דניאל, פרק ט׳, פסוק כ״א

In the midst of a passionate plea to heaven, a divine response can arrive with sudden speed, even before the final words are spoken. Daniel completes a full cycle of prayer, confession, and pleading. Just as he begins another cycle, a heavenly messenger suddenly appears before him [מלבי״ם]. He is still deeply immersed in his speech when the encounter takes place [מצודת דוד]. The figure is the angel Gabriel, presenting himself in human form [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Daniel immediately recognizes him from a previous prophetic encounter during the reign of King Belshazzar [רש״י]. This recognition stems specifically from a vision in Belshazzar's third year, as an earlier revelation in the king's first year was merely a dream rather than a clear vision [מצודת דוד].

The angel's arrival is marked by intense, rapid movement. The primary approach among commentators is that he soars swiftly from heaven down to Daniel. However, another perspective suggests that the description conveys a sense of exhaustion, as if the angel became tired from his incredibly fast sprint to deliver the message [אבן עזרא]. Beyond physical movement, this rapid descent represents a deeper spiritual process involving two distinct flights. First, Gabriel ascends to receive spiritual abundance from the higher angel Michael, and then he descends to deliver that prophetic wisdom to Daniel [מלבי״ם]. This flight symbolizes the direct transfer of divine abundance, which reaches Daniel the very moment the angel comprehends his prayer [יוסף אבן יחיא].

Gabriel approaches and reaches out to Daniel precisely during the time of the daily evening offering [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון]. This specific timing carries great meaning. Daniel has spent his entire day engaged in fasting, crying, and prayer, and only as evening falls does he finally experience the angel's arrival and receive the long-awaited answer from God [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ].