Daniel 9

Daniel 9:1

THe first year] After Daniel had been taken out of the Lions den, and caused Gods truth to be advanced generally, he prayeth for Jerusalem.

of Darius] Chap. 11. 1.

which] Or, in which he, &c.

the realm of the Chaldeans] For Cyrus, led with ambition, went about warres in other Countreys, and therefore Darius had the title of the Kingdom, though Cyrus was King in effect.

Daniel 9:2

understood by books] For though he was an excellent Prophet, yet he daily encreased in knowledge by reading of the Scriptures.

Jeremiah the Prophet] Jeremiah 29:10.

the desolations of Jerusalem] Daniel hath the very Hebrew terme of Jeremy. Chorboth; and by Jeremy he must be expounded, Jeremiah 25:11. And this land shall become Chorboth (that is, a wildernesse) and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the King of Babel 70 years Properly the utter ruine of Jerusalem was but 52 years, but he termeth all Jerusalems state in the captivity, by a terme in strict propriety true onely in the greater part, sending the reader to Jeremie for the full meaning. God in Moses, Leviticus 26:34. useth the same Synecdoche and short specch, whom the holy man delighted to follow.

Daniel 9:3

unto the Lord God] That is, towards heaven, or towards Jerusalem, the City chosen by him for a place of his presence, Daniel 6:10.

to seek by prayer] Ezekiel 36:37. He speaketh not of that ordinary prayer which he used in his house thrice a day, but of a rare and vehement prayer, lest their sinnes should cause God to delay the time of their deliverance, prophesied by Jeremiah.

Daniel 9:4

O Lord] Exodus 32. 31. Deuteronomy 7:9. Nehem. 1. 5.

the great and dreadfull God] That is, hast all power in thy self to execute thy terrible judgements against obstinate sinners, as thou art rich in mercy to comfort them which obey thy Word, and love thee.

Daniel 9:5

We have sinned] Psalms 106:6. Baruch 1. 17. He keepeth even the very letters of Solomons prayer, 1 Kings 8. 47.

Daniel 9:7

righteousnesse] He sheweth that whensoever God punisheth, he doth it for just cause; and thus the godly never accuse him of rigour as the wicked do, but acknowledge that in themselves there is just cause why he should so intreate them.

belongeth] Or, thou hast, &c.

Daniel 9:8

to us belongeth confusion] Baruch 1. 15.

our kings] He doth not excuse the Kings because of their authority, but prayeth chiefly for them as the chief occasions of these great plagues.

Daniel 9:9

To the Lord] Thou hast a large subject to exercise thy infinite mercy, which is as it were the Queen of thy perfections; whereunto we now betake our selves, and not to thy justice, in this our height of iniquity; Or, having sinned so excessively as we confsse we have, to thee it belongs to use mercy and forgivenesse, for thou alone hast power to do it, vers. 18. .

Daniel 9:10

the voice of the LORD] He sheweth, that they rebell against him, which serve him not according to his commandment and word.

Daniel 9:11

the curse is powred upon us] As Deuteronomy 27:15. or the curse confirmed by an oath.

law of Moses] Levit. 26. 14, &c. Deuteronomy 28:15, &c. and 29. 20, &c. and 30. 17. 18. and 31. 17, &c. and 32. 19, &c. Jeremiah 42:18.

Daniel 9:12

hath not been done] This may be the abridgement of Jeremiahs Lamentations.

Daniel 9:13

it is written in the law] Levit. 26. 14, &c. Deuteronomy 28:15. Lamentations 2:17.

made we not our prayer before the LORD] Heb. intreated we not the face of the LORD.

understand thy truth] Endeavouring for true repentance according to thy Word, by means whereof we might have been partakers of the fruit of thy holy promises.

Daniel 9:14

watched upon the evil] His providence hath been attentive to bring it in the prefixed time, and instant. See Jerem. 1. 12. and 31. 28. and 44. 27. 2 Peter 2:3.

Daniel 9:15

hast brought thy people] Leviticus 26:45.

gotten thee renown] Heb. made thee a name. Exodus 14:18.

Daniel 9:16

all thy righteousnesse] That is, according to all thy mercifull promises, and fatherly equitie to thy poor children, cruelly dealt with by the enemies for causes unjust. See Psal. 31. 1, 2.

thy citie Jerusalem] Isaiah 52:1.

are become a reproach] Psalms 44:14. and Psalms 79:4.

Daniel 9:17

cause thy face to shine] Shew by the effect thy grace and favour, which like a vivifying and chearing Sunne may disperse all these mists of extreme desolations. The blessing of the high-sacrificer is in the same speech, Numbers 6:25. Psalms 80. 7. 19.

for the Lords sake] For thine own sake; or, as some others, for the promised Messias and Mediatours sake.

Daniel 9:18

encline thine car] Daniels Hebrew hath the very letters of Hezekia’s prayer. Esa. 37. 17.

which is called by thy name] Heb. whereupon thy name is called.

present our supplications] Heb. cause to fall.

our righteousnesses] Dclaring that the godly flee onely unto Gods mercies, and renounce their own works, when they seek for remission of their sinnes.

Daniel 9:19

for thy citie and thy people are called by thy name] In Hebrew, for thy name is called upon thy citie and upon thy people. That is, they are and professe themselves to be thine, and do bear the badges and marks of it. The Jews at this day repeat on their expiation feast, this prayer often, in Cether Malcuth, a book of their common prayers; but stop their ears against the Angels words from God, touching Christ the true worker of this expiation 490 years exactly from the time of this prayer, as appears vers. 24. where our tottering the meaning of it, hath furthered the Jews destruction, and more hardened their hearts.

Daniel 9:21

Gabriel] Chap. 8. 16. When this Angel Gabriel telleth Zachary of his name Gabriel, and is sent unto Mary, he calleth them to think upon this text; that by conference of Moses, Num. 4. and Daniel here, they might better consider the time of the promise.

swiftly] Heb. with wearinesse, or flight.

touched me] Chap. 8. 18. In token of incouragement to hear these mysteries, and of infusion of new divine vertue to understand them, and to keep them in memory, and of comfort in these promises.

the time of the evening oblation] Exodus 29:39. Numbers 28:4. Oblation had with it prayer, and evening prayer time was at their ninth hour, our three of the Clock, as appeareth by Acts 3:1. at the same hour the Lord made himself that oblation, which here the Angel telleth, even most exactly when it should be performed.

Daniel 9:22

skill and understanding] Heb. skill of understanding. This oration containeth an abridgement of the New Testament, and a light of the Old, and Daniel knew all afore but the time, which bringeth a greater clearnss unto all: Therefore the time considered with the matter, is that which he calleth here the skill of understanding; and it must be counted a great errour to hold that a small matter, and specially the disanulling of Gods truth, by heathen forged, most vaine and jarring antiquities, to make from Babels fall to Tiberius eighteen, wherein our Lord died 590. against the expresse 490. which the Angel counteth to be wisdome which he speaketh of: yet old Greeks did so.

Daniel 9:23

commandment] Heb. word. God hath revealed to us Angels, and to me especially the secret of his counsell concerning the restauration of Jerusalem, and the duration thereof, even to the Messiah, and hath sent me to declare it unto thee. See Daniel 10:12.

greatly beloved] Heb. a man of desires: Singularly beloved of God, and favoured with his grace, Daniel 10:11; Daniel 10:19. Chamudoth, is the most amiable term of any which can be given. As the attribute is, so is the matter here, full of grace. And when the Angel spake to the blessed virgin in Hebrew, he could not speak better then Bath Chamudoth; daughter tendred as Daniel. God prevented our self-worship, in giving Mry no terms but such as others had; that we should not intreat noveltie in religion; so we read desirable raiment, Genesis 27:15. and bread of desire, Daniel 10:3. and 2 Chronicles 25. vessels of desires.

understand the matter] By this command doubled for vehementer charge he condemneth the world, that regardeth not to be instructed in this doctrine, sent from heaven by an Angel unto Daniel, and penned for all nations use: wherefore we must give better heed unto the speech, lest we-flow and fall: for if the word spoken by Angels fall out sure, and every trespasse received just recompence, how shall we escape, neglecting so great a charge of looking to our own salvation

Daniel 9:24

to finish the transgression] Or, to restrain. The following blessings come by the Messias, he shall satisfie for the sins of the world by his death, and shall establish the true righteousnesse of the Gospel which shall remain for ever, through which all beleevers shall be absolved and justified, and by his Spirit be regenerate to a new and godly life, and he shall be consecrated and made an everlasting King at the right hand of God his Father, having obtained the fulnesse of Gods Spirit, as Head of his Church. And after all this the citie and nation shall be destroyed by the Romanes.

to make an end] Or, to seal up.

and to seal up the vision] Our Lord expoundeth this place, saying, that the Law and Prophets reach unto John, Matthew 11:13. Also Maimony from the Jews common consent saith, that all the Prophets prophefied but unto the dayes of the Messiah: that speech of theirs must be taken hence. See 2 Corinthians 1:20.

prophesie] Heb. prophet.

and to anoint the most holy] Heb. the holinesse of holinesse. That is to say, he that is holinesse it self, and in whom consists all the Churches holinesse; who is in spirit and truth, that which the Arke, the Propitiatory, the Altar, and the Sanctuary, which were called most holy things, and consecrated by unction, Exodus 30:26. and were so but in shadow and figure.

Daniel 9:25

unto the Messiah] The eternall Word is by an Angel named Messiah, that is in Greeke, Christ, and the time of his death being told in vers. 24. to be after seven seventies, in this verse, those sevens are divided into three parts, first into seven: secondly, sixtie two: thirdly, one seven. And he joyneth proper stories to the first and last part of the division.

shall be seven weeks] Of years, which are nine and fortie years from Cyrus his decree, untill such time as the wals of Jerusalem were finished by Nehemiah. In which time the citie and Temple were built. That was 46 from Cyrus third, when Daniel mourned for the hinderance of it. Daniel 10:1-2. To which time we may referre that 46 years, John 2:20. Doctor Willet on Daniel 9. quest. 59.

threescore and two weeks] These 62. sevens, which make 434 years from the restauration of Jerusalem, are parcelled alone only, that the last seven may be handled alone, for our Lords storie.

the street shall be built again] Heb. shall return and be built. When was this performed? This belongeth to the first partition, and was accomplished within the first seven sevens, that is, by the 49 yeare after the grant by Cyrus for Israels return to build the house of God and the Citie.

wall] Or, breach, or ditch.

even in troublous times] Heb. in strait of times. See Ezra and Nehemiah for the troubles of this time.

Daniel 9:26

And after threescore and two weeks] That is, in the last seven, and in the last half of that seven Christ shall come and preach and suffer death: for in three years and an half he finished his publique office. The testament was ratified by the death of Christ, Hebrews 9:17. from the eighth year of Joshuah, therefore this last weeke endeth in Christs death, and in the 28 Jubile.

Messiah be cut off] Put to death by the Jews, and in their opinion quite destroyed, without any hope of restoring.

but not for himself] Or, and shall have nothing. Being brought to nothing by his death, without life, strength or any dignitie in appearance, Psalms 22:6. Isaiah 53:2-3. Philippians 2:3. Others, there being nothing in him, namely, no cause or fault, Isaiah 53:4. 9. Or there being nothing therein for him, that is to say, all being done for the good and redemption of mankinde, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

and the people of the prince that shall come] Or, the citie and holy place shall he destroy, the governours people to come. The Romans under Titus, shall destroy Citie and Sanctuary. Or it may be read, citie and holy place shall he destroy, the governours people to come: That is, Christ the King to whom the Father hath given all judgement, was upon this to destroy the Jews, the Kings own Nation, Citie and Sanctuary, in the next generation. Of that Christ foretold them, that their place should be desolate, Matth. 24. and of the proper token, Luke 21:20. and referreth men to Daniel 9. wherein Gabriel teacheth the full doctrin touching Christ, and of the destruction of the Jews. The Lord closely limited the time, Matthew 24:34. By the most mens account it was fortie years: so it falleth a day for a yeare for misbeleeving the resurrection.

and the end thereof shall be with a floud] That is, a most severe deluge of Gods judgements, to the overthrow of that people; and their policie, shall promiscuously carry all before it, as prevailing waters. The Romane army under the Captain or Emperour Titus Vespasian effected all this; See Josephus of the warres of the Jews book 6. and 7.

desolations] Or, it shall be cut off by desolations.

Daniel 9:27

And he shall confirm the covenant] By the preaching of the Gospel, Christ the Messiah confirmed the covenant of God with the elect people, which are the many, not Jews only, but Gentiles, as Romans 5:15. Matthew 26:28.

many for one week] Or, many one week.

and in the midst of the week] The later half of the last seven, allotted for the publique function of the Messiah, in the end of it, Christ the King by the Sacrifice of himself once offered ended the daily sacrifice and all Leviticall sacrifices and other ceremonies, vers. 24.

for the overspreading of abominations] Or, with the abominable armies. Matthew 24:15. Mark 13:14. Luke 21:20. Meaning that Jerusalem and the Sanctuary should be utterly destroyed for their rebellion against God, and their infidelitie. Therefore the heathens calling into the rest of Christ, sealed in Baptisme, and Supper of the Lord: the burying of Moses ceremonies: the lothsomenesse of Rome, that kild our Lord: and Judahs just fall for infidelitie conclude all: handled here severally as they belonged collaterally to the former speech of vers. 24.

he shall make it desolate] In the deluge of Jerusalems destruction do end Daniels last sayings touching order of time. Daniels book containeth 600 years. Seventie years in Babylon: thence 490 to Christs death: then time to repent to hold the land, answerable to that time in the wildernesse to get the land, 40 years, but they went on with the old world in misbeliefe, and in like sort perished when these 600 years ended.