Daniel 10:15-17 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

I set my face toward the ground The fear with which Daniel had been struck at the sight of the angel Michael still continued in some degree, so that he was afraid to look up at this angel, or to speak to him. And behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men Daniel, gathering courage to look up, perceived that the angel Gabriel had not that angelic form, or brightness, which Michael appeared in, Daniel 10:5, but that he was in a human form. Gabriel, then advancing, and touching Daniel's lips, gave him the power of utterance, as he had before (Dan 10:11) of standing on his feet. Then I opened my mouth, and said unto him that stood before me This angel stood upon the earth near Daniel, not above the waters of the river, as the person did whose appearance was so glorious, Daniel 10:5. By the vision my sorrows are turned upon me By beholding thee, although in a human form, I am greatly affected, or terrified. For how can the servant of this my lord talk, &c. How can thy servant, a poor mortal man, maintain a discourse with a person of such rank and dignity? see Noldius, p. 353. The words may be translated thus: How can the servant of this my lord talk with that my lord? that is, with the other person that first appeared to me with so majestic a presence, at whose sight I was perfectly confounded, Daniel 10:5-9. Straightway there remained no strength in me As soon as ever I saw him, all my strength went from me, and I could not support myself. Neither is there Or rather, was there, breath left in me I fell breathless in a swoon.