23. At the beginning of thy supplications, &c.--The promulgation of
the divine decree was made in heaven to the angels as soon as Daniel
began to pray.
came forth--from the divine throne; so
Da 9:22.
thou art greatly beloved--literally, "a man of desires" (compare
Eze 23:6, 12);
the object of God's delight. As the apocalyptic prophet of the New
Testament was "the disciple whom Jesus loved," so the apocalyptic
prophet of the Old Testament was "greatly beloved" of God.
the vision--the further revelation as to Messiah in connection with
Jeremiah's prophecy of seventy years of the captivity. The charge to
"understand" is the same as in
Mt 24:15,
where Rome primarily, and Antichrist ultimately, is referred to
(compare Note, see on
Da 9:27).
JFB.
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