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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 troublous times.
The Hebrew word used for "word" in Daniel 9:25 above is: 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)
Up front understand
that most Christian translations purposefully mistranslate the word as "commandment"
instead of "word" for reasons that will become most obvious in
just a moment. Let us look at the NIV for another example of "creative
translation."
Daniel 9:25: "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens,' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. NIV
According to Sir Robert Anderson (Robert Anderson, The Coming Prince, Kregel. Reprinted in 1984) the time that the prophecy begins is in Nehemiah in which he asks for a letter from the King for safe passage to Jerusalem. Notice that in Nehemiah 2:7 he asks for a letter. However, when we get to Daniel 9:25 we find that in many Christian translations the Hebrew word for "word" [dabar] has been translated as "decree" as seen in the above quote. As many point out, this "letter" from the King can hardly be called a decree, so we must assume that it must be another decree that Daniel is talking about. This rules out Nehemiah 2 and the second decree of Artaxerxes being the starting point of the prophecy which so many choose in order to try to get the years to overlap with the time that Jesus lived. But more on that in a minute
When we look at the meaning of the Hebrew word "dabar" that Daniel uses in 9:25, we find that the word can be used for decree but this word is usually translated as "word" or "command". Daniel uses the proper words for "decree" in Daniel 6:26, 6:15, 6:13, 6:12..., however, these earlier chapters were written in Aramaic. So if the writer of Daniel wanted to express the idea of a "decree" he has already demonstrated that he knows the Hebrew word for "decree" but chooses not to use it here in Daniel 9:25 as he has already done earlier in the book. Hebrew uses different words for decree. Daniel 2:4-7:28 was written in Aramaic which is a close cognate language to Hebrew.
Answer for yourself: When do we begin the counting for the Seventy Weeks of Daniel? When did this "word" go forth and what exactly is this word?
The answer to the above question determines if you get the understanding of the prophecy correct.
Let it be said in the beginning that if you remember in the former articles Daniel was concerned not about a future prophecy of Cyrus or his "word" that would later come to allow the Jews to return, or of a first or second decree of Artaxerxes(THINK!). Daniel was confused about two prophecies of Jeremiah the Prophet as we saw earlier: Jer. 25:12 and Jer. 29:10 and we saw that it was in Jer. 29:10 that we find the Hebrew word "dabar" which is translated " WORD"! We will see in a minute that this Hebrew "word" [dabar] is connected with Jeremiah and not with Cyrus or Artaxerxes.
It seems that we have to have Jesus fulfill everything in the Bible as if everything is about him. Well everything is not about Jesus as you have seen if you read the prior articles on Daniel alone let alone the many articles dealing with the corruption of the Hebrew Bible. That being the case let us look at the various decrees or going forth of "words" to build and restore Jerusalem to determine when the clock starts ticking. This is so very important because of the unique and creative attempts to shorten the time of this prophecy to coincide with the days in which Jesus lived as we shall quickly see.
At least four different scenarios exist that serve as the "terminus pro quo" (starting point) of the 70 "weeks"
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, [NOTICE AGAIN THE REFERENCE TO DABAR BY JEREMIAH] the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation [NOT A "DABAR"] 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. 4 And whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.'
Cyrus' decree involves the rebuilding of the temple (and the city, cf. Isa 44: 26-28; 45:13). If one starts here, then the 70 weeks could not be 490 literal years, for that would place the end of the 70 weeks around 55 B.C. which is much too early for the destruction of the Temple as the whole of the prophecy declares. The appeal of using this decree as the starting point consists in that it is the most well-known decree regarding the restoration of Israel and it was given about the time Daniel received his vision of the 70 weeks. This decree is preferred by many who do not hold to a literal 490 years but that is what Daniel said and again we need not forget that dating from Cyrus means we end up the 490 years about 15 years too soon.....15 years before the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. when the "second" anointed one is to be "cut off" at the same time the Temple is destroyed. Therefore this dating cannot be correct.
13 I make a decree [NOT A DABAR], that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go with thee to Jerusalem, go. 14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand;
This decree concerns the restoration of the Law and its worship. If one starts with this decree by Artaxerxes in Ezra 7:13-14 then 490 Julian years would end the 70 weeks (490 yrs) around 33 A.D. Now we have a match to Jesus...almost! But the 490 years prophecy also included the destruction of the Temple and the Temple was not destroyed in 33 A.D. so this dating is not what Daniel had in mind and the "decree" or "word" is not the first decree of Artaxerxes!
Answer for yourself: But what is our other big problem? The Jewish people counted years in "lunar years" and not "Julian years." Such a 490 lunar year period ends the 70 weeks around 26 A.D. which is seven years too early for Jesus' death and again does not take into consideration the destruction of the Temple which coincides with the "cutting off" of the anointed one.
Answer for yourself: But what about the 69 weeks if counted in succession which makes 483 years?
We demonstrated conclusively in earlier articles that in the Hebrew manuscripts and language there is a definite "stop" after the first 7 weeks or 49 years so the time period cannot be counted as if consecutive or even two different periods (69 then 7). The Hebrew shows us conclusively that there is "7" followed by "62" plus "1" week totaling 490 years.
But regardless of this the Christians commentators paid no attention to the Hebrew and reckon time the way they want to in order to make the years "overlap" with Jesus if possible.
The decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem was given, according to profane history, BC 457. Gentile Christian commentators have frequently multiplied 69 (weeks) by 7 (years) to give a period of 483 day/years that were to elapse before this "anointed one" was to be "cut off." Again notice they do not recognize the "break" in the Hebrew language after the first 7 years nor take into consideration the whole of the events that were prophesied to occur within these 490 years which included the destruction of the Temple and we all know the Temple was not destroyed in 33 A.D. nor in 40 A.D. if one adds the "last week" or 7 years.
However, as stated, Jewish time is often reckoned in Lunar cycles rather than Solar, as Europeans are accustomed to. On the basis of Lunar time, 69 weeks of years comes out at 486.5 Lunar years. Allowing for a BC/AD calendar inaccuracy of 4 years, this brings us to AD 33.5 for the time of Jesus' death (being cut off); which is exactly when Jesus was crucified, 33.5 years after his birth but again fails to take into account the destruction of the Temple.
But in order to arrive at this scenario they have to do several things that are not proper:
As we see very clearly then the first decree of Artaxerxes is not what Daniel had in mind to start the count and since the prophecy does not line up with the years and time of both Jesus' death as well as the simultaneous "death/cutting off" of the anointed at the same time of the destruction of the Temple...then this prophecy is not about Jesus.
1 ¶ And the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 2 Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the LORD: I remember for thee the affection of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel is the LORD'S hallowed portion, His first-fruits of the increase; all that devour him shall be held guilty, evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel; 5 Thus saith the LORD: what unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after things of nought, and are become nought? 6 Neither said they: 'Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt; that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?' 7 And I brought you into a land of fruitful fields, to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination. 8 The priests said not: 'Where is the LORD?' And they that handle the law knew Me not, and the rulers transgressed against Me; the prophets also prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Answer for yourself: Now notice we have a "dabar" in this verse but is it the one that Daniel was concerned over? Let us see if it was.
We have a decree before us for Nehemiah to build the city. By starting here, the 490 lunar years end the 70 weeks around 38 A.D. and we know the Temple was not destroyed then nor the "anointed" one "cut off" at that time. This dating of Nehemiah would place the start of the 70th week [last 7 years] near the beginning of Jesus' public ministry (ca. 30 A.D.) but in so doing we force the destruction of the Temple around 37 A.D. and we know that is not correct.
Each of these three starting dates has its problems as you can see but as shown in the previous articles when you consult the Rabbis then the problems disappear as I will now reiterate.
To understand a passage, one must always study it in context. In the beginning of Daniel chapter 9, we find: Daniel 9:2
In the first year of Darius' reign, I, Daniel, considered in the books the number of years about which the word of the L--rd came to Jeremiah the prophet, which must pass before the end of the ruins of Jerusalem, namely seventy years.
Daniel was living in Babylon in the exile after its army destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple. The prophecies Daniel was considering were: Jeremiah 25:12 & Jeremiah 29:10. In Daniel 9:3-20 Daniel prays for the Jewish people, praising God and imploring Him to end the exile and rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem. He concludes: Daniel 9:21-23
While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel [an angel], whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, and talked with me, and said: "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding. At the beginning of your supplications, a word went forth, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore, consider the word, understand the vision."
The angel Gabriel then explained the major events that would occur during the first 490 years after the destruction of the First Temple:
Daniel 9:24 ... Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city....
A "week" is a seven--year period:
Leviticus 25:8 ... And you shall number seven weeks of years, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven weeks of years, even forty--nine years.
Therefore, "seventy weeks" equals 490 years.
Daniel 9:24 ...to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to atone for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness....
During this 490-year grace period, the Jewish people could have proven its loyalty to G--d and His Torah by repenting. Had the Jews done so, the Messiah would have ushered in the Messianic Era and these blissful promises would have been fulfilled. Unfortunately, this opportunity was squandered. Consequently, 490 years later, the then-rebuilt Temple was destroyed and they were again exiled from the Holy Land.
Daniel 9:24 ...and to seal vision and prophet....
During this 490-year period, vision and prophecy ceased with Malachi.
Daniel 9:24 ...and to anoint the most holy place.
This was the building of the Second Temple.
Daniel 9:25 Know, therefore, and discern that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem until an anointed prince, there shall be seven weeks....
Seven weeks of years after the destruction of the First Temple, this anointed prince was revealed:
Isaiah 45:1 Thus says the L-rd to His anointed, to Cyrus....
When Cyrus, king of Persia, conquered Babylon, where the Jews were exiled after the destruction of the First Temple, God chose him to proclaim their liberty:
Isaiah 45:13 I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness, and I will straighten all his ways; he shall build My city and set My exiles free, neither for price nor for reward, says the L-rd of hosts.
This prophecy was fulfilled:
Ezra 1:1, 3 Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order that the word of the L-rd by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the L--rd stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, and he made a proclamation...."Whoever there is among you of all His people, his G--d be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the House of the L--rd, the G--d of Israel; He is the G--d Who is in Jerusalem."
Daniel 9:25 ...then for sixty--two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troublous times.
Jerusalem endured this entire period, despite the troubles caused by the surrounding enemy nations.
Daniel 9:26 And after the sixty--two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and be no more....
If you remember we found out that only Priests, Prophets, and Kings were anointed by God. That being so and with the cessation of prophecy in Israel we need look at only two; namely a Priest or a King which was anointed which was to be "cut off." In this instance we find that the events of 70 C.A. "cut off" both the Priesthood and the King. We have mentioned the Sadducees and their total destruction at 70 A.D. with the destruction of the Temple previously so now I want to deal with the Jewish understanding of King Agrippa II of Judah and his demise.
According to many Rabbinical sources this second "anointed one" was King Agrippa II of Judah. Rashi, one of the leading Rabbis of Jewish history. writes that this was he of whom the prophecy spoke. At the destruction of Jerusalem and the slaughter and exile of its inhabitants in 68 C.E. , Agrippa's rule came to an abrupt end. Josephus, in Wars of the Jews, book 6, chapter 9, sec. 3 says: Now the number of those that were carried captive during this whole war was 97,000; as was the number of those that died during the whole siege, 1,100,000,...
Daniel 9:26 ...and the people of a prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the Sanctuary....
Jerusalem and the Second Temple were destroyed by the Roman army, which was under the command of this third prince, Vespasian, the king of Rome.
Daniel 9:26 ...and its end shall be with a flood; and until the end of the war, desolations are determined. Jerusalem's end was like a flood.
Compare:
Nahum 1:8 But with an overrunning flood, He will make a full end of its place....
Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week; and for half the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease....
Vespasian made a peace agreement with the Jewish leaders in the seventieth "week," which concluded the total period decreed (9:24). However, the Romans violated this covenant after the first half week (three-and-a-half years) and prohibited sacrifices. Hence the Jews were forced to resort to bribery, lowering two baskets of gold coins daily over the wall to the Roman soldiers, who in turn hoisted up two lambs. Thus the obligatory daily offering continued until the destruction of the Temple (Jerusalem Talmud, Taanith 4:5). For the remaining week, Jerusalem was under siege for three years by Vespasian, and for half a year by his son, Titus.
According to the Hebrew Bible, these weeks of years begin with the destruction of the First Temple. We saw that in the previous articles if you remember. Therefore, since Jesus died about 27 C.E. which was forty-one years (six weeks of years) before the destruction of the Second Temple then he could not have been any one of these two "anointed" individuals; let alone the one "cut off" in 70 A.D. at the destruction of the Temple. Jesus was born prior to 4 B.C.E., the year in which Herod died (Matthew 2:1). And he was about 30 years old when he started his public ministry (Luke 3:23). Most scholars say that he died one year later.
Jewish dates have been used (rather than the Christian ones) because they can be verified by means of the Hebrew Bible.
After Creation
3338 TO 3408 The "70 years" prophecy from the destruction of the First Temple to the rebuilding of the Second Temple. (Jeremiah 25:12, 29:10; Daniel 9:2)
The exodus from Egypt occurred in 2448, as is clear from the lifetimes of the following men (as recorded in Genesis and Exodus): Adam (1-930), Methusaleh (687-1656), Shem (1558-2158), Jacob (2108-2255), Amram (2255-2392), Moses (2368 + 80 [his age at the time of the exodus] = 2448). So we see according to the Bible that the Exodus occurred in the year 2448. Construction of the First Temple began in the fourth year of King Solomon's reign, i.e., 480 years after the exodus (I Kings 6:1). Solomon reigned for another thirty--six years, (I Kings 11:42) whereupon a succession of kings occupied the throne for 374 years, until the First Temple was destroyed (II Chronicles 12:13 to 36:11). Thus, 2448 + 480 + 36 + 374 = 3338. Thus the year of the destruction of the First Temple is 3338.
Let us also remember these 490 years were to be from the destruction of the First Temple to the destruction of the Second Temple.
3338 TO 3828 70 weeks (the total 490 years) from the destruction of the First Temple to the destruction of the Second Temple. (Daniel 9:24--27) Thus we see that the destruction of the Second Temple was in the Jewish year 3828 which is exactly 490 years since the destruction of the First Temple. Here is the punishment upon Israel for failure to observe the Sabbatical Year.
Of these 70 weeks:
3338 TO 3390 7 weeks (52 years was the actual time) from the destruction of the First Temple to the Edict of Cyrus, the first Prince. (Daniel 9:25) [7 weeks x 7 = 49 years]. The remaining 3 years (52–49) are carried forward.]
3390 TO 3828 Plus 62 weeks (438 years) From the Edict of Cyrus to King Agrippa II-The second anointed. (Daniel 9:25--26) [62 weeks x 7 = 434 years. The extra 4 years (438–434) are carried forward].
3821 TO 3828 The last 7 years of the 70th week involved the third prince, Vespasian, and the destruction of the Second Temple. (Daniel 9:26--27)
The above 7 surplus years (3+4) make up this last week of years. This 70th week does not fit in with Christian calculations, therefore, they have -- without Scriptural foundation -- assigned it to the time of Jesus' “second coming". The failure of Christianity to see and accept the Jewish interpretation of their own history and fulfillments of this prophecy has necessitated the casting into the future of the last week of 7 years in order to hold out hope that Jesus might yet be the fulfillment of this prophecy but in so doing they turn their heads and minds from the facts given in these series of articles. Such is willful blindness to the facts and the "blind follow the blind."
I have shown you that Rashi and other Rabbis see that the "second anointed" referred to King Agrippa II. Other Rabbis see the destruction of the Sadducee Priesthood at the Temple's destruction the fulfillment of the "cutting off" of the second "anointed one" of Daniel's prophecy. Regardless the events happened almost simultaneously so for me it makes little difference since both were "anointed." What we need keep in focus is that the the 490 years were to run up until the destruction of the Second Temple and this precludes any chance of Jesus being the fulfillment of this prophecy. We must rightly divide and interpret the Word of God.
As you can see for yourself as we have extensively looked at the Hebrew in determining the "truth" concerning Daniel 9 and the identity of the "anointed ones" or "messiahs" and we found that neither of them were the "last days" Messiah hoped for by Israel. We have looked at the dates of the prophecy in detail and seen that the decrees of Cyrus and Artaxerxes (first and second) cannot be used for the dating of the prophecy and none of the above three can be honestly made to "fit" the days of Jesus nor make him the fulfillment of this prophecy. One last thought. I find it shameful what has been done to the Word of God in trying to make Jesus the fulfillment of such prophecies when they were never meant to refer to him in the first place. God surely hates His Word being butchered and manipulated for theological agendas and all the while the blind follow the blind and miss the truths that God so loved the world that He wished to share with His children. May we find the courage and the love for God to demand the truth and never settle for lies. Surely belief in such lies neither honors Jesus nor God. Let us think on that for a while. Shalom.
bennoah1@airmail.net