) “to” which this time is prefixed to the hiphil active participle form of the verb ḥā·zǎq (חָזַק) (khaw-zak´), “an encouragement.”
The verb ʿā∙mǎḏ means “to present oneself to a superior to serve them, to stand in front of a superior in order to offer them a service.”
This indicates that this unidentified elect angel speaking to Daniel presented himself to his superior Michael in order to render assistance and to be a stronghold or a fortress for this archangel as he fought the kingdom of darkness during Darius’ first year.
The first person singular pronominal suffix ʾǎnî means “myself” referring to the unidentified elect angel speaking to Daniel and is functioning like a reflexive pronoun receiving the action of the verb ʿā∙mǎḏ.
Thus, these two words denote this angel “presented himself” to Michael in the sense that he offered his services to Michael as he fought the kingdom of darkness during the first year of Darius the Mede.
The verb ḥā·zǎq means “to help, to be of assistance” and it refers to this unidentified elect angel speaking to Daniel as helping Michael as he fought against Satan’s angels during the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.
This same verb appeared in the previous verse, namely Daniel 10:21 where it is used of Michael standing firm or helping this angel speaking to Daniel when he fought the kingdom of darkness during the third year of the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Now, here in Daniel 11:1, it denotes that this angel speaking to Daniel helped or rendered assistance to Michael as this archangel fought the kingdom of darkness during the first year of Darius the Mede.
Here in Daniel 11:1, the preposition lĕ is prefixed to the verb ḥā·zǎq and is functioning as a marker of purpose indicating that this angel speaking to Daniel presented himself to Michael “in order to” help this archangel as he fought the kingdom of darkness during the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.
“A protection for him” is composed of the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) which is prefixed to the singular absolute noun mā·ʿôz (מָעוֹז) (maw-oze´), “a protection” and then we have the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) “for” which is prefixed to the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), “him.”
The noun mā·ʿôz means “a defense” and denotes the angel speaking to Daniel took up a defensive position while Michael took an offensive position against the enemy.
Michael was this angel’s superior not only in rank but also in power and ability, thus this angel was not protecting Michael but rather rendering him assistance by becoming a defense or a stronghold who would not give ground to the enemy.
The preposition lĕ is prefixed to the noun mā·ʿôz and is functioning as a marker of purpose indicating the purpose for which this angel speaking to Daniel presented himself to Michael.
This angel speaking to Daniel presented himself to Michael “in order to” be a defense in spiritual combat while this archangel fought the kingdom of darkness during the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.
The third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) means “him” and is referring to Michael and is the object of the preposition lĕ, which is a marker of advantage indicating that this angel presented himself to Michael for the purpose of helping him in combat as well as to be a defense “for the benefit of” Michael.
Daniel 11:1 “Just as, I myself, during Darius the Mede’s first year presented myself for the purpose of being of assistance as well as for the purpose of a defense for him.” (My translation)
Daniel 11:1 is a comparative clause which draws a comparison with the previous statement in Daniel 10:21 which records the unidentified elect angel telling Daniel that Michael was the only elect angel who stood firm in combat with him while he fought the angel of Satan who ruled Persia.
So the angel is telling Daniel that just as Michael came to his aid when he fought the kingdom of darkness during the third year of Cyrus the Persian so he rendered assistance to Michael during the Darius the Mede’s first year.
Bible expositors of this verse are not in agreement as to the identity of the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ), “him” at the end of this verse since some argue that Darius the Mede is in view here.
This would indicate that this angel speaking to Daniel rendered assistance and protection for this king from the kingdom of darkness during his first year.
However, it makes no sense for the angel speaking to Daniel to interject helping Darius during his first year because this king is not mentioned in the verse or verses to follow nor is he mentioned in chapter ten.
The only reason that the angel mentions Darius the Mede is to use the first year of this king’s reign to mark the time when this angel helped Michael fight the kingdom of darkness.
So though it makes sense that this angel would help Darius since he was a believer, there is nothing in the context which would indicate that this king is being referred to by the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ), “him.”
By interpreting the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ), “him” as referring to Michael fits the context since he is referred to by this angel in Daniel 10:21.
Michael is the only person who this angel could be speaking about.
The only legitimate argument against this interpretation or a possible stumbling block to accepting this interpretation is the meaning of the noun mā·ʿôz, which can mean “protection, stronghold, fortress” or “a defense.”
It could be argued this angel couldn’t have offered Michael protection because Michael was more powerful than this angel speaking to Daniel and had helped this angel fight the prince of Persia.
However, this noun can means “fortress” or “stronghold” which would indicate that the angel was a stronghold or a fortress for Michael in the sense that he held a defensive position against the enemy and did not give up any ground.
Therefore, Daniel 11:1 is a comparative clause indicating a comparison between Michael providing support for this angel speaking to Daniel while he fought against the angel of Satan who ruled Persia and this same angel providing support for Michael while he fought Satan’s angels during the Darius the Mede’s first year.
In other words, this unidentified elect angel is informing Daniel that by Michael coming to his aid to help him fight the angel of Satan who ruled Persia during the third year of Cyrus the Persian’s reign, the archangel was reciprocating since he helped Michael fight Satan’s angels during the first year of Darius the Mede.
So Daniel 11:1 reveals that the elect angels help each other even though one elect angel might have a superior rank than the other, as in the case of this angel speaking to Daniel and Michael.
The elect angels are united in fighting against the angels of Satan.
The question arises as to why this angel speaking to Daniel would have to render assistance to Michael during the first year of Darius the Mede’s reign?
What took place during the first year of this king’s reign which would suggest that Michael would have needed assistance from this angel?
Daniel chapter six gives us the answer.
There was a conspiracy to kill Daniel during Darius’ first year.
Darius was deceived by his government officials who served with Daniel into issuing an order forbidding any one in Darius’ kingdom to pray to his God.
Of course, these officials knew Daniel would remain loyal to his god and continue to pray thus putting him under the sense of death.
The motivation for this conspiracy was jealousy since Darius was so impressed with Daniel’s talents, abilities and wisdom that he was going to put him in authority over his entire kingdom.
So both Daniel and Darius were under attack from the kingdom of darkness, who prompted these government officials to deceive Darius into issuing this order.
By God delivering Daniel from death, he also delivered Darius from executing an innocent man.
Darius’ subsequent decree praising God for delivering Daniel would serve as a protection to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.
Thus, thwarting Satan’s attempt to destroy the Jews in Babylon.
Therefore, in Daniel 11:1 Michael and the angel speaking to Daniel who communicated the revelation which appears in Daniel 11:2-12:13, were engaged in spiritual combat with the angel of Satan who ruled Persia who was attempting to have Daniel killed and the Jews in Babylon exterminated.