Brit-Am Biblical Commentaries
The Book
of
DANIEL
Wisdom
and
Prophecy:
Daniel Sets an Undeciphered
Time-Table
We Must Study the Prophets
Daniel-9
[Daniel 9:1] IN THE FIRST YEAR OF DARIUS THE SON OF AHASUERUS, OF THE SEED OF THE MEDES, WHICH WAS MADE KING OVER THE REALM OF THE CHALDEANS;
[Daniel 9:2] IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS REIGN I DANIEL UNDERSTOOD BY BOOKS THE NUMBER OF THE YEARS, WHEREOF THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JEREMIAH THE PROPHET, THAT HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH SEVENTY YEARS IN THE DESOLATIONS OF JERUSALEM.
There are different ways to understand this verse and various resolutions of questions raised.
AND THIS WHOLE LAND SHALL BE A DESOLATION, AND AN ASTONISHMENT; AND THESE NATIONS SHALL SERVE THE KING OF BABYLON SEVENTY YEARS [Jeremiah 25:11].
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 WILL MAKE IT PERPETUAL DESOLATIONS [Jeremiah 25:12].
Hoffman says that according to conventional dating from the time of Exile (586 BCE) to the time when the Second Temple was inaugurated (516 BCE) there transpired 70 years even though some of the Exiles had returned after only 50 years of Exile.
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, THAT AFTER SEVENTY YEARS BE ACCOMPLISHED AT BABYLON I WILL VISIT YOU, AND PERFORM MY GOOD WORD TOWARD YOU, IN CAUSING YOU TO RETURN TO THIS PLACE [Jeremiah 29:10].
[Daniel 9:3] AND I SET MY FACE UNTO THE LORD GOD, TO SEEK BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATIONS, WITH FASTING, AND SACKCLOTH, AND ASHES:
We should pray for ourselves and for our nations. Even if it appears that our prayers are unanswered they are heard and have an effect and sometimes the answer does come straight away. Sometimes it does not, but the prayer is always heard.
[Daniel 9:4] AND I PRAYED UNTO THE LORD MY GOD, AND MADE MY CONFESSION, AND SAID, O LORD, THE GREAT AND DREADFUL GOD, KEEPING THE COVENANT AND MERCY TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM, AND TO THEM THAT KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS;
Those such as the Jews who are bound by the Commandments should keep them. In our days people of Israelite descent often experience an awakening to their own need to keep the Law even though technically they are not obliged to do so. In our opinion this is a positive phenomenon but others may disagree.
[Daniel 9:5] WE HAVE SINNED, AND HAVE COMMITTED INIQUITY, AND HAVE DONE WICKEDLY, AND HAVE REBELLED, EVEN BY DEPARTING FROM THY PRECEPTS AND FROM THY JUDGMENTS:
[Daniel 9:6] NEITHER HAVE WE HEARKENED UNTO THY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS, WHICH SPAKE IN THY NAME TO OUR KINGS, OUR PRINCES, AND OUR FATHERS, AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND.
The words of the Prophets were directed to all Israel. One cannot say that since at present the Lost Ten Tribes are technically not (at least temporarily) bound by the law then the words of the Prophets do not apply to them. This is wrong. The Prophets at times spoke directly to the Lost Ten Tribes in their places of exile as pointed out frequently in the Brit-Am Commentaries to Books of the Bible. We are obliged to listen to the Prophets and this means reading the Bible and taking to heart its message. This also applies to our leaders even more than it does to us.
Learning Scripture and taking to heart in particular those portions of the Biblical message especially directed to the Lost Ten Tribes is a duty. Part of this duty includes supporting Brit-Am since we help explain Biblical Passages that apply to "Joseph" as well as to "Judah".
[Daniel 9:7] O LORD, RIGHTEOUSNESS BELONGETH UNTO THEE, BUT UNTO 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.
<<UNTO ALL ISRAEL. Malbim: "These are the Ten Tribes who were exiled in the days of Sancherib, THAT ARE NEAR, AND THAT ARE FAR OFF, whether they who were exiled to a place near by meaning Judah and Jerusalem, or whether the Ten tribes who are far off they were ashamed THROUGH ALL THE COUNTRIES because they had been punished.>>
[Daniel 9:8] O LORD, TO US BELONGETH CONFUSION OF FACE, TO OUR KINGS, TO OUR PRINCES, AND TO OUR FATHERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THEE.
[Daniel 9:9] TO THE LORD OUR GOD BELONG MERCIES AND FORGIVENESSES, THOUGH WE HAVE REBELLED AGAINST HIM;
[Daniel 9:10] NEITHER HAVE WE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD OUR GOD, TO WALK IN HIS LAWS, WHICH HE SET BEFORE US BY HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS.
[Daniel 9:11] YEA, ALL ISRAEL HAVE TRANSGRESSED THY LAW, EVEN BY DEPARTING, THAT THEY MIGHT NOT OBEY THY VOICE; THEREFORE THE CURSE IS POURED UPON US, AND THE OATH THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES THE SERVANT OF GOD, BECAUSE WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST HIM.
Several times in the First Five Books of the Bible (Pentateuch in Hebrew: "Chumash") written by Moses we find curses pronounced against they who do not keep the Law.
After the children of Israel crossed the Jordan they came to the mountains of Eibal and Gerizim. On these mountains the tribes split up into two sections with the Levites in the middle and a series of blessings and curses were read out and affirmed by all the Tribes. Rashi [Deuteronomy 27:24] quotes from Moshe Hadarshan that at this assembly between the mountains, 11 curses were uttered against the 11 tribes who were there (since the tribe of Levi was not counted). Commentators (Abarbanel 14371508, Mei HaShiloach - Rabbi Mordechai Yosef of Izbitza 1800-1854) said that each curse was enunciated against a specific tribe. Mei HaShiloach (as quoted by Fishel Miel) says that each tribe had a peculiar weakness of its own that it needs to guard against according to its nature.
[Daniel 9:12] AND HE HATH CONFIRMED HIS WORDS, WHICH HE SPAKE AGAINST US, AND AGAINST OUR JUDGES THAT JUDGED US, BY BRINGING UPON US A GREAT EVIL: FOR UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN HATH NOT BEEN DONE AS HATH BEEN DONE UPON JERUSALEM.
[Daniel 9:13] AS IT IS WRITTEN IN 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 THY TRUTH.
[Daniel 9:14] THEREFORE HATH THE LORD WATCHED UPON THE 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.
[Daniel 9:15] AND NOW, O LORD OUR GOD, THAT HAST BROUGHT THY PEOPLE FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT WITH A MIGHTY HAND, AND HAST GOTTEN THEE RENOWN, AS AT THIS DAY; WE HAVE SINNED, WE HAVE DONE WICKEDLY.
[Daniel 9:16] O LORD, ACCORDING TO ALL THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, I BESEECH THEE, LET THINE ANGER AND THY FURY BE TURNED AWAY FROM THY CITY JERUSALEM, THY HOLY MOUNTAIN: BECAUSE FOR OUR SINS, AND FOR THE INIQUITIES OF OUR FATHERS, JERUSALEM AND THY PEOPLE ARE BECOME A REPROACH TO ALL THAT ARE ABOUT US.
The God of Israel is recognized through Jerusalem and through Judah. This is the message of the Prophets. The Ten Tribes have virtues and blessings of their own but in some matters the emphasis is on Judah.
[Daniel 9:17] NOW THEREFORE, O OUR GOD, HEAR THE PRAYER OF THY SERVANT, AND HIS SUPPLICATIONS, AND CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE UPON THY SANCTUARY THAT IS DESOLATE, FOR THE LORD'S SAKE.
<<THY SANCTUARY THAT IS DESOLATE>>: Even though the Temple Mount is desolated and now occupied by Arab buildings that include places of prayer alongside public toilets, a school for boys, and sundry other Moslem edifices it is still the Property of Israel. It is the site of the Temple of the God of Israel. We all have a certain responsibility towards it.
[Daniel 9:18] O MY GOD, INCLINE THINE EAR, AND HEAR; OPEN THINE EYES, AND BEHOLD OUR DESOLATIONS, AND THE CITY WHICH IS CALLED BY THY NAME: FOR WE DO NOT PRESENT OUR SUPPLICATIONS BEFORE THEE FOR OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES, BUT FOR THY GREAT MERCIES.
[Daniel 9:19] O LORD, HEAR; O LORD, FORGIVE; O LORD, HEARKEN AND DO; DEFER NOT, FOR THINE OWN SAKE, O MY GOD: FOR THY CITY AND THY PEOPLE ARE CALLED BY THY NAME.
Those who war against the Jewish people war against the God of Israel. The Nazis wanted to remove the name of Israel from off the face of the earth. They were against the God of Israel. Islam acknowledges God but seeks to impose its will on the Almighty and interpose the Muslim Peoples as the Chosen instead of Israel. "Islam" means submission and Islam will submit to any power that seems stronger than itself. Israel means "Strive with God". Israel is an active force in this world, an agent of the Almighty, and in a sense a junior partner alongside the Almighty to do HIS will in this world.
[Daniel 9:20] AND WHILES I WAS SPEAKING, AND 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;
[Daniel 9:21] YEA, WHILES I WAS SPEAKING IN PRAYER, EVEN THE MAN GABRIEL, WHOM I HAD SEEN IN THE VISION AT THE BEGINNING, BEING CAUSED TO FLY SWIFTLY, TOUCHED ME ABOUT THE TIME OF THE EVENING OBLATION.
[Daniel 9:22] AND HE INFORMED ME, AND TALKED WITH ME, AND SAID, O DANIEL, I AM NOW COME FORTH TO GIVE THEE SKILL AND UNDERSTANDING.
[Daniel 9:23] AT THE BEGINNING OF THY SUPPLICATIONS THE COMMANDMENT CAME FORTH, AND I AM COME TO SHEW THEE; FOR THOU ART GREATLY BELOVED: THEREFORE UNDERSTAND THE MATTER, AND CONSIDER THE VISION.
[Daniel 9:24] SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED UPON THY PEOPLE AND UPON THY HOLY CITY, TO FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION, AND TO MAKE AN END OF SINS, AND TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY, AND TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TO SEAL UP THE VISION AND PROPHECY, AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY.
[Daniel 9:25] KNOW THEREFORE AND UNDERSTAND, THAT FROM THE GOING FORTH OF THE COMMANDMENT TO RESTORE AND TO BUILD JERUSALEM UNTO THE MESSIAH THE PRINCE SHALL BE SEVEN WEEKS, AND THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS: THE STREET SHALL BE BUILT AGAIN, AND THE WALL, EVEN IN TROUBLOUS TIMES.
Different Commentators identified this person "MESSIAH THE PRINCE" differently, e.g. Cyrus (who was also called "Messiah" Isaiah 44:28 45:1) who sent part of the Exiles to Jerusalem and began the rebuilding of the City and Temple. Nehemiah is also a candidate and all kinds of reckonings are made concerning the number of weeks which we are not going to go into.
[Daniel 9:26] AND AFTER THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS SHALL MESSIAH BE CUT OFF, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF: AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE THAT SHALL COME SHALL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE SANCTUARY; AND THE END THEREOF SHALL BE WITH A FLOOD, AND UNTO THE END OF THE WAR DESOLATIONS ARE DETERMINED.
<<MESSIAH>>: In Hebrew "Mashiach" meaning "Anointed One". This according to some Commentators refers to one of the High Priests or later Kings of Judah such as Agrippus. Other possibilities exist. Rabbi Saadia explained it to mean all Messiahs i.e. all anointed ones, anointed ones in general, all sanctified priests and rulers.
[Daniel 9:27] AND HE SHALL CONFIRM THE COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK: AND IN THE MIDST OF THE WEEK HE SHALL CAUSE THE SACRIFICE AND THE OBLATION TO CEASE, AND FOR THE OVERSPREADING OF ABOMINATIONS HE SHALL MAKE IT DESOLATE, EVEN UNTIL THE CONSUMMATION, AND THAT DETERMINED SHALL BE POURED UPON THE DESOLATE.
These verses are also applicable to future events leading up to the Messianic Age.
God willing we will return to this matter at another time.