Interesting thoughts, Molly....I thought of Daniel's angel saying how the prince of Persia withstood him for 21 days......
Yes, exactly. The heavenly messenger to Daniel was delayed while fighting with the 'prince' of Persia. That is one of the 'gods' placed over Persia according to Heiser. This is probably the same word as 'archon' in the Greek in Ephesians 6 I'm thinking.
"prince" [of Persia]
H8269
שׂר
śarsar
From H8323;
a head person (of any rank or class): - captain (that had rule),
chief(captain), general, governor, keeper, lord, ([-task-]) master, prince (-ipal), ruler, steward.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against arche, exousia, ho kosmokrator ho skotos toutou aion, pneumatikos poneria en epouranios [Eph 6]
"principalities"G746
αρχή
archē
ar-khay'
From G756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concrete)
chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank): - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate),
magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.
5Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
6His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
9Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
--Daniel 10