Daniel 9:25

from the going forth of the commandment

Three decrees concerning Jerusalem are recorded, that of Cyrus, B.C. 536 (Ussher), for the restoration of the "house of the Lord God of Israel" (2 Chronicles 36:22); (2 Chronicles 36:23); (Ezra 1:1) that of Darius (Ezekiel 6:3) B.C. 521-486), and that of Artaxerxes in his seventh year. (Ezekiel 7:7) say, B.C. 458). Artaxerxes in his twentieth year, B.C. 444 (Hales, Jahn), 446 (A.V.), 454 (Ussher, Hengstenberg), gave permission for the rebuilding of the "city," i.e, "Jerusalem" (Nehemiah 2:1). The latter decree is, obviously, that from which the "seven weeks" (49 years) run, unless by "the commandment to restore," etc. Is meant the divine decree (Daniel 9:23). In the present state of biblical chronology the date of the decree of Artaxerxes cannot be unanswerably fixed farther than to say that it was issued between 454 and 444 B.C. In either case we are brought to the time of Christ. Prophetic time is invariably so near as to give full warning, so indeterminate as to give no satisfaction to mere curiosity. (Compare Matthew 24:36); (Acts 1:7).

The 434 years reckon, of course, from the end of the seven weeks so that the whole time from "the going forth of the commandment to restore," etc, "unto the Messiah" is sixty-nine weeks of years, or 483 years.