Daniel 8:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why did he feel fatigued? Perhaps it was due to the sorrow over impending tribulations, while the current trials remained unresolved. Yet he expresses, so many afflictions! Alternatively: I have not yet made peace between them and God, and they are once again provoking Him against themselves. And then I rose up to attend to the king’s affairs, which means to serve. And I found myself astonished by this vision, yet it eluded my understanding. Grief can be particularly overwhelming when it cannot be shared with others, or he laments because of their wickedness. And he states, I began to engage in the king’s business; meaning I spared no effort, but diligently carried out my duties.

I, Daniel, experienced fatigue and illness for a few days; however, upon my recovery, I found myself engaged in the matters of the king. This mirrors the account of Abraham, who, upon hearing the Lord's voice, referred to himself as mere dust and ashes (Gen. 18). Thus, Daniel recounts that the overwhelming vision caused him to be unwell, yet upon his recovery, he resumed the tasks entrusted to him by the king, honoring the teachings of the Gospel by acknowledging authority: ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's’ (Luke 20:25). I was left in awe of the vision, and there was no one able to provide insight into it. If no one could shed light on the vision, what does it mean that the angel above was interpreted?

Concerning Daniel, the prophet conveys, "I was troubled and overwhelmed for many days, then I arose to fulfill the duties imposed upon me by the king, yet I found myself perplexed by the vision without any understanding. Upon learning of the disasters destined to strike my people, my heart sank into profound sorrow, leading me to physical illness. Nevertheless, amidst my distress, I continued to oversee the tasks entrusted to me by the king, concealing the true reason for my ailment. He could rightly echo the blessed Paul: 'Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn?' (2 Cor. 11:29) Furthermore, he embodied the principle to 'rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep' (Rom.