Just a few years before the exile of Judah into Babylonian captivity, the prophet Jeremiah warned the Jews of their judgment and the years of desolation that would follow. He wrote, “And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. ‘Then it will come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity,’ says the LORD; and I will make it a perpetual desolation” (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
It is this prophecy of Jeremiah to which Daniel referred in Daniel chapter 9. As a young man, he was taken by Nebuchadnezzar in the first wave of captives (cf. Daniel 1:7). Chronologically, this chapter takes place in the first year of Darius the Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans. In effect, the prophecy of Jeremiah was coming true.
Now, read the text of Daniel 9:2-3, “In the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”
The first thing of interest that this passage declares is the statement that Daniel had the knowledge of the “seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” because he had access to “books” that included Jeremiah’s prophecies. He indicated that God through Jeremiah had specified the number of years that God’s judgment against the Jews would continue. Consider this literal translation of the text, “I Daniel understood by books the number of the years whereof the word of God came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
It is interesting that the exiled generation had taken these words of God, including Jeremiah’s prophecies with them into the captivity. Presumably, careful copies were made so that the words of God were available to the Jews in captivity. It is not surprising that Jeremiah’s words were recognized as inspired prophecy. What he said was going to happen took place exactly. His words were accepted as from God, noting His judgment upon the southern kingdom of Judah. It is not known how much of the written Old Testament at this time was included in these “books” available to Daniel. Only that there were plural books or volumes, which included these words of Jeremiah.
It is likewise interesting to note what this says about Daniel’s character, himself being a prophet of God. We know of a young man (probably about 15) who was among the first Jews taken into captivity (1:3). We know of his diligence in maintaining his purity amidst the delicacies offered by the king (1:8). We know his gift of divination, God revealing to him Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the proper interpretation (2:27-28). We know of his willingness to share God’s words to royalty (Belshazzar), even if they were foretelling the fall of the Babylonian kingdom (5:26-28). We know that Daniel was willing to disobey the highest authority if it interfered with his duties toward God (6:10-11). All of these things are revealed early in Daniel’s book of prophecy. In our text we see a man who had received God’s word, nevertheless seeking more of God’s word through the writings of another prophet. Daniel at this time was probably around 80 years old, and yet he remained diligent in seeking God’s revelation. Studying it, meditating on it, and acting upon the truths from God’s word which he found.
Looking at various ways of dating the 70 years of Jeremiah’s prophecy, if we begin it with the first captives coming to Babylon, only a few years remained of the prophecy. Regardless, it was not too soon for Daniel to be moved to prayer on behalf of the people. This prayer is included in 9:3-19.
Notice what Daniel himself wrote about the prayer and what it occasioned. “Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering” (Daniel 9:20-21).
What followed was yet another vision of Daniel. It contains one of the most disputed parts of God’s word (9:22-27). There are many theories, speculative ideas about timelines and the duration of the vision’s actions. Without going into pages and pages of discussion, the vision seems to discuss the future of the Jews. We are aware of their return to the city of Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the temple, and the restoration of Jewish worship revealed in the scripture. We also have available to us uninspired accounts which bridge the end of the old testament canon with the gospels of our Lord. This period of time was known as the 400 years of silence, as we do not have inspired writings from God.
Shortly after the ministry of Christ, His death and resurrection, we have the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The text speaks of restoration and the establishment of Messiah the Prince. This is an obvious reference to the last days of which we are a part. Jesus has established His kingdom, and it will last forever! May we too pray with a penitent spirit for ourselves and others, that God may show His mercy!
