Daniel 9

Daniel prayeth unto the LORD for Jerusalems restauration, vers.1, &c. The Lord heareth him and instructeth him, 20. He also revealeth unto him by Gabriel the time of the sevenly weeks, at the end whereof the true spiritual deliverance should be brought not onely to the Jews, but also to all mankind by Christ the Prince 24, &c. The Angel speaketh also of the fearful destruction that should come upon the unthankful and obstinate people of the Jews, 26,27.

1. In the first year of Darius, [See above chap.6. on vers.1.] the son of Abasuirus, [divers Kings of Persia have had this name] of the seed of the Medes, [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.] who was made King over the realm of the Chaldeans: [See above chap.6. on vers.1. or in which (to wit, year) he became King]

2. In the first year of his reign, I Daniel perceived in the books, [To wit, in the writings of the Prophet Jeremiah. Or, I Daniel understood by, &c. Though Daniel was a wise and excellent Prophet, yet he neglected not to read the holy Scripture, as those do that pretend altogether to the spirit, and are despisers of the word of God] that the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came unto the Prophet Jeremiah, was in the accomplishment of the desolations of Jerusalem, seventy years. [that is, that when Jerusalems desolation shall have an end, it was seventy years. See, Jerem.25.11,12. and 27.7. and 29.10]

3. And I set my face [Heb. I gave my face] unto the Lord God, to seek (him by) prayer and supplications, with fasting, and a sack, and ashes. [that is, in sack cloth and in ashes.]

4. I then prayed unto the LORD my God, and made confession, [To wit, of mine own sins, and of the sins of my people, below vers.20.] and said, Oh Lord, thou great and terrible God, [to wit, unto the wicked] that keepeth the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and keep his commandments. [A changing of the person, for to them that love thee, and keep thy commandments. Compare this prayer with the prayer of Nehemiah, chap.1.5. and 9.32.]

5. We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and dealt wickedly [See more such like confessions, Psal.10. on vers.6. and compare Isa.64.5,6,7. and Psal.106.6.] and rebelled, from step to step, and not resting until we were come to the highest step of sin] by departing from thy commandments, and from thy judgements. [Understand here, and in other places more, by judgements, those laws whereby is rendred to every one that which pertaineth to him, and whereby that which is just and equal is distinguished from that which is unjust and unequal]

6. Neither have we hearkened [That is, not obeyed] unto thy servants the Prophets, which spake in thy name to our Kings, our Princes, our Fathers, and to all the people of the land. [to wit, of the land of Juda]

7. With thee, O Lord, is the righteousness, [See Deut. Chap.6. on vers.25. That is, on thy side, or the praise of rignhteousness belongeth unto thee, or thine is, &c.] but with us confusion of faces, as it is at this day with the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, that (are) near, and that are afar off, in all the lands whither thou hast driven them, for the transgression whereby they have transgressed against thee. [In these words the prophet confesseth that the judgements of God upon his people are just and righteous. Compare Jerem. chap.7.19.]

8. O Lord, with us is confusion of faces, with our Kings, with our Princes, and with our Fathers, because we have sinned against thee; or we that have sinned against thee.]

9. With the Lord our God are mercies, and forgivenesses, [He useth these words in the plural number, to signifie the manifold mercies of God in the pardoning of manifold sins. That is, on the Lords mercy and gracious forgiveness alone doth all our salvation wholly depend; for with us is nothing to be found save cause of destruction. Compare Psal.130.3,7. Lam.3.22.] though we have rebelled against him.

10. Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, that we should walk in his laws, which he gave before our faces, by the hand of his servants [That is, by the ministery of his servants] the Prophets.

11. But all Israel hath transgressed thy law, by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore that curse is poured out [Or dropped] upon us, and that oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, [See Levit.26.14, &c. Deut.27.15, &c. and 28.15, &c. and 29.20. and 30.17, &c. and 31.17, 18. and 32. 19, &c. Lam.2.17.] because we have sinned against him.

12. And he hath confirmed [Heb. raised, or caused to rise] his words which he spake against us, and against our Judges that judged us, [That is, that governed us] bringing upon us a great evil, [to wit, the evil of punishment; that is, a great mischief, which is related at large in the Lamentations of Jeremy; See there chap.1.12. and 2.13, &c.] which hath not been done under the whole heaven, as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

13. According as (it) is written in the law of Moses, [See above vers.1.] (so) all the evil is come upon us: and we intreated not the face of the LORD our God, turning away from our iniquities, & understanding by heeding thy truth. [that is, the certainty of thy threatnings.]

14. Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, [See ver.13. Or, therefore hath the LORD been awake with this evil. The meaning is, he hath made it appear that he was not asleep, nor had forgotten his threatnings. While sinners sleep securely in their sins, God strictly watcheth for their punishment. The Hebrew word signifieth not onely to watch, but also to come betimes, to waken, to make haste, as Jerem.1.12. See the Annotat. there] and he hath brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he hath done, because we obeyed not his voice.

15. And now O Lord our God, thou that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt wit a strong hand, [For that end did God deliver the children of Israel out of the land Egypt, to assure them there by from him, that he would be and continue for ever their God. See Levit. chap.22.33. Psal.81.11. Isa.63.10. Therefore it is no wonder that believers so often mind God of this mercy of his, as well as to strengthen their faith, as to move the Lord to remember his ancient mercy. See Ezek.32.11. Nehem.1.10. and chap.9.10. Psal.77.8.] and hast made thee a name, as it is at this day: [the meaning is, thou hast delivered and protected us for thy names sake, to make thy power known, Psa.106.8. therefore turn away thy angry mind from us, that thine honour may not suffer. See Exod.32.12. Psal.115.1.] we have sinned, we have been wicked. [this must not be so understood, as if God should hear our prayers, and should do us good, because we have sinned, and have been wicked; for therefore is God angry with us, and therefore doth the punish us: but then doth he hear our prayers, when we confess our sins, and acknowledge our unworthiness. Compare Psal.25.11. and 106.4,5,6.]

16. O Lord, according to all thy righteousnesses, [The meaning is, Lord, in that thou hast verified thy threatnings, forsaking us, and giving strength unto our enemies, &c. 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, so there is also but one righteousness or justice in God, but there be manifold dispensations of it: and among the rest he manifesteth the same, when he keepeth and performeth unto penitent sinners that which he hath promised them of meer grace. Compare Nehem. Chap.1. vers.8,9. and chap.9. vers.8. Psal.51.16.] I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, [that is, I beseech thee, let that sore punishment cease which thou hast justly poured out upon Jerusalem and all the people of the Jews to punish their sins. See Mich.7.9. Revel.15.7. Others, let thine anger and thy wrath turn away it self from, &c. Thy city: as if he should say, this is thy city, which thou hast chosen out of all the cities of the whole world, therefore turn away thine anger and thy wrath from it] thine holy mountain: [Heb. the mountain of thine holiness. See Psal.2. on vers.6.] for because of our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are a reproach among all that are round about her. [Heb. among all our aboutnesses; that is, among all that lye round about us. Compare Lam.1.8, &c. and chap.2.15,16. and cha.3. vers.14. and Psal.44. vers.14,15,16,17. and Psal.89. vers.42,51. and Psal.79.4.]

17. And now, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, [That is, unto my prayer, who am thy servant] and unto his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary [that is, look upon thy sanctuary with a smiling and favourable countenance: Of this phrase see Numb.6. on vers.25. upon thy sanctuary; that is, upon thy Temple; or rather, upon the innermost place of the temple, where God sat upon the Ark or Cherubims] that is desolate, for the Lords sake. [Do it not for our worthies, but for Christs sake. So it is said, Isa, 10.27. The yoke shall be torn off, for the Anointeds, or for the Messias his sake. And also Psal.80.16.]

18. incline thine ear,my God, and hear, poen thine eyes and behold [Compare the words which King Hizkia useth, Isa.37.17.] our desolations, [that is, how miserably we are wasted [and the city which is called after thy name: [that is, which is called the city of the Lord. See Deut.28. on v.10. and Amos 9:12. I Kings 14. Vers.21. Heb. upon which thy name is called upon, or proclaimed] for we do not cast down our supplications before thy face, [See of this phrase, Jerem.36. on ver.7. and Psal.141.2.] upon our righteousnesses, [that is relying upon our righteous deeds or works. Or, because of] but upon thy mercies which are great.

19. O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord consider, and do it, defer it not thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people is called after thy name: [See above vers.18.]

20. When I spake, and prayed, and confessed my sins, and the sin of my people of Israel, and cast down my supplications before the face of the LORD my God, [As above, vers. 18.] for the holy mountains of my God: [Heb. over, or for the mountrain of the holiness of my God; that is, that the Church of God might be restored to her former estate.]

21. When I yet spake in prayer, the man [See above chap.8. on vers.16] whom I had seen in the beginning, in a vision, [or before, or at first; to wit, in the vision of the Ram with two horns, and of the He-goat, above c.8.] came flying swiftly, [Heb. with weariness: not that the Angels can be tired or grow weary, but it is so said, to express such a swiftness, as according to our apprehension must needs cause weariness. Others, in flight] touching me [by this touching of the Angel God strengthened the Prophet. See below chap.10.19.] about the time of the evening-sacrifice. [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 being; See Exod.29.39,41. Numb.24.4. At this time did also Elias pray, I Kings 18.36, &c. See also Acts 3:1. Hence some do gather, that it was here revealed unto Daniel, t what time of the day Christ should offer up himself for our sins.]

22. And he informed (me) and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I am now come forth, [To wit, from heaven, being sent by God] to cause thee to understand the meaning. [Heb. the understanding: namely, to inform thee of the building up again of the city of Jerusalem, and the restauration of the state of the Jewish people.]

23. At the beginning of thy supplications the word [That is, the command] came forth, [That is, from that time that thou begannest to pray for the deliverance of Israel did I receive a command to answer thee] and I am come to make (it) known (unto thee,) for thou art a great desired (man:) [Heb. desires; that is, a man of desires. See below chap.13.11. That is, a man that is greatly desired, a man accepted both of God and men. So it is said below c.10.v.3. bread of desires: and vessels of desires, 2 Chron.20.25. and garments of desires, Genes.27. on vers.15. Some are of 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 restauration of the worship of God, more then ever any man did, as may appear by his prayer and fasting, chap.10.] understand then this word [Or, this matter] and consider this vision. [Or, learn this vision. That is, learn to understand this prophecy aright which I shall shew thee]

24. Seventy weeks [Daniel had onely prayed for the deliverance of his people out of Babel; but the Lord granteth him not onely that, but infinitely more; for he revealeth unto him moreover the time when not onely the Jews, but also all his people should be delivered out of the power of the Devil, and of everlasting damnation by the Messiah. Understand here weeks of years, as Levit.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 diverse opinions among the learned. Some begin them from the first year of Cyrus his Monarchy, and end them with the death of Christ: which indeed seemeth to be the truest and most genuine meaning of all, from Isa.44.28. and 45.13. also 2 Chron.36.22,23. Ezra 1:1, 7c. But others begin them from the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, and end them from the second year of Darius Nothus, and end them 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] are appointed [Heb. are hewn off, or cut off; that is, appointed, decreed] upon thy people, and upon thine holy City, [Wherein while thy people and thine holy city shall continue, there shall happen that which I will immediately reveal unto thee] to conclude the transgression, [That is, to shut up, or restrain transgression. Others, that he (to wit, Christ) conclude the transgression; that is, that he may satisfie for the sins of the people, that they may be as it were shut up in prison, so as that they may come no more before the face and presence of God] and to seal up the sins, [that is, to cover the sins of the elect, that they may not come before the face of God. This Christ effected by his death. Others, to destroy sins] and to reconcile the iniquity, [to wit, by the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross] and to bring in an everlasting righteousness, [Heb. a righteousness of eternities: by which righteousness alone. All that ever have been justified, or shall be justified, are to be justified before God: Heb.9.12. This righteousness consisteth in the forgiveness of sins, and imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ] and to seal up the vision, and the Prophet, [that is, the Prophecy; to wit, the Prophecies of the Prophets concerning the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that followed there upon, I Pet.1.11. which God revealed unto the Prophets in visions] and to anoint [to wit, the Holy Ghost, that is, as it were to initiate him, and to fit and prepare him for his soul-saving office] the holiness of holinesses. [That is, the Lord Jesus 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 for that he is the true Ark of the covenant, by which God speaketh the words of life unto the world: The true mercy-seat, through which we have reconciliation, &c.]

25. Know then and understand, [Our Lord Jesus Christ giveth the very same exhortation concerning this Prophecy, math.24.15.] from the going forth of the word, to cause to return, and to build Jerusalem, [That is, from that time that a command shall go forth, to bring again the people, (to wit, the people of the Jews; that is, to release them out of the Babylonian captivity) and to build Jerusalem again. Understand here by the word, the command, as ver.23. to wit, the command of Cyrus, according to the opinion of some. See 2 Chron.36. vers.22, 23. and Ezra 1:1. and above the annotate. on v.24. of the beginning of the seventy weeks. Others, to bring again; that is, to restore, to wit, the vessels of the Temple, which were carried out of the Temple to Babel. Others, to restore, namely, the estate of the Church and of the Common-wealth] unto the Messias [That is, unto Christ. The Hebrew word Messias, which signifieth the very same that Christ doth, namely anointed) is also used, Job.1.42. and 4.25. [the Prince, [Or, Leader, as Isa.55.4. or Duke, as 2 Sam .7.8. and 2 Kings 20:5.] are seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the streets and the ditches [Heb. The street, and the ditch: Others, ditch ewn out. Understand this of the City-ditches] shall be built again, but in distress of times. [For under the government of Ezra all that was built on the walls, was soon after pulled down again by the enemies of the Jews. And the gates of the city were burnt with fire. And under the government of Nehemia, they were fain to build with the trowel in one one hand, and sword in the other, Nehem.4.17. wherefore the Jews made such haste, as that they finished the building of the wall in two and fifty dayes]

26. And after those threescore and two weeks [Namely after the threescore and nine weeks; for the seven fore-named weeks must of necessity be added to these threescore and two weeks] shall the Messias be cut off, [The Hebrew word signifieth sometimes as much as to take away the life of a malefacour. See Levit.17. on vers.4.] but it shall not be for himself: [That is, not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of his elect: Or, not for his own sins. Others, But he shall have no (guilt:) or, but without his (offence,) or without any (guilt.) Others, And shall have no (helper.) See chap.11.45. Others, And be no more, to wit, among men, being taken up to the right hand of his Father. Compare Genes.5.24.] and a people of the Prince that shall come, [That is . the army of the Romans] shall destroy the City and the Sanctuary, and the end thereof [to wit, the end which the Roman Prince shall bring unto the people of the Jews: or the last thing that he shall do unto the people of the Jews] shall be with an over-flowing flood, and there shall be war unto the end, (and) firmly determined desolations. [The meaning is, they are firmly decreed, and the time punctually appointed, when they shall com, and when they shall cease. Some understand this thus: Until Gods war against his people shall have an end, the desolations are punctually determined]

27. And he shall confirm the covenant unto many [Or, unto excellent ones, to wit, unto the elect and believers] one week: [That is, seven years, in the midst wherof our Saviour Christ was put to death, and the rest of the time did the Apostles preach the Gospel unto the Jews] and (in) the half of the week, [To wit, in the midst of the seventieth week] he shall cause the slay-offering and the meat-offering to cease, [To wit, by his death, which is a sacrifice and slay-offering, whereby all the saints are sanctified for ever; before which all the Levitical sacrifies are vanishe, 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] and over the abominable wing [Or, bands. See Ezek. chap.12.on vers.14.] shall be a waster, [Heb. Over the wing of detestations, or abominations, &c. Meaning the abominable heathenish Roman souldiery (Matth.24.15.) over whom there shall be a Commander that shall procure this desolation by the just judgement of God] even until the consummation, [See Jerem. chap.4. the Annotat. on vers.27.] which being firmly decreed [See isa.cha.28. on v.22.] shall be poured out upon the desolate.