Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Daniel 10:21

Who is this that cometh. Some refer this to Messiah, others to the angel Michael;¹Comp. And there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael, your prince Dan. 10:21. but more correctly it may be referred to God.²The words השםִ הנכבד the honoured name of the Hebrew text are used instead of יי the Lord, by I. E., in order not to connect the description with dyed garments, etc., directly with God. Comp. I. E. on 42:8. This prophecy contains the decree made against Edom, that is, against the empire of Rome and Constantinople, who are called Edomites, because they adopted the Edomite religion—that is, the Christian religion—which was first established among the Edomites.^2aThe words This prophecy, etc., till among the Edomites, are omitted in some editions; they were either struck out by the censors, or left out by the printers from fear of the censorship.

[Daniel 10:21] “No one is helping me against them except your prince, Michael” (וְאֵין אֶחָד מִתְחַזֵּק עִמִּי עַל־אֵלֶּה כִּי אִם־מִיכָאֵל שַׂרְכֶם - v'ein echad mit'chazek immi al-elleh ki im Mikha'el sarkhem): And the meaning is: If he [Michael] helped me now when I fought with the Prince of Persia, I also helped him [in the past] against the Prince of the Chaldeans, at the time when Darius the Mede reigned, as it is written: “And Darius the Mede received the kingdom” [Daniel 6:1]. And this refers to [what the angel says later]: “And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to confirm and strengthen Michael” [Daniel 11:1]. And the proof that these are the words of the angel [continuing from the previous chapter and into the next] is that afterwards it is written [starting Daniel 11:2]: “And now, truth...”. One might wonder about [the structure of] the verse [i.e., the apparent interruption]. If an objector argues, "Show me a similar instance where [Scripture] interrupts and then returns, using the word 'lo' [to him], referring back to the preceding section," I would show him: “And the LORD appeared to him (אֵלָיו - eilav) by the terebinths of Mamre...” [Genesis 18:1], [followed by description, then] “And Judah approached him (אֵלָיו - eilav)...” [Genesis 44:18]. And before I speak about the matter of Persia, I will speak about the matter of the angels, for there is no envy among them. And it is written: “He makes peace in His high places” [Job 25:2]. Behold, these are deep secrets (sodot amukkot) that only one in a thousand will understand. And I speak concerning the secret of generations/origins (ha-toladot), the nature of the human soul which is not corporeal, the wisdom of the celestial spheres and their motion, along with the matters of the ministers [planets] and the constellations (mazzalot). And now I will give you hints (remizot), for “it is the glory of God to conceal a matter” [Proverbs 25:2]. And you, apply your heart to understanding, and may God grant you wisdom.

High and lifted up. Attributes to throne (כסא), not, as many thought, to the Lord. The throne⁵The throne כסא הכבוד is, according to I. E., the sphere or force (גלגל) that encompasses and moves all the remaining spheres. The whole Universe is divided into three parts; a. עולם העליון the highest world, described as spiritual, indivisible, and unchangeable; b. עולם התיכון the middle world, or היכל the divine temple, described as being of a mixed nature, containing bodiless forms, and also bodies, but of a pure and unchangeable substance; c. עולם השפלות the lowest world, the earth and the fulness thereof, consisting of bodies of all description. The forms and bodies of the middle world are contained in ten spheres : sun, moon, and five planets in seven spheres, the large body of stars in the eighth, the Zodiac in the ninth, the tenth is the throne.—The angels inhabit the middle world. See I. E. on Ps. 8:4, and on Dan. 10:21. is above the Hajoth⁶חיות lit. living beings, signify a certain class of angels, frequently mentioned by Ezekiel (1:5, 13, etc.). as I shall explain on Ezekiel.⁷The commentary of Ibn Ezra on Ezekiel, promised by <underline>him</underline> repeatedly, is not known.

The officer of Adonoy’s host. This refers to Bnei Yisroel, who are Adonoy’s host. The officer mentioned here is the Angel, Michoeil, as it is said, ‘Michoeil, your officer.’¹⁶Daniel 10:21.