Daniel 9
Daniel 9 is a chapter in which Daniel, deeply troubled by the prophecy of Jeremiah about the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem, prays for his people and confesses their sins. During his prayer, the angel Gabriel appears to reveal God's plan for Israel's future, which includes a timeline of seventy "weeks" of years. This chapter is significant for its prophecy of the coming of the Messiah and the end times, as well as for highlighting Daniel's intercessory prayer for Israel.
Daniel 9:1-2 (NKJV)
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—
2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
During the first year of Darius the Mede's reign over the former Babylonian Empire, Daniel reflects deeply on the prophetic writings of Jeremiah concerning the destiny of Jerusalem. He understands from these texts that the desolation of Jerusalem, as foretold by Jeremiah, was to last seventy years—a period meant to fulfill divine justice due to the people's disobedience and idolatry. Recognizing that this prophesied period was nearing its end, Daniel turns to prayer and supplication, seeking God’s mercy for himself and his people. His contemplation is rooted in the promises found in Jeremiah 25:11-12 and 29:10, which declare that after seventy years in Babylon, God would revisit His people and restore them to Jerusalem, reaffirming His covenant with them and restoring the land that had lain waste during their exile. This profound moment of understanding leads Daniel into a fervent prayer, where he confesses the sins of his nation and pleads for the restoration of Jerusalem, reflecting his deep commitment to God's promises and his desire for the prophetic fulfillment concerning his people and the holy city.
Daniel 9:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,
5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.
6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.
In deep humility, Daniel confesses Israel’s sins, acknowledging their failure to heed God’s commandments and the warnings of His prophets. His prayer demonstrates a sincere plea for mercy, recognizing God’s justice and the people's guilt, setting a powerful example of intercessory prayer.
Daniel 9:7-10 (NKJV)
7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.
8 O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.
9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
10 We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.
Daniel acknowledges the righteousness of God contrasted with Israel’s shame due to their unfaithfulness. He emphasizes God’s mercy and forgiveness, even in the face of rebellion. This confession highlights Israel’s reliance on God’s character rather than their merit.
Daniel 9:11-14 (NKJV)
11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.
12 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem.
13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.
14 Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice.
Daniel refers to the Law of Moses, explaining that Israel’s suffering fulfills the warnings in the covenant. Despite experiencing God’s judgment, the people have not turned back to Him. Daniel’s confession underscores the need for repentance to restore their relationship with God.
Daniel 9:15-19 (NKJV)
15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly!
16 O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us.
17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.
18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.
Daniel appeals to God’s past deliverance of Israel, asking for mercy on the basis of His reputation and faithfulness. He pleads with God to restore Jerusalem and the temple for His own sake, showing a selfless concern for God’s honor and the spiritual well-being of His people.
Daniel 9:20-23 (NKJV)
20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God,
21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.
23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
As Daniel prays, Gabriel appears to answer his plea. Gabriel’s swift arrival signifies God’s attentiveness, and he reassures Daniel of God’s love. Gabriel’s purpose is to give insight into God’s unfolding plan, underscoring that Daniel’s prayers are heard and valued by God.
Daniel 9:24-27 (NKJV)
24 “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”
The angel Gabriel delivers a profound prophecy to Daniel, outlining a period of "seventy weeks" (interpreted as 490 years, based on the day-for-a-year principle) decreed for the Jewish people and Jerusalem. This prophecy details significant events leading up to the coming of the Messiah and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
Verse 24 enumerates six divine objectives to be accomplished within this period:
1. "To finish the transgression": This signifies bringing an end to the persistent rebellion against God, highlighting the transformative power of divine intervention.
2. "To make an end of sins": This involves the removal of sins, achieved through the sacrificial death of the Messiah, offering believers redemption and a restored relationship with God.
3. "To make reconciliation for iniquity": This entails atoning for wrongdoing and restoring harmony between God and humanity, accomplished through the Messiah's atonement, fulfilling divine justice.
4. "To bring in everlasting righteousness": This denotes the introduction of a perpetual state of righteousness, granted to believers through the Messiah's redemptive work, leading to a life aligned with God's will.
5. "To seal up vision and prophecy": This implies the fulfillment and confirmation of prophetic revelations, with the coming of the Messiah validating and completing these prophecies, affirming the reliability of God's word.
6. "To anoint the Most Holy": This refers to the consecration of the Most Holy Place or the Messiah Himself, signifying the inauguration of a new covenant, with the Messiah serving as the ultimate High Priest, mediating between God and humanity.
Verse 25 provides a timeline, stating that from the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the "Messiah the Prince," there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks (totaling 69 weeks or 483 years). This decree is identified as the one issued by King Artaxerxes I in 457 BC. Calculating 483 years from this date leads to AD 27, marking the commencement of Jesus Christ's public ministry following His baptism.
Verse 26 foretells that after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be "cut off, but not for Himself," referring to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ around AD 31. This act brings an end to the necessity of temple sacrifices, as His sacrifice fulfills their purpose. The verse also predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by "the people of the prince who is to come," historically fulfilled by the Roman army in AD 70.
Verse 27 explains that the Messiah will "confirm a covenant with many for one week" (the final seven years). In the middle of this week, He will "bring an end to sacrifice and offering," signifying that His crucifixion renders the Old Covenant sacrificial system obsolete. The latter part of the verse describes ensuing desolations, aligning with the historical events of Jerusalem's destruction.
This prophecy not only provides a precise timeline leading to the Messiah's advent and sacrificial death but also underscores the broader redemptive plan, highlighting the transition from the Old Covenant sacrificial system to the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ.
Additionally, the prophecy's timeline extends to approximately AD 34, which is traditionally associated with the stoning of Stephen. This event is viewed as a pivotal moment, marking the conclusion of the 70-week prophecy and signifying a critical turning point: the formal rejection of the gospel by the Jewish leadership. Following Stephen's martyrdom, the early Christian church began to spread the message beyond the Jewish community to the Gentiles, indicating a shift in the focus of the gospel mission. This transition aligns with the prophecy's culmination, highlighting the end of the exclusive period allotted to the Jewish nation and the expansion of the Christian message to all nations.
Thus, the stoning of Stephen serves as a significant milestone in early Christian history, representing both the fulfillment of Daniel's 70-week prophecy and the broadening of the gospel's reach to the wider world.