What is the meaning of Daniel 10:4? On the twenty-fourth day • Daniel records an exact date—“the twenty-fourth day” (Daniel 10:4)—which anchors the vision in real history, much like Ezra pinpoints the “first day of the fifth month” for his own journey (Ezra 7:9). • Precision underlines God’s sovereignty over time; He “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). • The setting occurs three days after the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread would have ended (Exodus 12:15-18), suggesting Daniel had continued fasting and mourning past the feast (Daniel 10:2-3). of the first month • The “first month” is Nisan, the month of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12:2). • By mentioning Nisan, the text ties Daniel’s contemporary longing for deliverance with the historic Passover redemption, echoing how later exiles sought renewal in the same month (Nehemiah 2:1). • God often unveils major revelations at divinely memorable times: Ezekiel sees visions “in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month” (Ezekiel 1:1), reinforcing the idea that God’s timetable is deliberate and trustworthy. as I was standing • Daniel is not asleep; he is alert and watchful, reminiscent of Habakkuk who took his “stand on the ramparts” to await God’s word (Habakkuk 2:1). • His posture shows readiness to receive, paralleling Joshua who “stood before the angel of the LORD” (Zechariah 3:1). • The scene highlights personal engagement—God meets those who “seek Him with all their heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). on the bank of the great river, the Tigris • The Tigris is called “great,” emphasizing both its physical size (Genesis 2:14) and its symbolic weight as a boundary of empires. • Daniel’s earlier visions occurred near the Ulai Canal (Daniel 8:2); here, at the Tigris, the context hints at looming conflict affecting Persia and beyond (cf. Daniel 10:13, 20). • Rivers mark thresholds in Scripture—think of Elijah’s translation at the Jordan (2 Kings 2:7-11) or John’s visions on Patmos surrounded by sea (Revelation 1:9-10)—signaling that Daniel is poised on the edge of fresh revelation. summary Daniel 10:4 is more than a timestamp; every phrase roots the forthcoming vision in literal history, links it to Israel’s redemption calendar, showcases Daniel’s vigilant faith, and situates him at a strategic geographic gateway. Together these details affirm that God speaks into real moments, to prepared hearts, in settings chosen to underscore His unfolding plan for nations and for His people. |
    |