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Well we are moving on in study of Daniel chapter 9 and there is yet much to learn as we turn to the context of the passage in more detail.
Answer for yourself: Did you know that the prophet Daniel was confused over the books and certain prophecies of Jeremiah? He confused two prophecies of 70 years as if they were one and the same. We will see that in a minute.
Daniel has a very serious problem trying to understand the prophecies of Jeremiah. Daniel lived between the destruction of the First Temple and the building of the Second Temple. Unlike today when we don't know when the end day Messiah will come Hosea 3:4 says that it will be "many days" before the coming of the Messiah. It does not tell us how long but only that it will be a long time.
4 For the children of Israel shall sit solitary many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without pillar, and without ephod or teraphim;
Today we don't really know when the end days "anointed one" of YHWH will come but in the days of Daniel he knew that Jeremiah has prophesied that it would be 70 years from the destruction of the First Temple until the destruction of Babylon. One year after Jeremiah's prophecy king Nebuchadnezzar come into Jerusalem and subjugated the whole city and the Jewish people lost all of their autonomy and this would be eleven years before all the prophets would be carried out and the First Temple destroyed. It was a total of eighteen years from Babylon's first entry into Jerusalem before the actual destruction of the First Temple.
Daniel knows of two very important prophecies and these are the one giving Daniel a problem: Jer. 25:12 and Jer. 29:10.
Jer. 25:12 12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it perpetual desolations.
Jer. 29:10 10 For thus saith the LORD: After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will remember you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place [restoration]
Each of these two verses speak of "seventy years" and each of them speak of the desolation of Babylon but only one of the verses speak of the restoration of the people of Israel back into their land (29:10). The verses look almost identical but are not. Daniel made a mistake in his understanding of these two prophecies. Daniel thought that Jeremiah's 70-year prophecies were identical. This misunderstanding caused Daniel to come to a number of conclusions that were in error.
When Daniel saw the year 3390 was at hand, and there was no sign of the impending redemption, he became very upset. H thought the sins of Jewry had caused the date to be delayed, or worse - canceled. This terrifying thought forced Daniel to fast and pray (9:4-20) for the restoration of Jerusalem and it's Temple. It is therefore in this chapter that Daniel is made to understand that the two prophecies are NOT identical, and that they each speak of two separate 70-year periods of time. Whereas the prophecy of Jeremiah 25:12 was indeed referring to the 70-year time span that began in the year 3320, when Jerusalem was subjugated, the prophecy that referred to the restoration of the Jewish people to the land (29:10) was not.
So the Jews knew that after seventy years the Jews were going to go back to their land but this is where Daniel has his problem. Daniel was contemplating these two prophecies while standing in the first year of Darius the Mede's reign after Persia conquered Babylon. Daniel thought that the Jews should already be returning to their land but were not. The time frame was about 69 years following the subjugation of Jerusalem by Babylon and nothing was being done about returning the Jews to their land. Babylon had been destroyed as the prophecy of Jer. 29:10 had predicted but nothing was happening concerning the Jews. Daniel was worried that the return of his people had been delayed and that the "evil" spoken of in the Laws of Moses had been fulfilled concerning Israel.
Lev. 26 and Deut. 28 are two difficult chapters in the Bible that describe horrible things that can happen to Israel if they turn away from God. Lev. 26:18 states:
18 And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto Me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins.
Daniel feared Israel's punishment had been multiplied seven times by God. Daniel feared that God had thought that Israel continued to sin in Babylon and not the 70 year exile would be turned into a 490 year exile. Daniels begins to pray for his people and the sins of his people unknowing that Cyrus was coming in just one year. Daniel is confused but comes to understand the "counting" of the years that starts from the going forth of the "WORD."
Answer for yourself: What is the "context" of Daniel 9:1-20? Is Daniel concerned about the coming of the "last days" messiah or is he concerned about the sins of his people Israel and the payment of their sin debt to God and the return of Israel to their land and the restoration of the Temple? Well one has to read Daniel 9:1-20 to understand that answer so please take time now to read that for yourself.
Having read Daniel 9:1-20 you saw that the subject is not "the Messiah" but the sins of the people of Israel. Daniel make an abundant confession of sins and the guilt for the sins of the Jewish people and pleads for God's forgiveness and the return to the land of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple. When the prayer is finished the angel Daniel comes to give Daniel a vision and wisdom necessary to understand the vision.
The angel Gabriel now related to Daniel that in order to correctly ascertain when the Second Temple would be built and to bring understanding to Daniel regarding his problem with these two prophecies of 70-years of Jeremiah, he must begin counting the 70 years "from the going forth of the WORD [debar[ (9:25)," which is "the WORD of Jeremiah" that begins "at the destruction of Jerusalem (9:2)" in the year 3338. In fact, Jeremiah's prophecy of restoration (29:10) was fulfilled in the year 3408, 18 years later than Daniel had originally thought.
The KJV renders it differently:
"... that from the going forth of the commandment ..." (v.25) The Hebrew word for "commandment" is mitzvah. The Hebrew word translated here in this verse in Daniel 9 incorrectly as "commandment" is debar, which means "word."
Answer for yourself: Has the KJV translators completely changed the word? Yes.
As we shall soon discover, this is a reference to God's word concerning the rebuilding of the Temple. We need to look at the Hebrew word used for "word" in the above text as it's importance will be readily seen:
1697 dabar- speech, a word, speaking, a thing a) speech b) a saying, an utterance c) a word, words d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension) 1697 dabar- speech, a word, speaking, a thing a) speech b) a saying, an utterance c) a word, words d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
Gabriel responds to Daniel's prayerful inquiry of God by carefully describing to Daniel the course of events that were to unfold over a crucial period of time that was to span 490 years, or "70 weeks."
Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, destroyed the First Temple in the year 3338, 18 years after he subjugated Jerusalem in the year 3320.
The prophet Jeremiah envisioned (25:12) the termination of Babylon following a period of 70 years. The prophecy of Jer. 25:12 and it's 70 years began with Babylon's subjugation of Jerusalem in the year 3320, and ended when Cyrus called for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and a temple (Isa. 44:28-45:1) in the year 3391. Here we find the first 70-year prophecy of Jer. 25:12 being fulfilled but again this prophecy did not refer to the restoration of Jewry. Thus the prophecy of Jer. 25:12 was fulfilled in 3390 when Darius the Mede conquered Babylon and again Daniel had confused this 70-yr period with the other one in Jer. 29:10.
We need to remember that the punishment of Israel consisted not only of the Babylonian exile which was 70 years but also the 420 years that the Second Temple stood (490 years total). So we see Jer. 29:10 begins at 3338 with the going forth of 'the WORD" which coincided with the destruction of the First Temple and is fulfilled in the year 3408 at the building of the Second Temple (70 years).
Not only was the angel going to inform Daniel of when the Second Temple would be restored, but when it would be destroyed as well. Gabriel also reveals to Daniel that once these Seventy Weeks were completed, the Messianic Age would begin. Thus in verse 24 the angel describes six elements that will characterize the world in the Messianic Age:
Thus Daniel 9:24 decrees that 490 years are decreed upon Israel and Jerusalem, after which, the Messianic age can begin. The verses that follow are a detailed description of what would transpire during these 490 years, spanning from the destruction of the First Temple until the destruction of the Second Temple (3338-3829) in 70 A.D.
The angel Gabriel reassured Daniel that after a full "7 weeks," or 49 years had passed - counting from the "going forth of the WORD" (which is from the destruction of Jerusalem 9:2) - an anointed ruler would enable the Jewish people to return and rebuild Jerusalem (9:25). Indeed, a short time after 49 years had passed, Cyrus, who God declared as His "anointed one," (Isa. 45:1), gave the orders to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the holy Temple (Isa. 44:28-45:1; Ezra 1:2-3; 2 Chron. 36:22-23). This occurred in 3391.
Now the separate time of 62 Weeks begins or 343 years in the year 3391. Gabriel goes on to tell Daniel for a little less than four and a half centuries, the city of Jerusalem would be "rebuilt, street, and moat." Gabriel adds, however, that throughout these 62 weeks, the Holy City would constantly have to endure "troubled times" as part of the punishment of the 490 years. Indeed the Second Temple period was a time marked with spiritual and political disturbances. In verse 26, the angel goes on to inform Daniel how 62 weeks would tragically conclude with two terrible events.
Both of these tragic events occurred simultaneously, shortly after the 434 years, or "62 weeks" were completed.
This left one "week" or 7 years remaining out of the 490 to be fulfilled. This was the last 7 years before the Temple was destroyed. Rome agreed to permit the Jewish rulers to maintain the Temple sacrificial services. The Romans did not abide by their promise or covenant in this matter. They broke their promise, abolished the sacrifices and the offerings 3 and 1/2 years before Titus razed Herod's Temple (Daniel 9:27).
And once these 490 years are completed, it would indeed be up to each subsequent generation to turn back to God in order to bring about the glorious arrival of the Messiah.
Now we better understand that Gabriel begins to inform Daniel that if you are to understand this prophecy correctly then you need to know that you are standing here in the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, and this first year of his reign is basically 50 years following the destruction of the First Temple and 69 years since the subjugation of Jerusalem. The time is almost here for Cyrus to come with his decree. Daniel's confusion between these two prophecies is almost over.
2 in the first year of his reign I Daniel meditated in the books, over the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish for the desolations of Jerusalem seventy years.
Answer for yourself: How long did the First Temple stand? It stood 410 years and was destroyed by Babylon.
Answer for yourself: How long did the Second Temple stand? It stood 420 years and was rebuilt after the return from Persian victory over Babylon in the 2nd year of Persian control.
Answer for yourself: How long was the Babylonian exile? 70 years
Answer for yourself: What is the total of these 70 years of exile and the standing of the Second Temple for 420 years? What is the significance of 490 years? It was the time period beginning with the Babylonian captivity to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D.....there is one of the 490 years.
Daniel was beginning to see that another 490 year period refers to the time period from the destruction of the First Temple which included the Babylonian captivity up until the destruction of the Second Temple
These times had to be fulfilled. Although the Jewish people deserved to be in captivity for 490 years God's mercy allowed the Second Temple to be rebuilt "but in troubled times." Thus even the Second Temple Period was part of the punishment.
24 Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place.
Before we continue, let's take a look at some of the errors in translation and interpretation surrounding verses 24-27 as found in the highly revered King James Version that are purposefully made for the purpose of theological agendas when compared with the Hebrew Scriptures:
"... and to anoint the most Holy." (v.24) The expression translated "most Holy" which is often associated with Jesus should be translated "Holy of Holies," a reference to the inner sanctum of the Temple where the Ark of the Covenant rested and this means that this phrase is not supposed to refer to a man nor Messiah. I hope you remember that the 490 years again covered the time from the First to the Second Temple. So in keeping with the prophecy the expected anointing of the Holy of Holies was expected in 70 A.D. since during the Second Temple Period there as no Shekinah in the Holy of Holies as had been during the First Temple. The Messianic Age cannot begin until these 490 years are completed and the expected building of the Third Temple.
Answer for yourself: Did Jesus live and die before 70 A.D. when according to Daniel the Messianic Age would begin?
Daniel 9:25 25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto one anointed, a prince, shall be seven weeks; and for threescore and two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troublesome times.
We saw the same word previously in the same 9th chapter of Daniel in verse 2:
2 in the first year of his reign I Daniel meditated in the books, over the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish for the desolations of Jerusalem seventy years.
Again this is the same word in Hebrew: 1697 dabar- speech, a word, speaking, a thing a) speech b) a saying, an utterance c) a word, words d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension) 1697 dabar- speech, a word, speaking, a thing a) speech b) a saying, an utterance c) a word, words d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
The "going forth of the word" begins with the destruction of the Temple and ruins of Jerusalem. The expected "first" anointed prince or ruler labeled "anointed one/messiah" [NOT CAPITALIZED in the Hebrew Scriptures] is expected to appear 49 years later.
Answer for yourself: Who is this anointed ruler of royalty that we saw earlier that appears? It is none other than King Cyrus.
Answer for yourself: Is Cyrus called a "mashiyach"? Yes he is.
ISA. 44:28 28 That saith of Cyrus: 'He is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure'; even saying of Jerusalem: 'She shall be built'; and to the temple: 'My foundation shall be laid.'
ISA. 45:1 1 ¶ Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and that the gates may not be shut:
ISA 45:13 13 I have roused him up in victory, and I make level all his ways; he shall build My city, and he shall let Mine exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
Let us look at the Hebrew word used for "anointed" in the above verse from the Strong's Concordance.
4899 mashiyach (maw-shee'-akh); from 4886; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah: KJV-- anointed, Messiah.
This above is a derivative of the other Hebrew word used for anointed we saw earlier as used in Daniel 9: 25 & 26 as seen below.
4886 mashach (maw-shakh'); a primitive root; to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint: KJV-- anoint, paint.
Cyrus was a king and it was customary to consider kings "anointed" by God as His rulers by proxy.
Answer for yourself: What other testimony do we have to Cyrus being the "first" anointed that Daniel prophesied about?
1 ¶ NOW IN the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying: 2 'Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD, the God of heaven, given me; and He hath charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whosoever there is among you of all His people--his God be with him--let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel, He is the God who is in Jerusalem.
Answer for yourself: Why did the KJV translators move the book of Ezra from after Daniel as found in the Hebrew Bible to after 2 Chronicles in their Christian Bibles?
If someone were to read Ezra chapter 1:1-3 which speaks of the "And in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Persia, at completion of the WORD [1697 dabar] of the Lord from the mouth of Jeremiah" after reading Daniel 9 "Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto one anointed, a prince, shall be seven weeks; and for threescore and two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troublous times" then there would be no doubt to the identity of the first "anointed one" in Daniel 9 and all hopes of it referring to Jesus would be dashed. But remember it was never meant to refer to Jesus in the first place! This is why the Gentile Church rearranged their Bibles and buried Ezra out of it's proper sequence of books in the Old Testament.
2 Chronicles 36:21-23
21 to fulfil the word [1697 dabar] of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had been paid her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 22 ¶ Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word [1697 dabar] of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying: 23 `Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD, the God of heaven, given me; and He hath charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whosoever there is among you of all His people--the LORD his God be with him--let him go up.'
These are the last words of the Bible. Daniel was now understanding that his count was to begin "when the word goes forth" [3338 and not 3320] and Daniel 9:2 tells use explicitly that this is at the destruction of Jerusalem & the Temple as he had mistakenly thought the count began 18 years earlier but it had not. Having done this Daniel thought the exile had been extended. So Daniel fears that God had prolonged the exile in Babylon were unfounded once he came to understand this revelation. Daniel now understood that there were two different periods of 70 years; there is Daniel's mistake. Daniel had mistakenly counted from Jer. 25:12 which also mentions "seventy years" but there is no "debar" in that passage and no promise of return for the Jewish people. Daniel came to realize the count for these "seventy years" begins as Jeremiah 29:10 stated in Daniel 9:2 at the ruins of Jerusalem and not the subjugation of Jerusalem which was much earlier.
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