Discovery BoxDaniel 10:1 
Context10:1 1 In the third 2 year of King Cyrus of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar). This message was true and concerned a great war. 3 He understood the message and gained insight by the vision.
Daniel 10:21
Context10:21 However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book. 4 (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes, 5 except Michael your 6 prince.
1 sn This chapter begins the final unit in the book of Daniel, consisting of chapters 10-12. The traditional chapter divisions to some extent obscure the relationship of these chapters.
2 tc The LXX has “first.”
sn Cyrus’ third year would have been ca. 536
3 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צָבָא (tsava’) is uncertain in this context. The word most often refers to an army or warfare. It may also mean “hard service,” and many commentators take that to be the sense here (i.e., “the service was great”). The present translation assumes the reference to be to the spiritual conflicts described, for example, in 10:16–11:1.
4 tn Heb “a book of truth.” Several English versions treat this as a title of some sort (cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT), although the NAB’s rendering “the truthful book” regards “truth” as an attributive adjective, as does the present translation.
5 tn The word “princes” is supplied for clarity.
6 tn The pronoun is plural in Hebrew, suggesting that Michael is the angelic prince of Daniel and his people.
