But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book. John, on the contrary, is told (Revelation 22:10) not to seal his visions: because Daniel's prophecy refers to a distant time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas John's was to be speedily fulfilled (Revelation 1:1; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:6). Israel, to whom Daniel prophesied after the captivity, with premature zeal sought after signs of the predicted period, as though it were then immediately coming. Compare the disciples' question, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" Daniel's prophecy was design to restrain this. The Gentile Church, on the contrary, for whom John wrote, needs to be impressed with the shortness of the period, as it is, owing to its Gentile origin, apt to conform to the world, and to forget the nearness of the coming of the Lord (cf. Matthew 25:13; Matthew 25:19; Mark 13:32-37; 2 Peter 3:8; 2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 22:20).
Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased - not referring to the modern rapidity of locomotion, as some think, nor to Christian missionaries going about to preach the Gospel to the world at large (Barnes), which the context scarcely admits; but, whereas now but few care for this prophecy of God by thee, Daniel, "at the time of the end" - i:e., near its fulfillment - "many shall run to and fro;" i:e., scrutinize it, running through every page. Compare Habakkuk 2:2, my note; Amos 8:12, "They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord" (Calvin); or, "run to and fro," announcing to all who come in their way the explanation of the prophecy which shall then be unsealed: it is thereby that 'the knowledge (so the Hebrew is х hadaa`at (H1847)]) (namely, of God's purposes as revealed in prophecy) shall be increased.' "Running" is the characteristic mark of one who professes to have a divine communication to announce (Jeremiah 23:21, "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran"). This is probably be ing now fulfilled. God's prescience and His providence are becoming better known by the diligent investigation of the prophecies, of Daniel. It, is not knowledge in general, but 'the knowledge of prophecy which the Hebrew and the context show to be what is meant here.