Daniel 9:21

“Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, etc.] Which is repeated, that it might be observed, that while he was in prayer, before he had finished it, or got off of his knees, an answer was sent him; (see <236524>Isaiah 65:24): even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning; either at the beginning of Belshazzar’s reign, in the third year of it, (<270801>Daniel 8:1), or rather “before”, as the Syriac version renders it; before this time, in the vision of the ram and he goat, (<270816>Daniel 8:16), when he saw this angel Gabriel that appeared in a human form, and he knew this to be his name, by a man’s voice calling him by it; and now he knew him to be the same angel by his…”

“I had seen in the vision at the beginning--namely, in the former vision by the river Ulai (Dan 8:1, Dan 8:16). fly swiftly--literally, "with weariness," that is, move swiftly as one breathless and wearied out with quick running [GESENIUS]. English Version is better (Isa 6:2; Eze 1:6; Rev 14:6). time of . . . evening oblation--the ninth hour, three o'clock (compare Kg1 18:36). As formerly, when the temple stood, this hour was devoted to sacrifices, so now to prayer. Daniel, during the whole captivity to the very last, with pious patriotism never forgot God's temple-worship, but speaks of its rites long abolished, as if still in use.”

“Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer - How “long” the prayer continued we are not informed. It is probable that we have only the substance of it, and that Daniel has recorded only the topics on which he dwelt more at length. The subject was of great importance, and it is reasonable to suppose that a day had been devoted to an examination of the prophecies, and to solemn prayer. Even the man Gabriel - Who had the appearance of a man, and hence, so called. Whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning - That is, in a “former” vision. See the notes at Daniel 8:16. It cannot refer to what is mentioned in this (the ninth) chapter, for (a) he had as yet had no vision, but all that is recorded is…”

“About the time - The time of the evening sacrifice was a solemn and set time of devotion. Tho' the altar was in ruins, and there was no oblation offered upon it, yet the pious Jews were daily thoughtful of the time when it should have been offered, and hoped that their prayer would be set forth before God as incense, and the lifting up of their hands, as the evening sacrifice. This was peculiarly a type of that great sacrifice, which Christ was to offer: and it was in virtue of that sacrifice, that Daniel's prayer was accepted, when he prayed for the Lord's sake. Daniel 9:24”

“9:21 Gabriel . . . earlier vision: See 8:15-16. • evening sacrifice: Before the destruction of the Temple, Israel had offered two sacrificial lambs daily, one in the morning and one in the evening (Exod 29:41). Daniel apparently observed these times daily with prayer (Dan 6:10, 13; cp. Ps 55:17).”

“the man: Dan 8:16, Dan 10:16; Luk 1:19 to fly: Psa 103:20, Psa 104:4; Isa 6:2; Eze 1:11, Eze 1:14; Heb 1:7 swiftly: Heb. with weariness, or flight touched: Dan 8:18, Dan 10:10, Dan 10:16, Dan 10:18; Isa 6:6, Isa 6:7; Act 12:7; Heb 1:14 the time: Kg1 18:36; Ezr 9:5; Mat 27:46; Act 3:1, Act 10:3, Act 10:9 Daniel 9:22”