דניאל, פרק י׳, פסוק כ׳

A heavenly messenger reveals the hidden spiritual battles that dictate the rise and fall of global empires. The fate of nations, specifically the transition of power from Persia to Greece, is decided in the spiritual realm before it unfolds on earth, directly shaping the destiny of the Jewish people.

The angel first calms Daniel's fears, assuring him that this sudden appearance is not meant to cause harm. Instead, the goal is to ease his anxiety by sharing hidden truths about the present and the future [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This revelation uncovers the divine decrees established for the people during their various exiles [יוסף אבן יחיא], serving as a much deeper message than merely a response to Daniel's periods of fasting [מלבי״ם].

Having delivered this message, the angel explains his next task, which is returning to the spiritual battlefield to confront the heavenly representative of Persia. This conflict before God is designed to influence the earthly Persian rulers, turning their hearts in favor of the Jewish people and lightening the hardships of their exile [מלבי״ם, יוסף אבן יחיא]. There is a shared understanding among the commentators that the angel is fully confident in his success. Historically, this victory is reflected in the relatively mild conditions the Jewish people experienced under Persian rule, as God stirred feelings of mercy within their captors [רש״י, מצודת דוד].

However, a major historical and spiritual shift is on the horizon. Once the struggle with Persia concludes, the Greek empire will rise to global dominance [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The angel warns that his ability to protect the people is limited. He will eventually have to step back from the conflict and will lose the ability to defend them, a consequence partly brought about by the people's own wrongdoings [מצודת דוד]. When the heavenly representative of Greece steps forward to claim power, it will be incredibly difficult to soften the hearts of the Greek leaders. In stark contrast to the Persian era, the Greek empire will place a heavy, bitter burden on the Jewish people. From the era of Alexander the Great through the harsh decrees of Antiochus, the spiritual effort to ease this period of exile will become overwhelmingly difficult [רש״י, מלבי״ם, יוסף אבן יחיא].