1 In the first year of Dariussn The identity of this Darius is a major problem in correlating the biblical material with the extra-biblical records of this period. Most modern scholars treat the reference as a mistaken allusion to Darius Hystaspes (ca. 522-486 B.C.). Others have maintained instead that this name is a reference to the Persian governor Gubaru. Still others understand the reference to be to the Persian king Cyrus (cf. 6:28, where the vav (ו) may be understood as vav explicativum, meaning “even”). Under either of these latter two interpretations, the first year of Darius would have been ca. 538 B.C. Daniel would have been approximately eighty-two years old at this time. son of Ahasuerus,tc The LXX reads “Xerxes.” This is the reading used by some English versions (e.g., NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV). Most other English versions retain the Hebrew name “Ahasuerus.” who was of Median descent and who had beentc The present translation follows the MT in reading a Hophal (i.e., passive). Theodotion, the Syriac, and the Vulgate all presuppose the Hiphil (i.e., active). Even though this is the only occurrence of the Hophal of this verb in the Bible, there is no need to emend the vocalization to the Hiphil. appointed king over the Babyloniantn Heb “was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans.” empire –

2 in the first year of his reigntc This phrase, repeated from v. 1, is absent in Theodotion. I, Daniel, came to understand from the sacred bookstn The Hebrew text has “books”; the word “sacred” has been added in the translation to clarify that it is Scriptures that are referred to. that, according to the word of the LORDsn The tetragrammaton (the four Hebrew letters which constitute the divine Name, YHWH) appears eight times in this chapter, and nowhere else in the book of Daniel. disclosed to the prophet Jeremiah, the years for the fulfilling of the desolation of Jerusalemmap For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. were seventy in number.

3 So I turned my attentiontn Heb “face.” to the Lord Godtn The Hebrew phrase translated “Lord God” here is אֲדֹנָי הָאֱלֹהִים (’adonay ha’elohim). to implore him by prayer and requests, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.sn When lamenting, ancient Israelites would fast, wear sackcloth, and put ashes on their heads to show their sorrow and contrition.

4 I prayed to the LORD my God, confessing in this way:

5 we have sinned! We have done what is wrong and wicked; we have rebelled by turning away from your commandments and standards.

6 We have not paid attention to your servants the prophets, who spoke by your authoritytn Heb “in your name.” Another option is to translate, “as your representatives.” to our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors,tn Heb “our fathers” (also in vv. 8, 16). The Hebrew term translated “father” can refer to more distant relationships such as grandfathers or ancestors. and to all the inhabitantstn Heb “people.” of the land as well.

7 “You are righteous,tn Heb “to you (belongs) righteousness.” O Lord, but we are humiliated this daytn Heb “and to us (belongs) shame of face like this day.” – the peopletn Heb “men.” of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far away in all the countries in which you have scattered them, because they have behaved unfaithfully toward you.

8 O LORD, we have been humiliatedtn Heb “to us (belongs) shame of face.” – our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors – because we have sinned against you.

9 Yet the Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving,tn Heb “to the Lord our God (belong) compassion and forgiveness.” even though we have rebelled against him.

10 We have not obeyedtn Heb “paid attention to the voice of,” which is an idiomatic expression for obedience (cf. NASB “nor have we obeyed the voice of”). the LORD our God by living according totn Heb “to walk in.” his lawstc The LXX and Vulgate have the singular. that he set before us through his servants the prophets.

11 “All Israel has brokentn Or “transgressed.” The Hebrew verb has the primary sense of crossing a boundary, in this case, God’s law. your law and turned away by not obeying you.tn Heb “by not paying attention to your voice.” Therefore you have poured out on us the judgment solemnly threatenedtn Heb “the curse and the oath which is written.” The term “curse” refers here to the judgments threatened in the Mosaic law (see Deut 28) for rebellion. The expression “the curse and the oath” is probably a hendiadys (cf. Num 5:21; Neh 10:29) referring to the fact that the covenant with its threatened judgments was ratified by solemn oath and made legally binding upon the covenant community. in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against you.tn Heb “him.”

12 He has carried out his threatstn Heb “he has fulfilled his word(s) which he spoke.” against us and our rulerstn Heb “our judges.” who were overtn Heb “who judged.” us by bringing great calamity on us – what has happened to Jerusalem has never been equaled under all heaven!

13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses, so all this calamity has come on us. Still we have not tried to pacifytn Heb “we have not pacified the face of.” the LORD our God by turning back from our sin and by seeking wisdomtn Or “by gaining insight.” from your reliable moral standards.tn Heb “by your truth.” The Hebrew term does not refer here to abstract truth, however, but to the reliable moral guidance found in the covenant law. See vv 10-11.

14 The LORD was mindful of the calamity, and he brought it on us. For the LORD our God is justtn Or “righteous.” in all he has done,tn Heb “in all his deeds which he has done.” and we have not obeyed him.tn Heb “we have not listened to his voice.”

15 “Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with great powertn Heb “with a powerful hand.” and made a name for yourself that is remembered to this day – we have sinned and behaved wickedly.

16 O Lord, according to all your justice,tn Or “righteousness.” please turn your raging angertn Heb “your anger and your rage.” The synonyms are joined here to emphasize the degree of God’s anger. This is best expressed in English by making one of the terms adjectival (cf. NLT “your furious anger”; CEV “terribly angry”). away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. For due to our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people are mocked by all our neighbors.

17 “So now, our God, accepttn Heb “hear.” Here the verb refers to hearing favorably, accepting the prayer and responding positively. the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor totn Heb “let your face shine.” This idiom pictures God smiling in favor. See Pss 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19. your devastated sanctuary for your own sake.tn Heb “for the sake of my Lord.” Theodotion has “for your sake.” Cf. v. 19.

18 Listen attentively,tn Heb “turn your ear.” my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruinstn Heb “desolations.” The term refers here to the ruined condition of Judah’s towns. and the city called by your name.tn Heb “over which your name is called.” Cf. v. 19. This expression implies that God is the owner of his city, Jerusalem. Note the use of the idiom in 2 Sam 12:28; Isa 4:1; Amos 9:12. For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you,tn Heb “praying our supplications before you.” but because your compassion is abundant.

19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, pay attention, and act! Don’t delay, for your own sake, O my God! For your city and your people are called by your name.”tn Heb “for your name is called over your city and your people.” See the note on this expression in v 18.

20 While I was still speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my request before the LORD my God concerning his holy mountaintn Heb “the holy mountain of my God.” –

21 yes, while I was still praying,tn Heb “speaking in prayer.” the man Gabriel, whom I had seen previouslytn Heb “in the beginning.” in a vision, was approaching me in my state of extreme weariness,tn The Hebrew expression בִּיעָף מֻעָף (mu’af bi’af) is very difficult. The issue is whether the verb derives from עוּף (’uf, “to fly”) or from יָעַף (ya’af, “to be weary”). Many ancient versions and modern commentators take the first of these possibilities and understand the reference to be to the swift flight of the angel Gabriel in his coming to Daniel. The words more likely refer to the extreme weariness, not of the angel, but of Daniel. Cf. 7:28; 8:27; 10:8-9, 16-17; also NASB. around the time of the evening offering.

22 He spoke with me, instructing me as follows:tn Heb “he instructed and spoke with me.” The expression is a verbal hendiadys. “Daniel, I have now come to impart understanding to you.

23 At the beginning of your requests a message went out, and I have come to convey it to you, for you are of great value in God’s sight.tn Or “a precious treasure”; KJV “greatly beloved”; NASB, NIV “highly esteemed.” Therefore consider the message and understand the vision:tn This sentence is perhaps a compound hendiadys (“give serious consideration to the revelatory vision”).

24 “Seventy weekstn Heb “sevens.” Elsewhere the term is used of a literal week (a period of seven days), cf. Gen 29:27-28; Exod 34:22; Lev 12:5; Num 28:26; Deut 16:9-10; 2 Chr 8:13; Jer 5:24; Dan 10:2-3. Gabriel unfolds the future as if it were a calendar of successive weeks. Most understand the reference here as periods of seventy “sevens” of years, or a total of 490 years. have been determined

25 So know and understand:

26 Now after the sixty-two weeks,

27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one week.tn Heb “one seven” (also later in this line).