In the first year of Darius — That is, immediately after the overthrow of the kingdom of Babylon, which was the year of the Jews deliverance from captivity. Of the Medes — This Darius was not Darius the Persian, under whom the temple was built, as some have asserted, to invalidate the credibility of... [ Continue Reading ]
By books — By the sacred books.... [ Continue Reading ]
Judged us — Whose duty it was to govern the people, and to judge their causes; wherein if there was a failure, it was a sin, and judgment upon the people, and upon the rulers and judges themselves also. Upon Jerusalem — A place privileged many ways above all others, and punished above all others.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord watched — God's watching denotes the fit ways that he always takes to punish sinners.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Lord's sake — For the sake of the Messiah: to whom the title Lord is frequently given in the Old Testament.... [ Continue Reading ]
About the time — The time of the evening sacrifice was a solemn and set time of devotion. Tho' the altar was in ruins, and there was no oblation offered upon it, yet the pious Jews were daily thoughtful of the time when it should have been offered, and hoped that their prayer would be set forth befo... [ Continue Reading ]
Seventy weeks — These weeks are weeks of days, and these days are so many years. To finish the transgression — The angel discovers first the disease in three several words, which contain all sorts of sin, which the Messiah should free us from by his full redemption. He shews the cure of this disease... [ Continue Reading ]
From the going forth — From the publication of the edict, whether of Cyrus or Darius, to restore and to build it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And after — After the seven and the sixty two that followed them. Not for himself — But for our sakes, and for our salvation. And the people — The Romans under the conduct of Titus. Determined — God hath decreed to destroy that place and people, by the miseries and desolations of war.... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall confirm — Christ confirmed the new covenant, By the testimony of angels, of John baptist, of the wise men, of the saints then living, of Moses and Elias. By his preaching. By signs and wonders. By his holy life. By his resurrection and ascension. By his death and blood shedding. Shall cause... [ Continue Reading ]