Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 10:12

"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words` sake." — Daniel 10:12 (ASV)

From the first day. —The meaning appears to be that this vision was granted to him as a result of his prayer to understand what would befall his people in the future. The prayer was heard from the first day that he offered it, but it had been impossible for him to realise the answer before the present time, for reasons mentioned in the next verse.