1Daniel, considering the time of the captivity, 3maketh confession of his people's sins, 16and prayeth for the restoration of Jerusalem. 20Gabriel informeth him of the seventy weeks, and of the time and death of the Messiah, and of the succeeding troubles.
1IN 1the first year of Darius the son of 2Ahasuerus, 3of the seed of the Medes, 4which was 5made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
1 See Dan. 6 on verse 1.
2 Several kings of Persia have had this name.
3 That is, of the family of the nation of the Medes. This is here added to distinguish him from Darius, the king in Persia, in whose second year the temple was finished, Ezra 4:24.
4 Or, in which, namely the year, he became king.
5 See Dan. 6 on verse 1.
2In the first year of his reign I Daniel 6understood 7by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came 8to Jeremiah the prophet, 9that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
6 Or, perceived.
7 Namely, in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah. Although Daniel was a wise and excellent prophet, yet he neglected not to read the Holy Scripture, as the bigoted fanatics and despisers of the Word of God have done.
8 See Jer. 25:11, 12; 27:7; 29:10.
9 That is, that, when Jerusalem’s desolation shall have an end, it was seventy years.
3¶And 10I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and 11sackcloth, and ashes:
10 Hebr. I gave my face.
11 Or, sack, that is, in sackcloth and in ashes.
4And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and 12made my confession, and said, 13O Lord, the great and 14dreadful God, keepinga the covenant and mercy to them that love 15him, and to them that keep his commandments;
12 Namely, of mine own sins, and of the sins of my people, verse 20.
13 Compare this prayer with the prayer in Neh. 1:5; 9:32.
14 Namely, unto the wicked.
a Deut. 7:9.
15 A change of person, for to them that love him and keep thy commandments.
516Web have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have 17rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy 18judgments:
16 See more such similar confessions, Psalm 106:6.
b Psalm 106:6; Isa. 64:5, 6, 7.
17 Rising from degree to degree, and not resting until we were come to the highest degree of sin.
18 Understand here, and more in other places, by judgments, those laws whereby is rendered to everyone what is due to him, and whereby that which is just and equal is distinguished from that which is unjust and unequal.
6Neither have we 19hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people 20of the land.
19 That is, obeyed.
20 Namely, the land of the Jews.
7O Lord, 21righteousness belongeth 22unto thee, but 23unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
21 See Deut. 6 on verse 25.
22 That is, on Thy side; the praise of righteousness belongs unto Thee. Or, thine is, etc.
23 With these words the prophet acknowledges that the judgments of God upon His people are just and righteous. Compare Jer. 7:19.
8O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, 24because we have sinned against thee.
24 Or, we that have sinned against thee.
9Toc25the Lord our God belong 26mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
c Psalm 130:3, 7; Lam. 3:22.
25 That is, on the Lord’s mercy and gracious forgiveness alone does all our salvation depend entirely; for, with us is nothing to be found save cause of destruction.
26 He uses these words in the plural number to signify the manifold mercies of God in the pardoning of manifold sins.
10Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us 27by his servants the prophets.
27 That is, by the ministry of His servants.
11Yea, all Israel 28have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the cursed is 29poured upon us, and the oath 30that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
28 Or, hath transgressed. Hebr. have transgressed.
d Lev. 26:14, etc.; Deut. 27:15; 28:15; 29:20; 30:17; 31:17; 32:19, etc.; Lam. 2:17.
29 Or, dropped.
30 See Lev. 26:14, etc.; Deut. 27:15, etc.; 28:15, etc.; 29:20; 30:17, etc.; 31:17, 18; 32:19, etc.; Lam. 2:17.
12And he hath 31confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges 32that judged us, by bringing upon us 33a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
31 Hebr. raised, or, caused to rise.
32 That is, who governed us.
33 Namely, the evil of punishment, that is, a great mishap, which is related at large in the Lamentations of Jeremiah. See there Lam. 1:12; 2:13, etc.
13As it is written 34in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand 35thy truth.
34 See verse 11.
35 That is, the certainty of Thy threats.
1436Therefore hath the LORD watched upon 37the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
36 Or, Therefore hath the LORD been awake with this evil. The sense is: He has made it appear that He was not asleep nor had forgotten His threats. While sinners sleep securely in their sins, the Lord in the meantime watches for their punishment. The Hebrew word signifies not only to watch, but also to come betimes, to awaken, to make haste, as Jer. 1:12; see the annotation there.
37 See verse 13.
15Ande now, O Lord our God, 38thatf hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and 39hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; 40we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
e Psalm 105:7; 106:47.
38 For that end did God deliver the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, to assure them thereby from Him that He would be and remain forever their God. See Lev. 22:33; Psalm 81:10; Isa. 63:16. Therefore it is no wonder that believers so often remind God of this His mercy, thus to strengthen their faith, as to move the Lord to remember His ancient mercy. See Exod. 32:11; Neh. 1:10; 9:10; Psalm 77:7.
f Exod. 32:11.
39 The meaning is: Thou hast delivered and protected us for Thy Name’s sake, to make Thy power known, Psalm 106:8. Therefore turn away Thy angry mind from us that Thine honor may not suffer. See Exod. 32:12; Psalm 115:1.
40 This must not be so understood as if God has heard our prayers and done us good because we have sinned and have been wicked; for therefore is God angry with us, and therefore He punishes us, but then He does hear our prayers, when we confess our sins and acknowledge our unworthiness. Compare Psalm 25:11; 106:4, 5, 6.
16¶O Lord, 41according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, 42let thine anger and thy fury be turned away 43from thy city Jerusalem, 44thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach 45to all that are about us.
41 The meaning is: Lord, in that Thou hast verified Thy threats, forsaking us and giving strength unto our enemies against us, etc., all this is come to pass according to Thy justice, for, we have deserved it a thousand times over by our sins, but Lord, forget not also that part of Thy righteousness, whereby Thou keepest and performest unto all true penitents that which Thou hast graciously promised them. As God is but one, as such there is also but one righteousness or justice in God, but there be manifold dispensations of it; and among the rest He manifests the same, when He keeps and performs unto penitent sinners that which He has promised them of mere grace. Compare Neh. 1:8, 9; 9:8; Psalm 51:14.
42 That is, permit those sore punishments to cease which Thou hast justly poured out upon Jerusalem and all the people of the Jews to punish their sins. See Micah 7:9; Rev. 15:7. Other, let thine anger and thy wrath turn away itself from, etc.
43 As if he said: This is Thy city which Thou hast chosen for Thyself out of all the cities of the entire world, therefore turn away Thine anger and Thy wrath from it.
44 Hebr. the mountain of thine holiness. See Psalm 2 on verse 6.
45 Hebr. among all our aboutnesses, that is, among all who are situated round about us. Compare Psalm 44:13, 14, 15, 16; 79:4; 89:41, 50; Lam. 1:8, etc.; 2:15, 16; 3:14.
17Now therefore, O our God, hear 46the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to 47shine 48upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, 49for the Lord's sake.
46 That is, unto my prayer, who am Thy servant.
47 That is, behold Thy sanctuary with a friendly and favorable countenance. Of this phrase see Num. 6 on verse 25.
48 That is, upon Thy temple, or rather, upon the innermost place of the temple where God dwelled upon the ark or cherubims.
49 That is, do it not for our worthiness, but for the sake of the Lord Christ. It is said in Isa. 10:27: “… the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing”, or for the sake of the Messiah, and also Psalm 84:9.
18O my God, 50incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold 51our desolations, and the city 52which is called by thy name: for 53we do not present our supplications before thee 54for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
50 Compare the words which king Hezekiah uses in Isa. 37:17.
51 That is, how miserably we are wasted.
52 That is, which is called the city of the Lord. See Deut. 28 on verse 10; 1 Kings 14:21; Amos 9:12. Hebr. upon which thy name is called upon or proclaimed.
53 See of this manner of speech Psalm 141:2; Jer. 36 on verse 7.
54 That is, relying upon our righteous deeds or works; or, because of.
19O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for 55thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
55 See verse 18.
20¶And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and 56presenting my supplication before the LORD my God 57for the holy mountain of my God;
56 As verse 18.
57 Hebr. over or for the mountain of the holiness of my God, that is, in order that the church of God might be restored to her former state.
21Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even 58the man 59Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision 60at the beginning, being caused to fly 61swiftly, touched 62me about the time 63of the evening oblation.g
58 See Dan. 8 on verse 15.
59 See of the name and person of this angel in Dan. 8 on verse 16.
60 Or, before, or, at first, namely, in the vision of the ram with two horns and of the he goat, Daniel 8.
61 Hebr. with weariness, not that the angels can be tired or grow weary, but it is so said to express such swiftness, as according to our comprehension must needs cause weariness. Other, in flight.
62 By this touching of the angel, God strengthened the prophet. See Dan. 10:19.
63 That is, in the last quarter of the day at which hour the evening sacrifice was wont to be offered, when the temple and the Jewish service were yet in existence. See Exod. 29:39, 41; Num. 28:4. At this time did also Elijah pray, 1 Kings 18:36, etc. See also Acts 3:1. From this some do gather that it was here revealed unto Daniel at what time of the day Christ would offer up Himself for our sins.
g offering, sacrifice
22And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now 64come forth to give thee 65skill and understanding.
64 Namely, from heaven, being sent by God.
65 Hebr. the understanding, namely, to inform thee of the building up again of the city of Jerusalem, and the restoration of the state of the Jewish people.
2366At the beginning of thy supplications 67the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art 68greatly beloved: therefore understand 69the matter, and 70consider the vision.
66 That is, from that time that thou didst begin to pray for the deliverance of Israel did I receive a command to answer thee.
67 That is, the command. Hebr. word.
68 Hebr. desires, that is, a man of desires. See Dan. 10:11. That is, a man who is greatly desired, a man accepted both of God and men; thus it states in Dan. 10:3 bread of desires, and vessels of desires, 2 Chron. 20:25, and garments of desires, Gen. 27 on verse 15. Some are of the opinion that Daniel is called a man of desires, because he desired and wished for the deliverance of his people and for the reparation of the temple, and the restoration of the worship of God more than even any man did, as may appear by his prayer and fasting, Daniel 10.
69 Or, this word.
70 Or, learn this vision, that is, learn to understand this prophecy aright which I shall show thee.
2471Seventy 72weeks 73are determined 74upon thy people and upon thy holy city, 75to finish the transgression, and 76to make an end of sins, and 77to make reconciliation for iniquity, and 78to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and 79prophecy, and 80to anoint 81the most Holy.
71 Daniel had only prayed for the deliverance of his people out of Babel, but the Lord grants him not only that, but infinitely more; for, He reveals unto him moreover the time when not only the Jews, but also all His people would be delivered out of the power of the devil, and out of the everlasting damnation by the Messiah.
72 Understand here weeks of years, as Lev. 25:8. Each week of seven years, making together four hundred and ninety years. Now where these four hundred and ninety years begin, and where they end, thereof are different opinions. Some begin them from the first year of the monarchy of Cyrus and end them with the death of Christ, which indeed seems to be the truest and most genuine meaning, from 2 Chron. 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1; Isa. 44:28; 45:13, etc. Yet others begin them from the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus and end them likewise with the death of Christ. Others begin them from the second year of Darius Nothus and end them with the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. Of all which the judicious reader will be able to judge.
73 Namely, of God. Hebr. are hewn off or cut off, that is, appointed, decreed.
74 During which Thy people and Thine holy city shall overcome, that which I will immediately reveal unto thee.
75 Or, to shut up, or, to restrain the transgression. Other, that he (namely, Christ) conclude the transgression, that is, that He may satisfy for the sins of the people, that they may be as it were shut up in prison, so that they may come no more before the face and presence of God.
76 That is, to cover the sins of the elect, that they may not come before the face of God. This Christ has effected by His death. Other, to destroy sins.
77 Namely, by the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross.
78 Hebr. a righteousness of eternities, by which righteousness alone, all, who have ever been justified or shall be justified, are to be justified before God, Heb. 9:12. This righteousness consists in the forgiveness of sins, and the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
79 Hebr. the prophet, namely, the prophecies of the prophets concerning the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that followed thereupon, 1 Peter 1:11, which God revealed unto the prophets in visions.
80 Namely, with the Holy Spirit, that is, as to consecrate and to prepare Him for His soul-saving office.
81 That is, the Lord Christ, Who is the true Holy of holies, for, that in Him are hid all the treasures of holiness and righteousness, and also of the wisdom and knowledge of God, for our good; and that He is the true Ark of the covenant, by Whom God speaks the words of life unto the world; the true Mercyseat through Whom we have reconciliation, etc.
2582Know therefore and understand, that 83from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the 84Messiah 85the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: 86the street shall be built again, and the wall, even 87in troublous times.
82 Our Lord Jesus Christ gives the very same exhortation concerning this prophecy, Mat. 24:15.
83 That is, from that time that a command shall go forth to bring again the people (namely, the people of the Jews), that is, to release them out of the Babylonian captivity and to build Jerusalem again. Understand here by the commandment, the command, as verse 23, the command of Cyrus, according to the opinion of some. See 2 Chron. 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1, and above, the annotation on verse 24 of the beginning of the seventy weeks. Other, to bring again, that is, to restore, namely, the vessels of the temple, which were carried out of the temple to Babel. Other, to restore, namely, the state of the church and of the government.
84 That is, unto Christ; the Hebrew word Messiah (which signifies the very same that Christ does, namely Anointed) is also used in John 1:42; 4:25.
85 Or, leader, as Isa. 55:4, or, ruler, as 2 Sam. 7:8; 2 Kings 20:5
86 Hebr. the street and the ditch. Other, ditch hewn out. Understand this of the city moats.
87 For all that was built on the walls under the government of Ezra, soon after this was pulled down again by the enemies of the Jews, and the gates of the city were burnt with fire. And under the government of Nehemiah they had to build with the trowel in one hand and the sword in the other, Neh. 4:17, wherefore the Jews made such haste, as that they finished the building of the wall in two and fifty days.
26And 88after threescore and two weeks shall Messiahh89be cut off, 90but not for himself: and 91the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and 92the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations 93are determined.
88 Namely, after the 69th week, for, the seven forenamed weeks must of necessity be added to these sixty-two weeks.
h Heb. the Anointed One
89 The Hebrew word signifies sometimes as much as to take away the life of a malefactor. See Lev. 17 on verse 4.
90 That is, not for His own benefit, but for the benefit of His elect, or, not for the sake of His sins. Other, but he shall have no guilt, or, but without his offence; or, without any guilt. Other, and shall have no helper. See Dan. 11:45. Other, and be no more, namely, among men, being taken up to the right hand of His Father. Compare Gen. 5:24.
91 That is, the army of the Romans.
92 Namely, the end which the Roman ruler shall bring unto the people of the Jews. Or, the last thing that he shall do unto the people of the Jews.
93 The meaning is: They are firmly decreed, and the time precisely appointed, when they shall come and when they shall cease. Some understand this thus: Until God’s war against His people shall have an end, the desolations are precisely determined.
27And he shall confirm the covenant with 94many for 95one week: and 96in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation 97to cease, and 98fori the 99overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even 100until the consummation, and 101that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
94 Or, unto excellent ones, namely, unto the elect and believers.
95 That is, seven years, in the midst whereof the Lord Christ is put to death, and in the remainder of the time did the apostles administer the Gospel of Christ unto the Jews.
96 Namely, in the midst of the 70th week.
97 Namely, by His death, which is a sacrifice and offering, whereby all the saints are sanctified forever, for which all the Levitical sacrifices are vanished, as the shadow is vanished before the sun. For, though they continued yet a little while after the ascension of Christ, yet immediately with His death all their lawfulness and usefulness ceased.
98 Hebr. over the wing of detestations or abominations. Understand the abominable pagan Roman soldiery (Mat. 24:15), over whom there shall be a commander who shall procure this desolation by the just judgment of God.
i Mat. 24:15; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:20.
99 Or, bands. See Ezek. 12 on verse 14.
100 See the annotation at Jer. 4 on verse 27.
101 See Isa. 28 on verse 22.