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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 In the first year of Darius, son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who hath been made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans, |
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| 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, have understood by books the number of the years, (in that a word of Jehovah hath been unto Jeremiah the prophet,) concerning the fulfilling of the wastes of Jerusalem seventy years; |
Understood by books – By Jer. 25:11; Jer 29:10 and 2 Chron. 36 B64, B191
Accomplish seventy years – We cannot make seventy years desolation of the land into fifty-one years' desolation for the sake of harmony with Ptolemy. R3437:3
Desolations of Jerusalem – Seventy years of desolation, not of captivity. R1976:1,4, R3437:3
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| 3 and I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek [by] prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. |
To seek by prayer – His earnestness and faith in the promises pleased God, who therefore revealed to him something more concerning the vision. C106
With fasting – We have good New Testament precedent for the observance of literal fasts. R2022:4
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| 4 And I pray to Jehovah my God, and confess, and say: 'I beseech Thee, O Lord God, the great and the fearful, keeping the covenant and the kindness to those loving Him, and to those keeping His commands; |
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| 5 we have sinned, and done perversely, and done wickedly, and rebelled, to turn aside from Thy commands, and from Thy judgments: |
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| 6 and we have not hearkened unto Thy servants, the prophets, who have spoken in Thy name unto our kings, our heads, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. |
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| 7 'To Thee, O Lord, [is] the righteousness, and to us the shame of face, as [at] this day, to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, in all the lands whither Thou hast driven them, in their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee. |
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| 8 'O Lord, to us [is] the shame of face, to our kings, to our heads, and to our fathers, in that we have sinned against Thee. |
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| 9 'To the Lord our God [are] the mercies and the forgivenesses, for we have rebelled against Him, |
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| 10 and have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah our God, to walk in His laws, that He hath set before us by the hand of His servants the prophets; |
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| 11 and all Israel have transgressed Thy law, to turn aside so as not to hearken to Thy voice; and poured on us is the execration, and the oath, that is written in the law of Moses, servant of God, because we have sinned against Him. |
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| 12 'And He confirmeth His words that He hath spoken against us, and against our judges who have judged us, to bring in upon us great evil, in that it hath not been done under the whole heavens as it hath been done in Jerusalem, |
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| 13 as it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil hath come upon us, and we have not appeased the face of Jehovah our God to turn back from our iniquities, and to act wisely in Thy truth. |
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| 14 And Jehovah doth watch for the evil, and bringeth it upon us, for righteous [is] Jehovah our God concerning all His works that He hath done, and we have not hearkened to His voice. |
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| 15 And now, O Lord our God, who hast brought forth Thy people from the land of Egypt by a strong hand, and dost make for Thee a name as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. |
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| 16 'O Lord, according to all Thy righteous acts, let turn back, I pray Thee, Thine anger and Thy fury from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mount, for by our sins, and by the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people [are] for a reproach to all our neighbours; |
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| 17 and now, hearken, O our God, unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto his supplication, and cause Thy face to shine on Thy sanctuary that [is] desolate, for the Lord's sake. |
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| 18 'Incline, O my God, Thine ear, and hear, open Thine eyes and see our desolations, and the city on which Thy name is called; for not for our righteous acts are we causing our supplications to fall before Thee, but for Thy mercies that [are] many. |
For thy great mercies – Pray, trusting in God's love and mercy. R5380:5*
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| 19 O lord, hear, O Lord, forgive; O Lord, attend and do; do not delay, for Thine own sake, O my God, for Thy name is called on Thy city, and on Thy people.' |
For thine own sake – Pray, pleading God's glory. R5380:6*, R5381:1*
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| 20 And while I am speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and causing my supplication to fall before Jehovah my God, for the holy mount of my God, |
Speaking, and praying – Let us be encouraged to pray always and not to faint when the answers seem to tarry long. R1866:4
Confessing my sin – How many prayers are hindered because the one who asks does not first purify himself. R1866:4, R2022:5
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| 21 yea, while I am speaking in prayer, then that one Gabriel, whom I had seen in vision at the commencement, being caused to fly swiftly, is coming unto me at the time of the evening present. |
Speaking in prayer – Concerning the vision of 2300 days which Daniel misunderstood to mean a prolongation of the 70 years captivity of fleshly Israel in Babylon. C106
Vision at the beginning – In the vision of 8:16, referring him back to tha HG88:1
Touched me – Spiritual beings can appear as common men with fleshly bodies, as did Christ after his resurrection. HG29:3
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| 22 And he giveth understanding, and speaketh with me, and saith, 'O Daniel, now I have come forth to cause thee to consider understanding wisely; |
To give thee skill – To teach thee. C107
And understanding – That thou mayest understand. C107
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| 23 at the commencement of thy supplications hath the word come forth, and I have come to declare [it], for thou [art] greatly desired, and understand thou concerning the matter, and consider concerning the appearance. |
At the beginning – Not the end, but at the beginning of our supplications, God begins to shape circumstances to work out blessings for us. R1866:4
The commandment – The further declaration of God's plan, now being communicated. C107
To shew thee – To tell it. C107
The matter – This further matter. C107
Consider the vision – Have understanding of the vision of the 2300 days. C107
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| 24 'Seventy weeks are determined for thy people, and for thy holy city, to shut up the transgression, and to seal up sins, and to cover iniquity, and to bring in righteousness age-during, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies. |
Seventy weeks – Seventy literal weeks would be 490 days; seventy symbolic weeks would be 490 years. B65; C107; R600:4
490 years specifically set apart as a period of favor to the Jewish nation. R4344:2, R2620:5, R2657:5, R4842:2, R5470:3, R5836:5, R19:6
Ended 3 ½ years after the death of Christ; after which the Gospel privileges were open to the Gentiles, Cornelius being the first convert. R1451:2, R2811:6, R5963:6, R5163:2; Q150:3
Divine favor to Israelites must and did continue to them down to the full end of the 70 weeks, although national favor ceased 3 ½ years earlier, in the midst of the 70th week. R2620:5, R2931:2, R5963:6
Are determined – Marked off, cut off, or set apart as a part of the 2300 days or years. C107; B65
Upon thy people – Israel. C107; HG66:1
Provided and foretold for "Israelites indeed." R4504:3
Upon thy holy city – Jerusalem. C107
An end of sins – "He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Heb. 9:26) B68
To those whose iniquities were reconciled for by our Redeemer's sacrifice. R4504:5
Reconciliation – The iniquities of the Church were cancelled at the heavenly Mercy Seat when Jesus "ascended upon high" (Eph. 4:8); unbelievers are still unr R4504:5
Complete, from God's standpoint, since Christ's death. R37:2
Does not contradict the plain statement of other Scriptures that the great work of reconciliation is divided into two parts-- the first for the Church and the second for the world. R4504:6
Righteousness – Everlasting justification from sin instead of the typical yearly justification accomplished by the types for the typical people, Israel. B68, B65
And to seal up – To set a seal upon Daniel as a true prophet, and upon all his prophecies. C107
By making an end of sin and bringing in everlasting righteousness. R3115:1
By the blood of the covenant. B69
The vision – Of the 2300 days, by fulfilling the first part of it. C107
And prophecy – And the prophet Daniel, by showing him to be a true prophet. C107
Anoint – Anointed by the holy Spirit at Pentecost. R4344:3, R4504:3
The most Holy – The holy remnant of the Jewish nation, the purest and fittest. B70
Israelites indeed. R4504:3, R5950:6
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| 25 And thou dost know, and dost consider wisely, from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem till Messiah the Leader [is] seven weeks, and sixty and two weeks: the broad place hath been built again, and the rampart, even in the distress of the times. |
Know therefore – The learned might have known the time of its fulfilment from this prophecy, but for the masses, the evidence was simply and only the signs of the times. R748:3, R629:2
The going forth – 454 BC, according to the chronologies of Dr. Hale and Dr. Priestlie. B67
Rollins, in his "Ancient History of the Medes and Persians," agrees with the date of 454 BC. R3575:4*
1845 years (the length of the Jewish "double") prior to 1391 AD when Hus, the reformer, became acquainted with the works of Wycliffe and continued the Reformation work. From the work of Hus in 1391 to the invention of printing in 1440 AD was 49 years, or seven weeks of years. This explains the peculiar manner in which the 69 weeks are mentioned in this verse, as "7" and "62." R3575:6*, R3577:1*
The decree of Cyrus, although issued in BC 536, did not go forth until the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, but lay concealed in the treasure house of the kings of Persia. (See Ezra 6:1-3) HG105:5
The beginning of the 70 weeks was so obscure and indefinite that the Jews did not know positively when to expect Messiah. R2132:4
To build Jerusalem – Not the Temple. B65, B67
To build its walls, in the 20th year of Artaxerxes (Neh. 2:1) and not the time of Ezra's R3575:4*; B67
Unto the Messiah – Signifies "The Anointed." Jesus was not the Anointed until his baptism. B66; R600:4
While many prophecies combine to fix and confirm the date of the second coming of Christ, this one alone marked the date of his first advent. B64
The Prince – Highly exalted. OV118:4
Seven weeks – Marked specially events connected with the Temple. R2811:6
Threescore and two – Totaling 69 weeks of years, or 483 years, ending Autumn 29 AD. B66
Reaching to the baptism of Jesus where he was Christ-ened, or more properly, in English, Anointed, manifest as the Messiah. R47:2*
When Jesus was baptized in Jordan; at the beginning of the last seven years of that period. R189:5, R4344:2
In troublous times – Under unfavorable circumstances, as recorded by Nehemiah. (Neh. 4) B65
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| 26 And after the sixty and two weeks, cut off is Messiah, and the city and the holy place are not his, the Leader who hath come doth destroy the people; and its end [is] with a flood, and till the end [is] war, determined [are] desolations.
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And after – But not immediately after, R47:2*
Three and one-half years after. B68
Threescore and two – (Seven) and 62, or 69 weeks, 483 years. B67
The end of the 62 weeks following the first seven was to mark Messiah's appearance. R2811:6
Messiah be cut off – Be slain (Douay), die. B68; R271:6, R562:4, R600:4, R3630:2
In the middle of the last seven years. R4344:3, R3630:2; Q107:2
"He was cut off out of the land of the living; (not for himself) for the transgression of my people was he stricken." (Isa. 53:8) R47:2*
But not for himself – Not for his own sins. R4344:3, R1359:4
"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:3) R393:4, R271:6
"He was wounded for our transgressions." (Isa. 53:5) R600:4, R1359:4, R1394:5
"The just for the unjust." (1 Pet. 3:18) R1359:4
One of the many prophecies which indicate that the Bible is a divine revelation. A58
Variously rendered in other translations, but in our opinion, the Authorized Version is the clearest and best rendering. B68
Of the prince – Titus, the Roman General. B63
Be with a flood – Like a flood. B71
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| 27 And he hath strengthened a covenant with many one week, and [in] the midst of the week he causeth sacrifice and present to cease, and by the wing of abominations he is making desolate, even till the consummation, and that which is determined is poured on the desolate one.' |
And he – Messiah, Christ. B63; R197:5, R1359:4, R1394:5, R2931:2, R5163:1
Confirm the covenant – Seventy weeks' agreement. R600:4, R2657:5; Q195:2
The disciples were not suffered to preach to the world in general until the seven years of harvest work to that Jewish people was fully accomplished. R263:6, R600:4
It was in the last half of the 70th week, three and a half years after the cross, that the great work was done amongst the Jews. Q107:2
With many – Individuals of the castoff system. Thus Jesus, telling his disciples to preach to "all nations," was particular to add, "beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47) C170
During the remaining three and a half years the favor was increased, though confined to the remnant, the most holy, the purest, or fittest, whom alone could benefit. B70
For one week – Seven years. R263:6, R289:4, R562:4, R2811:6, R5163:2
The entire "seventieth week," from the beginning of our Lord's ministry until Cornelius, was set apart by God's arrangement for the Jewish trial. C170
The 70th or last week of the covenant of favor, from the beginning of our Lord's ministry, October AD 29, to the conversion of Cornelius, October AD 36, 3 ½ years after Christ's death. B58, B63, B71; R5163:2, R189:6, R1451:2, R5048:6, R5470:3, R5836:5, R4344:3; Q195:2; HG117:5; HG354:5
Seven years of favor-trial and separation of "Israelites indeed" from nominal Israel; a parallel of the trial and separation of the Christians indeed (entirely consecrated) from the nominal church of professors. R247:5, R2811:6
Furnishing a typical representation of a similar testing of the nominal gospel church during seven corresponding years from 1874 to 1881 AD. C171, C216; B235; Q150:2-4, Q156:1-3
And In the midst – After 3 ½ years. B68; R2811:6, R2931:2
His death, at the Passover, about April I would place his birth thirty three and a half years earlier, in the month of October. B58
Of the week – Of the 70th week, 3 ½ years before its full end in 36 AD. C108; R4842:2
He shall cause – By introducing the better sacrifice. B65
The sacrifice – The typical sacrifices of the Law. B68
Oblation to cease – When the true sacrifice had been made, the typical ones were no lonqer recognized. A223; B65, B68; R5163:3, R271:6, R189:5
And for – Or, because of. B64
The overspreading – Because abominations would prevail. D571
Abominations – Fleshly Israel's religion became an abomination after their repudiation of Christ. D571
He shall – Messiah shall. B64
Make it desolate – The termination of God's special exclusive favor to Israel, marked by the spirit-begetting of Cornelius. R4344:3
"Wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." (1 Thes. 2:10) R1702:2
Secular history estimates the trouble that came upon Israel within 40 years of our Lord's death as the most awful that had thus far occured amongst men. R1702:2, R2787:3
The consummation – Or completion, the full end of the Jewish "double" or period of disfavor. B64, B71
Or, utter destruction. R5950:6
Seven years of favor was followed by 33 years of trouble, called fire; paralleled by seven years to 1881 AD, followed by trouble, called "fire," which will consume the dross of Babylon and purify God's children in and contaminated by her. R289:5
And that determined – And that which is determined in God's plan. B64; D571
Until all that God had predetermined shall be accomplished. R5950:6
Upon the desolate – Or, cast off people. B72
The desolate people, the rejected nation, represented by Jerusalem. B64; D571
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