John Calvin 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)

Daniel now narrates the acceptance of his prayers, because an angel appeared and instructed him about the future condition of the Church. Without the slightest doubt, the fasting already described was a preparation for prayer, as we have stated before, and as we may gather from many passages of Scripture, especially from the assertion of Christ, where he says, the demon could not be cast out except by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).

Daniel, therefore, did not abstain from all food, and wine, and luxuries with the aim of rendering any obedience to God, but of testifying to his own grief. Then he was eager to rouse himself to prayer and, by that mark of humility, to prepare himself far better for repentance.

He says now — on the twenty-fourth day of the first month — meaning March, the first month of the Jewish year — he stood on the bank of the great river, namely, the Tigris. The word יד, yid, is metaphorically used for the bank, and interpreters are agreed in identifying Hiddekel with the Tigris.

Geographers state that the name of this river is in some places, and especially near its source, Digliton, which corresponds to the common Hebrew name Hidekel. Without doubt, this river is called Phison by Moses, since the Tigris has three names among secular nations. Its usual name is Tigris, and in one part of its course it becomes the Hidekel, and it also has the names of Pasitigris and Phasis, which is equivalent to Phison.

The Prophet relates, his standing on the bank of this great river. It is uncertain whether he was then in that part of the world, or whether God set before him the sight of the river, as we have seen elsewhere. I rather incline to the opinion that he was rapt in the prophetic spirit, obtaining a vision of the river, and not that he was really there.

Possibly, that province might have been placed under his government in the course of the great changes which took place in those times. While Belshazzar lived, he could not have been at Susa, and so we were compelled to explain his former account by the prophetic rapture.

And as to the present passage, I shall not quarrel with the opinion of anyone who supposes Daniel to have dwelt in that district; but, as I have stated before, I think it most probable that this spectacle was offered to the holy Prophet when he was far distant from the river’s bank and only able to behold it, having commenced his abstinence from flesh, and food, and all pleasant delicacies, and then relaxed his fast for three weeks, as he here marks the date on the twenty-fourth day. But I leave this doubtful, due to the impossibility of ascertaining the point with certainty.