Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 10:4

"And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel," — Daniel 10:4 (ASV)

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month - At the close of his season of fasting. Though he had not set apart this season of fasting with any view or expectation that it would be followed by such a result, yet it was fitting that an occasion like this should be selected for the following communication to be made to his mind, for:

1. His mind was in a prepared state from this extraordinary season of devotion for such a communication; and
2. His attention during that period had been turned toward the condition of his people, and it was a fitting opportunity to impart to him these extraordinary views of what would occur to them in future days.

It may be added that we will be more likely to receive Divine communications to our souls at the close of seasons of sincere and prolonged devotion than at other times. Though we may set apart such seasons for different purposes, the Spirit of God may take the opportunity from them to impart to us clear and elevated views of Divine truth and of the Divine government. A person is in a better state to obtain such views, and is more likely to obtain them, in such circumstances than in others; and the one who desires to understand God and His ways should wait upon Him with intense and prolonged devotion.

The time here specified is the first month—the month Nisan, corresponding to part of our month April.

This was the month in which the Passover was celebrated and was a time, therefore, which a Jew would be likely to select as a season of extraordinary devotion. It was, for some reason, very common for the prophets to record the very day on which the visions they saw appeared to them, or on which Divine communications were made to them. This was often of importance because it served to determine the time when a prophecy was fulfilled.

I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel - That is, the Tigris. The Syriac translates it as the Euphrates. The name in the Scriptures, however, denotes the Tigris. Why Daniel was there he does not say. He was often away from Babylon (compare the notes at Daniel 8:2), and he may have been at that time among some of his people who resided near the Tigris. Possibly he may at that time have ceased to reside at the court in Babylon and have taken up his residence in some place on the Tigris. See the notes at Daniel 10:1.