Daniel 9:21

even the man -even" arises from an incorrect apprehension of the syntax, and should be omitted (as is done in R.V.).

in the vision at the beginning Daniel 8:16.

being caused to fly swiftly The Hebrew is peculiar, and has been variously understood. The first word may be derived equally from two different verbs, meaning respectively to flyand to be weary; the second word, as it stands, could only be derived naturally from the latter verb: thus we get the two renderings, being made to fly in weariness (i.e. being exhausted by his flight), and (Ges., Keil, Meinh.) being made weary in weariness (cf. R.V. marg.-being sore wearied"), the words in the latter case being referred either (Ges.) to Gabriel, or (Keil, Meinh.) to Daniel (-whom I had seen …, when exhausted," &c.), in accordance with what is said in Daniel 8:17 f. Neither explanation is satisfactory, but the present text admits of nothing better. -Swiftly" (A.V.), though found in the ancient versions (LXX, τάχει φερόμενος, Vulg. cito volans), is a very questionable paraphrase. The second word might have arisen by an erroneous and incorrect repetition of the first. Of the first word, being made to fly is the more natural rendering. Angels are elsewhere in the O.T. represented as possessing human form, but not as winged (only seraphim, Isaiah 6:2, and cherubim, Ezekiel 1:6, have wings): winged angels (unless one is presupposed here, or in Daniel 12:6; 1 Chronicles 21:16?) appear first in Enoch lxi. 1, -And I saw in those days how cords were given to those angels, and they took to themselves wings and flew, and they went towards the north"; cf. Revelation 14:6.

touched me was approaching close to me.

the evening meal offering] 2 Kings 16:15; Ezra 9:4-5; Psalms 141:2: cf. 1 Kings 18:29; 1 Kings 18:36.