12. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. --"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation." II Chron. XXXVI. 22. 14. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision _is_ for _many_ days. 15. And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16. And, behold, _one_ like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17. For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18. Then there came again and touched me _one_ like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 19. And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace _be_ unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 20. Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. --Dan. VIII. 21. 21. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: --the Book of future events-- and _there is_ none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. --"Michael the archangel." See Jude 9th verse.--"The captain of the Lord's host." See Joshua V. 15.--"Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels." Rev. XII. 7. The next chapter gives a bird's-eye view of the period covered by the 2300 days. For a full explanation see NOTE D. CHAPTER XI. [HEBREW.] 1. Also I --Gabriel-- in the first year of Darius the Mede, _even_ I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. --This does not indicate a change of date, it simply declares that the same solicitude was now bestowed on Cyrus, as had been manifested toward his royal representative Darius the Mede, when first placed on the throne of Babylon by Cyrus. 2. And now --"in the third year" since Cyrus captured the city. Daniel X. 1.-- will I show thee the truth. Behold there shall stand up yet