And in the first year
The phrase "in the first year" situates the events within a specific historical context, marking a new beginning under a new ruler. The first year of a king's reign was often seen as a time of establishing authority and setting the tone for future governance. This temporal marker emphasizes the immediacy and importance of the actions that follow, suggesting a divine orchestration at the onset of Darius's rule.

of Darius the Mede
"Darius the Mede" is a figure of significant historical and theological interest. Historically, Darius is often identified with a ruler who took control after the fall of Babylon, possibly a governor under Cyrus the Great. The term "Mede" connects him to the Medes, an ancient Iranian people, highlighting the shifting powers in the region. Theologically, Darius's reign represents a period where God's sovereignty is demonstrated through the rise and fall of empires, fulfilling prophecies and setting the stage for future events in the biblical narrative.

I stood up
The phrase "I stood up" conveys a sense of readiness and action. In the Hebrew context, standing up often implies taking a position of support or defense. This action signifies a proactive stance, suggesting that the speaker, traditionally understood to be the angelic messenger, is actively involved in the unfolding of God's plan. It reflects a commitment to divine purposes and the protection of God's people during times of political transition.

to strengthen
"To strengthen" indicates the purpose of the speaker's action. The Hebrew root for "strengthen" often implies fortifying or making firm. This suggests that the speaker's role is to provide divine support and encouragement, ensuring that Darius's rule aligns with God's overarching plan. It underscores the theme of divine intervention in human affairs, where God empowers leaders to fulfill His purposes.

and protect him
The phrase "and protect him" further elaborates on the supportive role of the speaker. Protection implies safeguarding against threats, both seen and unseen. In the biblical context, this protection is not merely physical but also spiritual, ensuring that the ruler can carry out his role without hindrance. This divine protection is a testament to God's faithfulness and His active involvement in guiding history according to His will.

XI.

(1) In the first year of Darius.--These words must be closely connected with the last verse of Daniel 10. The allusion is, most probably, to the fall of Babylon and the return from the Exile, at which time, as at the Exodus, the angel of the Lord went before His people. There is also a reference to Daniel 6:22.

Verses 1-45. - THE KINGS OF THE NORTH AND THE KINGS OF THE SOUTH. Verse 1. - Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. The versions show signs of great disturbance having happened here. The rendering of the LXX. is, "In the first year of Cyrus the king, he told me to be strong and to play the man." Theodotion's rendering is yet briefer, "And I, in the first year of Cyrus, stood in strength and might." The Peshitta rendering, "In the first year of Darius the Mede (he) arose to confirm and strengthen me." The Vulgate is close to the Massoretic and the English versions, "I likewise, from the first year of Darius the Mede, was standing that he might be confirmed and strengthened." The Revised Version does not differ seriously from the Authorized, "And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him." The Septuagint must have read אמר (amar), "he said," instead of אני (anee), "I." When we have the Septuagint and Theodotion supporting each other against the Massoretic text, the evidence against the received text is strong. In this case both these versions have, as will be seen, not "Darius," but "Cyrus." The two names would have in the old Egyptian Hebrew script, a striking resemblance to each other; the fact that the last letter of both names is the same, and also the second letter, made the likeness considerable in any script; but the first letter of "Darius" is certainly very like the first letter of" Cyrus." The vav would possibly be omitted, then the first two letters of either name would resemble closely the first two letters of the other, and the final letters are the same. Mistake, then, was easy. The first letter of מדי and מלד is the same, and the words would be liable to be read in accordance with that given to the proper name. Further, all the versions but the Vulgate make the speaker the recipient of the aid. Theodotion may be taken as doubtful The difference is slight, עמדי becomes עכד, and לו becomes לִי. The Septuagint seems to have read עַמַּי instead of עמד. The first two letters are thus the same, the daleth may have been an intrusion. Bevan and Behrmann would omit the date as spurious, and hold it to have been introduced because the previous four chapters begin each with a date. This reason, to have weight, must assume the division into chapters to be of ancient date, more ancient than the Septuagint Version. The fact that all the versions have it compels us to admit a date here, but, as we have said above, it is to be reckoned by the year, not of Darius, but of Cyrus. (Also I) in the first year of Cyrus the king. The first year of Cyrus was the year when he decided to set the Jews free, and permit them to return to their own land; but the first year in this case was reckoned from his assumption of the throne of Babylon. We saw reason to doubt whether the reference in the beginning of ch. 10. was to the Babylonian reign of Cyrus, or to his reign as King of the Persians. His first year as King of the Persians might be when he first began to turn his arms against Babylon. We do not know enough of the history of the first years of Cyrus's monarchy to know what critical events befell in that rear. Stood to confirm and strengthen him (me). According to the Massoretic text, the angel Gabriel stood to confirm either the archangel Michael or King Darius. Certainly, as Darius (Cyrus) is the nearer substantive, the grammatical preference would be to take it, as do Havernick, Hitzig, and Calvin. The majority of commentators who hold by the Massoretic text take "him" to refer to Michael - and much can be said for this. Although Darius (Cyrus) is the nearest substantive, yet he is not the subject of the main sentence, but merely denotes a time, therefore a previous substantive must be chosen. In the opening of Cyrus's career, the intimate connection his prosperity had with the prosperity of the people of Israel might well make Michael interested. As Cyrus had been prophesied of, he was under the rule of the angel of prophecy, hence Gabriel strengthened and confirmed the efforts of Michael. Certainly "strengthening" and "confirming" are strong terms to apply to the archangel Michael, yet we know so little of angelic natures and their limitations that the phrase may be quite natural. The meaning is not materially altered if we read, "He stood to strengthen and confirm me."

Parallel Commentaries ...


And I,
וַאֲנִי֙ (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

in the first
אַחַ֔ת (’a·ḥaṯ)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

year
בִּשְׁנַ֣ת (biš·naṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8141: A year

of Darius
לְדָרְיָ֖וֶשׁ (lə·ḏā·rə·yā·weš)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1867: Darius -- the name of several person kings

the Mede,
הַמָּדִ֑י (ham·mā·ḏî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4075: Mede -- an inhabitant of Media

stood up
עָמְדִ֛י (‘ā·mə·ḏî)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

to strengthen
לְמַחֲזִ֥יק (lə·ma·ḥă·zîq)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

and protect
וּלְמָע֖וֹז (ū·lə·mā·‘ō·wz)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4581: A place or means of safety, protection

him.
לֽוֹ׃ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Prophets: Daniel 11:1 As for me in the first year (Dan. Da Dn)