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9
1 It was the first year of Darius the Mede, son of Ahasuerus,*Xerxes in Greek. after he had become king of the Babylonians. 2 During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures as given to the prophet Jeremiah that the time of seventy years for Jerusalem to lie desolate would soon be fulfilled.†Daniel's concern, as shown by the following verses, was that the seventy years would soon be completed, but that there was no sign that any change was imminent. 3 So I turned to the Lord God in prayer. I fasted and wore sackcloth and ashes, and I pleaded with him in prayer to act.‡“To act”: implied.
4 I prayed to the Lord my God, and confessed, saying,§Daniel's prayer draws on a number of texts from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah) and so switches between me/our, you/your, and he/his. For consistency here the pronouns are regularized; e.g. all references to God are designated as “you.” “Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always keep your promises and show your trustworthy love to those who love you and keep your commandments. 5 But we have sinned, we have done wrong. We have acted wickedly, we have rebelled against you. We have turned away from your commandments and your laws. 6 We have not paid attention to your servants the prophets who spoke in your name to our kings and leaders and forefathers, and to everybody in the country.
7 Lord, you always do what is right, but we continue to be ashamed*“Ashamed”: this was especially true as a defeated and enslaved nation. Living in Babylon was a daily reminder that their God had not protected them from capture and exile. This humiliation must have been particularly hard to bear for those such as Daniel who maintained their faith in the true God. to this very day—we the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those nearby and those far away, those of every country where you have driven them because of their unfaithfulness to you. 8 Public shame is ours Lord, and on our kings and princes and forefathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 Yet you, the Lord our God, are compassionate and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you. 10 We have not obeyed what you, the Lord God, have told us. We have not followed your law that you gave us through your servants the prophets. 11 The whole of Israel has broken your law and turned away from you, not listening to what you had to say. That's why the condemnation that comes from our broken promise has been poured out on us—because of our sin, as made clear in the Law of Moses, the servant of the Lord.
12 You have carried out what you warned us about, against us and against our rulers—such a terrible punishment brought upon Jerusalem, the worst that has ever happened in the whole world. 13 Just as the Law of Moses said, all this punishment has fallen on us, but we still have not asked you, the Lord our God, to be favorable to us, turning away from our sins and paying attention to your truth. 14 You were ready to punish us, and you were right to do everything you have done, for we didn't listen to you.
15 You, our Lord God, by your great power brought us out of Egypt, making a name for yourself that lasts even until now. But we have sinned, we have done wicked things. 16 So Lord, because you are so good, please turn away from your anger and fury against Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Because of our sins and those of our forefathers, Jerusalem and your people are mocked by all our neighbors. 17 Now, our Lord, please listen to the prayer and pleading of your servant, and for your own sake look kindly†“Look kindly”: literally, “shine your face.” on your abandoned sanctuary. 18 Please listen carefully and open your eyes and see the terrible state we are in, and the city that bears your name. We're not making these requests to you for this because of our goodness, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, please listen! Lord, please forgive! Please pay attention and do something! For your own sake, my God, don't delay, for your city and your people are identified by your name.”
20 I continued speaking, praying and confessing my sins and those of my people Israel, pleading before the Lord my God on behalf of Jerusalem, his holy mountain. 21 While I was still praying, Gabriel, whom I'd seen previously when I'd had the vision, came flying rapidly towards me at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He gave me the following explanation,‡“He gave me the following explanation”: literally, “He instructed and he spoke with me and he said.” saying, “Daniel, I've come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you started praying, the answer was given, and I have come to explain it to you because God loves you very much. So please listen to the explanation and understand the meaning of the vision.
24 Seventy weeks have been allotted to your people and your holy city to deal with the rebellion, to put an end to sin, to forgive wrongdoing, to bring in everlasting goodness, to confirm the vision and the prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25 You need to know and understand that from the time the command is given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah,§“Messiah”: literally means “anointed one.” seven weeks plus sixty-two weeks will elapse. It will be built with streets and defenses, in spite of the difficult times.
26 After sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be put to death, and will be brought to nothing.*“Will be brought to nothing”: literally, “there is not for him.” The meaning of this phrase is unclear. A ruler will come to power whose army will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end will come like a flood. War and devastation will continue until that period of time is completed. 27 He will confirm the agreement with many people for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The idolatry†“Idolatry”: literally, “abomination.” that causes devastation will be supported until the end when the same fate is poured out on the one who devastates.”‡The latter part of this verse literally reads, “on a wing of abominations desolation until the end and what was determined is poured on the desolator.” It has been variously understood.

- Daniel
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*9:1 Xerxes in Greek.

†9:2 Daniel's concern, as shown by the following verses, was that the seventy years would soon be completed, but that there was no sign that any change was imminent.

‡9:3 “To act”: implied.

§9:4 Daniel's prayer draws on a number of texts from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah) and so switches between me/our, you/your, and he/his. For consistency here the pronouns are regularized; e.g. all references to God are designated as “you.”

*9:7 “Ashamed”: this was especially true as a defeated and enslaved nation. Living in Babylon was a daily reminder that their God had not protected them from capture and exile. This humiliation must have been particularly hard to bear for those such as Daniel who maintained their faith in the true God.

†9:17 “Look kindly”: literally, “shine your face.”

‡9:22 “He gave me the following explanation”: literally, “He instructed and he spoke with me and he said.”

§9:25 “Messiah”: literally means “anointed one.”

*9:26 “Will be brought to nothing”: literally, “there is not for him.” The meaning of this phrase is unclear.

†9:27 “Idolatry”: literally, “abomination.”

‡9:27 The latter part of this verse literally reads, “on a wing of abominations desolation until the end and what was determined is poured on the desolator.” It has been variously understood.

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher