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1These things happened during the first year Darius son of Xerxes was king over Babylon. He was a descendant of the Medes.[#9:1 It is possible that Darius was a title, and the name of the Persian king was Cyrus.; #9:1 Or “Ahasuerus,” the Hebrew equivalent of the better recognized Greek name “Xerxes.”]
2During his first year of rule, I, Daniel, was studying the Scriptures and noticed that according to the word Yahweh had revealed to the prophet Jeremiah, seventy years must pass while Jerusalem lay in ruins.[#9:2 One of the very few times an Old Testament book mentions another Old Testament book.; #9:2 See Ezra 1:1; Jer. 25:12. Daniel realized from Jeremiah’s prophecies that the seventy years of their captivity in Babylon was completed, yet the people of God had not returned to their homeland, thus, his prayer in this chapter. See Jer. 30:18; 31:37.]
3Then I turned my heart to the Lord God, seeking an answer from him, pleading for mercy with fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting among ashes.[#9:3 Or “I gave my face to Adonai Elohim.”]
4I prayed to Yahweh , my God, and made this confession: “My Lord, you are the great and awesome God who faithfully keeps your covenant of love with those who love you and keep your commands.[#9:4 The same Hebrew word for “confession” is also found in Lev. 26:40–45.; #9:4 The Hebrew word for “unwavering, endless love” is hesed , one of the more difficult single Hebrew words to translate. It carries the idea of sustained loyalty and love at the same time. Other meanings include “loving-kindness,” “constant, unchanging love,” or “trustworthy love.” This term is used twenty-six times in Psalm 136 alone (once in each verse). The Psalms can be described as “David’s pursuit of hesed .” Hesed comes from a root word that means “eager, ardent desire.” It is the fiery, faithful, passionate love of God, who is committed to love you until the end.; #9:4 See Deut. 7:9, 21; Neh. 1:5.]
5Yet we have sinned, acted wickedly, and done evil; we have rebelled and turned aside from your laws and commands.
6We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who prophesied in your name to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and all the people of the land.[#9:6 Verses 5 and 6 are quoted in the Jewish synagogues on Rosh Hashanah (New Year’s Day) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).]
7Righteousness belongs to you, Lord, but we are all covered with shame even to this day—the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far. You have scattered us to many lands because of our treachery against you.[#9:7 Or literally “in their [our] treachery, they [we] dealt treacherously.”]
8Yes, Yahweh , we are all clothed with shame—our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
9In spite of all that, Lord, our God, you are filled with compassion and overflow with forgiveness, even though we have openly rebelled against you.[#9:9 Or “mercies.” This is the Hebrew homonym ( raham ) that can also be translated “womb.” God’s mercy toward us is like a mother’s compassion for the baby that came from her womb. Perhaps one could translate raham as “womb-love.”]
10“Yahweh , we have not listened to your voice, our God, nor kept your instructions that you gave us through your servants the prophets.
11All the people of Israel have ignored your voice; we have defied your instructions and gone astray. Now, the solemn curses confirmed by your promises of punishment in the law of your servant Moses have been poured out upon us because we sinned against you.
12You have fulfilled the words that you spoke against us and against the rulers over us by bringing upon us such a great calamity. Your severe punishment of Jerusalem has never been equaled under all heaven![#9:12 Or “the judges who judged us.”]
13As the law of Moses warns, this calamity came upon us in full measure. And even now, Yahweh , we have not sought to please you, our God, by turning away from our wickedness and following your ways of truth.
14Yahweh , you have waited for the right moment to unleash this calamity upon us. Yahweh , our God, you are just and right in all that you have done, for we defiantly ignored your voice.[#9:14 See Jer. 31:28; 44:27.]
15“And now, Lord our God, you delivered your people out of the land of Egypt with mighty power. You have won fame and gained renown for yourself even to this day. But we acknowledge our sin and wicked ways.[#9:15 Or “powerful hand.” God’s “hand” is a metaphor for his power and might.]
16Lord, you have always demonstrated your faithfulness to Israel, so now please turn your fierce anger away from Jerusalem. It belongs to you and sits on the hill where sacrifice is made. All the other nations who live around us despise your city and your people because of the sins of our ancestors and because of our sins also.[#9:16 Or “righteousness.”; #9:16 Or “your anger and your rage,” a hendiadys.]
17And now, our God, I am your servant and I beg you, please—answer my prayers. Make your face to shine upon your ruined temple so that everyone will know that you are Lord.[#9:17 See Num. 6:25.; #9:17 Or “for your sake.”]
18Turn your heart to hear my prayer, O my God. Listen to my cry and please look carefully and see our despair and the devastated city, which bears your name. We bring our requests to you and ask for your mercy, not because we deserve it but because of your extravagant, infinite love.[#9:18 See 9:9 and footnote.]
19Lord, hear us and forgive us. Lord, please be attentive and act for us! Do not delay in answering us for your own sake, my God, and for your city and your people who bear your name.”
20While I was absorbed in prayer, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel and presenting my request before Yahweh , my God, on behalf of Jerusalem , his holy hill—
21Gabriel, whom I had seen in a vision previously, came flying down from heaven. He touched me at the time of the evening sacrifice.[#9:21 Or literally “wearied in weariness.” This could indicate Gabriel coming to Daniel during a time when Daniel was extremely weary (see 8:27). However, most modern translators and expositors believe it refers to how swiftly Gabriel was flying to Daniel.]
22He gave me understanding and said to me, “Daniel, I have come from heaven to impart insight and understanding concerning this prophecy .
23As soon as you began to pray, God gave you an answer, for you are a precious treasure to God ! Now, carefully consider the message and understand the revelation of the vision.[#9:23 Or “a word went forth.”; #9:23 Or “you are preciousness” or “loveliness, delights.”]
24“God has decreed for your people and for the holy city a period of seventy times seven for these reasons: to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to cancel guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy One.[#9:24 Or “seventy sevens [weeks].” When Gabriel speaks of seventy weeks, he is not suggesting periods of seven days but seven years per week, or 490 years. A biblical “week” represents “a week of years.” See Gen. 29:27–28; Ex. 34:22; Lev. 12:5; Num. 28:26; Deut. 16:9–10; 2 Chron. 8:13; Jer. 5:24; Dan. 10:2–3.; #9:24 The Hebrew word for “finished” is kalah . The last word Jesus spoke on the cross was not in Greek, for his heart language was Hebrew. The last word our Jewish Jesus spoke as he made an end of sin would have been the word kalah . This Scripture is one of the clearest prophetic signposts of the Messiah, Jesus, who would come and put an end to sin. The death of Jesus was the last of the sacrifices for sin. His once-for-all sacrifice did not cover sin; it eliminated it.; #9:24 Or “to cover [atone for] deserved punishment.”; #9:24 Or “to bring in justice of long ages.”; #9:24 There are three possible translations for the phrase qodesh qadashim : “the Most Holy,” “the Most Holy Place,” or “the Most Holy One.” Jews interpret this as the Holy of Holies being rededicated (Hanukkah). The ancient Syriac is “until the Messiah, the Holy of Holies.” This interpretation of 9:24 as a prophecy of the Messiah is confirmed by at least one church father from the early third century AD, Hippolytus of Rome, who wrote the earliest Christian commentary on Daniel. Gabriel states that six things will take place: (1) transgression will be finished, (2) sin will end, (3) guilt will be canceled, (4) everlasting righteousness (justice) will be established, (5) the prophetic vision will be confirmed or sealed up, (6) the Most Holy One will be anointed. All of these six prophecies were fulfilled in Christ.]
25“You must know and understand this: From the issuing of God’s decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed Ruler comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ Jerusalem will be rebuilt with broad streets and a trench, but during times of great distress.[#9:25 This is a possible reference to Jeremiah’s prophecy in Jer. 29:10.; #9:25 Or “Messiah the Ruler.” The word translated “Anointed One” is the origin of our term “Messiah.” The theologian Gleason Archer is quite definitive in his assessment: “We therefore conclude that ‘Messiah the Ruler’ was the meaning intended by the author.” (See Frank E. Gaebelein et al., Daniel and the Minor Prophets , The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 7 [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1985] and Septuagint.) However, some scholars have identified this “Anointed One” with Cyrus the Great, who is, in fact, called “his [the Lord’s] anointed one” in Isa. 45:1 and who did permit the first Jews to go back to Jerusalem. Others think that it is Zerubbabel, who is referred to by messianic titles in Hag. 2 and Zech. 4. And still others see the most likely candidate as Jeshua (or Joshua in Hag. 1:1; Zech. 6:11), the son of Jehozadak, the high priest during this period (see Ezra 2:2, 36; Neh. 7:7, 39).; #9:25 Or “seven weeks,” that is, seven periods of seven years each, or forty-nine years (the time of Ezra–Nehemiah).; #9:25 Some interpret the “broad streets” to be simply a plaza or a space just inside the city gate used for deciding court cases.]
26“After those sixty-two weeks, the Anointed One will be cut off and left with nothing. The people of the commander will destroy both the city and the sanctuary. Then its end will come like an overwhelming flood, and until those sixty-two weeks end, there will be war. The decree of desolation has been issued![#9:26 That is, sixty-two times seven years or four hundred and thirty-four years.; #9:26 Although there are various interpretations of Jewish and Christian scholars as to whom was “cut off,” many conservative scholars see this as a clear prophecy to the cross of Jesus Christ, who was “cut off” (excommunicated) as the Living Holy Temple. He was also “cut off [pierced]” as our Redeemer. (See Leon J. Wood, A Commentary on Daniel [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1973], 255; Jacques R. Doukhan, “The Seventy Weeks of Dan 9: An Exegetical Study,” Andrews University Seminary Studies 17, no. 1 [1979]: 18–21.); #9:26 Or “cut off but not for himself.” The Septuagint is “though there is no crime in him.” Theodotion translates this as “there is no judgment against him.” (See J. A. Montgomery, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel , The International Critical Commentary [Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1927], 381; Norman Porteous, Daniel: A Commentary , The Old Testament Library [Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2016], 142.); #9:26 The majority of scholars view this invading leader as Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his Roman armies. Some, however, view “the people of the commander” as the Jewish people; still others see them as the saints of God. The phrase may be intentionally ambiguous.; #9:26 Or “his end.” The Hebrew allows for either translation. If “its end,” then it refers to the temple (sanctuary); if “his end,” then it refers to the leader who destroyed the temple.]
27“For one week he will confirm a covenant with many people , but in the middle of that week, he will abolish sacrifices and offerings.[#9:27 That is, for seven years.; #9:27 This is likely a reference to the Lord Jesus who was cut off after three and a half years of ministry (forty-two months) and ended forever the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. Jesus has confirmed a New Covenant with us who believe. See Isa. 59:21.; #9:27 This is likely a reference to the alliance made between Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the renegade Jews who favored Hellenistic culture. See 1 Macc. 1:11–14.; #9:27 That is, three and a half years. The Maccabean revolt lasted that amount of time.]
“On the wing of the temple , an appalling abomination will be erected. And the abomination will remain there until God does away with the one who placed it there, just as God has determined.”