Footnotes

1. Daniel 10:1 sn This chapter begins the final unit in the book of Daniel, consisting of chapters 10-12. The traditional chapter divisions to some extent obscure the relationship of these chapters.
2. Daniel 10:1 tc The LXX has “first.” sn Cyrus’ third year would have been ca. 536 b.c. Daniel would have been approximately eighty-four years old at this time.
3. Daniel 10:1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צָבָא (tsavaʾ) is uncertain in this context. The word most often refers to an army or warfare. It may also mean “hard service,” and many commentators take that to be the sense here (i.e., “the service was great”). The present translation assumes the reference to be to the spiritual conflicts described, for example, in 10:16-11:1.
4. Daniel 10:2 tn Heb “three weeks of days.” The inclusion of “days” here and in v. 3 is perhaps intended to call attention to the fact that these weeks are very different in nature from those of chap. 9, which are “weeks of years.”
5. Daniel 10:3 tn Heb “mouth.”
6. Daniel 10:3 sn Anointing oneself with oil (usually olive oil) was a common OT practice due to the severity of the Middle Eastern sun (cf. Ps 121:6). It was also associated with rejoicing (e.g., Prov 27:9) and was therefore usually not practiced during a period of mourning.
7. Daniel 10:4 sn The first month would be the month of Nisan, during which Passover was observed.
8. Daniel 10:4 tn The Hebrew text has חִדָּקֶל (hiddaqel). “Tigris” appears here in the LXX, since it is the Greek name for this river. Elsewhere in the OT “the great river” refers to the Euphrates (e.g., Gen 15:18; Josh 1:4), leading some interpreters to think that a mistake is involved in using the expression to refer to the Tigris. But it is doubtful that the expression had such a fixed and limited usage. The Syriac, however, does render the word here by “Euphrates” (Syr. perat) in keeping with biblical usage elsewhere.
9. Daniel 10:5 tn Heb “I lifted up my eyes.”
10. Daniel 10:5 tn Heb “one.” The Hebrew numerical adjective is used here like an English indefinite article.
11. Daniel 10:5 sn The identity of the messenger is not specifically disclosed. Presumably he is an unnamed angel. Some interpreters identify him as Gabriel, but there is no adequate reason for doing so.
12. Daniel 10:5 tn The Hebrew word בַּדִּים (baddim) is a plural of extension. See GKC 396-97 §124.a, b, c and Joüon 2:500 §136.c.
13. Daniel 10:5 tn The location of this place and even the exact form of the Hebrew name אוּפָז (ʾufaz) are uncertain. Apparently it was a source for pure gold. (See Jer 10:9.) The Hebrew word פָּז (paz, “refined gold” or “pure gold”) is more common in the OT than אוּפָז, and some scholars emend the text of Dan 10:5 to read this word. Cf. also “Ophir” (1 Kgs 9:28; Isa 13:12; Job 22:24; 28:16).
14. Daniel 10:6 tn The Hebrew word translated “yellow jasper” is תַּרשִׁישׁ (tarshish); it appears to be a semiprecious stone, but its exact identity is somewhat uncertain. It may be the yellow jasper, although this is conjectural (cf. NAB, NIV “chrysolite”; NASB, NRSV “beryl”).
15. Daniel 10:6 tn Heb “torches of fire.”
16. Daniel 10:6 tn Heb “The sound of his words” (cf. v. 9).
17. Daniel 10:7 tn Heb “the vision.”
18. Daniel 10:7 tn Heb “great trembling fell on them.”
19. Daniel 10:8 tn Heb “did not remain in.”
20. Daniel 10:8 tn Heb “was changed upon me for ruin.”
21. Daniel 10:8 tn Heb “strength.”
22. Daniel 10:9 tc Heb “I heard the sound of his words.” These words are absent in the LXX and the Syriac.
23. Daniel 10:9 tn Heb “as I listened to the sound of his words.”
24. Daniel 10:10 tn Heb “Behold.”
25. Daniel 10:10 tc Theodotion lacks “and the palms of my hands.”tn Heb “on my knees and the palms of my hands.”
26. Daniel 10:11 tn Or “a treasured person”; KJV “a man greatly beloved”; NASB “man of high esteem.”
27. Daniel 10:11 tn The Hebrew participle is often used, as here, to refer to the imminent future.
28. Daniel 10:11 tn Heb “stand upon your standing.”
29. Daniel 10:11 tn Heb “spoke this word.”