Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 9:21

"yea, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation." — Daniel 9:21 (ASV)

Yes, while I was speaking in prayer – We are not informed how “long” the prayer continued. It is probable that we have only its substance and that Daniel 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 was 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 the following reasons:

1. He had as yet had no vision, but all that is recorded is a prayer.

2. There is no intimation that Gabriel had appeared to him at the beginning of the prayer.

3. It is declared that at the beginning of the prayer, Gabriel, then evidently in heaven, had received a command to go to Daniel and to communicate the message to him (Daniel 9:23).

The meaning undoubtedly is that he recognized the personage who now appeared to him to be the same one who had appeared in a former vision on the banks of the Ulai. The proper meaning of the Hebrew here is “in a vision at the beginning,” as in our translation. So the Vulgate, “a principio;” and so Theodotion – ἐν τῇ ἀρχῇ (en tē archē). The Hebrew word תחלה (t^echîllâh) properly means “beginning” (Hosea 1:2; Proverbs 9:10). However, in connection with the preposition, as here – בתחלה (batt^echîllâh) – it also means “before, formerly” (Genesis 13:3; Genesis 41:21; Genesis 43:18, 20; Isaiah 1:26).

Being caused to fly swiftly – Margin: “with weariness,” or “flight.” Regarding the difficult Hebrew expression here – ביעף מעף (mu‛âp bîy‛âp) – Lengerke may be consulted in loc. According to Gesenius, the words are derived from יעף (yâ‛ap) — to go swiftly, and then, to be wearied or to faint. This can be from running (Jeremiah 2:24), from severe labor (Isaiah 40:28), or from sorrows (Isaiah 50:4).

If derived from this word, the meaning in Hophal (the form used here) would be “wearied with swift running.” The sense is that Gabriel had borne the message swiftly to him and appeared before him as one who is wearied by a rapid course. If this is the idea, there is no direct allusion to his “flying,” but the reference is to the rapidity with which he had come on the long journey, as if exhausted by it.

The Latin Vulgate renders it cito volans – quickly flying. Theodotion renders it πετόμενος (petomenos) – flying; the Codex Chisianus, τάχει φερόμενος (tachei pheromenos) – “borne swiftly.” The Syriac states, “with a swift flying he flew and came from heaven.”

It cannot be determined with certainty from the words used here that Gabriel’s coming was by an act of “flying” as with wings. The common representation of angels in the Old Testament is not with wings, though the cherubim and Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2 and following) are represented with wings. In Revelation 14:6, we also find a representation of an angel flying.

Probably, the more exact idea here is that of a rapid course, one that would produce weariness or naturally cause fatigue.

Touched me – Daniel was doubtless at this time engaged in prayer.

About the time of the evening oblation – The evening sacrifice. This was at the ninth hour of the day, or about three o’clock in the afternoon.