Analysis of the Chapter This chapter is properly divided into three parts, or comprises three things: I. The inquiry of Daniel into the time that the desolations of Jerusalem were to continue, and his determination to seek the Lord, to pray that his purpose in regard to the restoration of the city... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIRST YEAR OF DARIUS - See the notes at Daniel 5:31, and Introuction to Daniel 6 Section II. The king here referred to under this name was Cyaxares II, who lived between Astyages and Cyrus, and in whom was the title of king. He was the immediate successor of Belshazzar, and was the predecesso... [ Continue Reading ]
I DANIEL UNDERSTOOD BY BOOKS - By the sacred books, and especially by the writings of Jeremiah. It has been made a ground of objection to the genuineness of Daniel that he mentions “books” in this place (ספרים _s__e__phârı̂ym_) as if there were at that time a collection of the sacred books, or as i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SET MY FACE UNTO THE LORD GOD - Probably the meaning is, that he turned his face toward Jerusalem, the place where God had dwelt; the place of his holy abode on earth. See the notes at Daniel 6:10. The language, however, would not be inappropriate to denote prayer without such a supposition. W... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I PRAYED UNTO THE LORD MY GOD - Evidently a set and formal prayer. It would seem probable that; he offered this prayer, and then re corded the substance of it afterward. We have no reason to suppose that we have the whole of it, but we have doubtless its principal topics. AND MADE MY CONFESSION... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE SINNED - Though Daniel was alone, he spake in the name of the people in general - doubtless recounting the long series of crimes in the nation which had preceded the captivity, and which were the cause of the ruin of the city and temple. AND HAVE COMMITTED INIQUITY ... - These varied forms... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER HAVE WE HEARKENED UNTO THY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS - Who called upon us to turn from our sins; who made known the will of God, and who proclaimed that these judgments would come upon us if we did not repent. WHICH SPAKE IN THY NAME TO OUR KINGS ... - To all classes of the people, calling on k... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, RIGHTEOUSNESS BELONGETH UNTO THEE - Margin, “or, thou hast.” The Hebrew is, “to thee is righteousness, to us shame, etc.” The state of mind in him who makes the prayer is that of ascribing righteousness or justice to God. Daniel feels and admits that God has been right in his dealings. He is... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, TO US BELONGETH CONFUSION ... - To all of us; to the whole people, high and low, rich and poor, the rulers and the ruled. All had been partakers of the guilt; all were involved in the calamities consequent on the guilt. As all had sinned, the judgments had come upon all, and it was proper th... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE LORD OUR GOD BELONG MERCIES AND FORGIVENESSES - Not only does righteousness belong to him in the sense that he has done right, and that he cannot be blamed for what he has done, but mercy and forgiveness belong to him in the sense that he only can pardon, and that these are attributes of his... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER HAVE WE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD - The commands of God as made known by the prophets, Daniel 9:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, ALL ISRAEL HAVE TRANSGRESSED ... - Embracing not only the tribe and the kingdom of Judah, but the whole nation. The calamity, therefore, had come upon them all. EVEN BY DEPARTING - By departing from thy commandments; or by rebellion against thee. THAT THEY MIGHT NOT OBEY THY VOICE - By refusi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HATH CONFIRMED HIS WORDS ... - By bringing upon the people all that he had threatened in case of their disobedience. Daniel saw that there was a complete fulfillment of all that he had said would come upon them. As all this had been threatened, he could not complain; and as he had confirmed h... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES - The word law was given to all the writings of Moses. See the notes at Luke 24:44. YET MADE WE NOT OUR PRAYER BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD - Margin, “entreated we not the face of.” The Hebrew word used here (חלה _châlâh_) means, properly, “to be polished;” then to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HATH THE LORD WATCHED UPON THE EVIL - The word here used and rendered watched - שׁקד _shâqad_ - means, properly, “to wake; to be sleepless; to watch.” Then it means to watch over anything, or to be attentive to it. Jeremiah 1:12; Jeremiah 31:28; Jeremiah 44:27. - Gesenius, “Lexicon” The m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW, O LORD OUR GOD, THAT HAST BROUGHT THY PEOPLE FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT - In former days. The reference to this shows that it is proper to use “arguments” before God when we plead with him (compare the notes at Job 23:4); that is, to suggest considerations or reasons why the prayer shou... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, ACCORDING TO ALL THY RIGHTEOUSNESS - The word righteousness here seems to refer to all that was excellent and glorious in the character of God. The eye of Daniel is fixed upon what he had formerly done; upon his character of justice, and mercy, and goodness; upon the faithfulness of God to h... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, THEREFORE, O OUR GOD, HEAR THE PRAYER OF THY SERVANT - In behalf of the people. He pleaded for his people and country, and earnestly entreated the Lord to be merciful. His argument is based on the confession of sin; on the character of God; on the condition of the city and temple; on the former... [ Continue Reading ]
O MY GOD, INCLINE THINE EAR, AND HEAR - Pleading earnestly for his attention and his favor, as one does to a man. OPEN THINE EYES - As if his eyes had been closed upon the condition of the city, and he did not see it. Of course, all this is figurative, and is the language of strong and earnest plea... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, HEAR ... - The language in this verse does not require any particular explanation. The repetition - the varied forms of expression - indicate a mind intent on the object; a heart greatly interested; an earnestness that cannot be denied. It is language that is respectful, solemn, devout, but... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHILES I WAS SPEAKING ... - In the very time when I was thus pleading. FOR THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF MY GOD - See the notes at Daniel 9:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, WHILES I WAS SPEAKING IN PRAYER - How “long” the prayer continued we are not informed. It is probable that we have only the substance of it, and that Daniel has recorded only the topics on which he dwelt more at length. The subject was of great importance, and it is reasonable to suppose that a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE INFORMED ME - Hebrew, Gave me intelligence or understanding. That is, about the design of his visit, and about what would be hereafter. AND TALKED WITH ME - Spake unto me. O DANIEL, I AM NOW COME FORTH TO GIVE THEE SKILL - Margin, “make thee skillful of.” The Hebrew is, literally, “to make... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE BEGINNING OF THY SUPPLICATIONS - We are not informed at what time Daniel began to pray, but as remarked above, it is most natural to suppose that he devoted the day to prayer, and had commenced these solemn acts of devotion in the morning. THE COMMANDMENT CAME FORTH - Margin, “word.” That is,... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED - Here commences the celebrated prophecy of the seventy weeks - a portion of Scripture Which has excited as much attention, and led to as great a variety of interpretation, as perhaps any other. Of this passage, Professor Stuart (“Hints on the Interpretation of Prophecy,... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW, THEREFORE, AND UNDERSTAND - Hengstenberg renders this, “and thou wilt know and understand;” and supposes that the design of Gabriel is to awaken the attention and interest of Daniel by the assurance that, if he would give attention, he would understand the subject by the explanation which he w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS - After the completion of the last period of four hundred and thirty-four years. The angel had shown in the previous verse what would be the characteristic of the first period of “seven weeks” - that during that time the wall and the street would be built in circum... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL CONFIRM THE COVENANT - literally, “he shall make strong” - והגביר _v__e__hı̂g__e__bı̂yr_. The idea is that of giving strength, or stability; of making firm and sure. The Hebrew word here evidently refers to the “covenant” which God is said to establish with his people - so often referre... [ Continue Reading ]