"Book of Daniel"2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. ***(2 Ki. 24:13)
3 And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; ****(Foretold by Isaiah. 2 Ki 20:17,18 Isa 39:7 Jer 41:1)
4 Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
*****The word Children {yeladim,} rendered children, is frequently used for lads, or young men. (see Gen. 21:8, 14-16,); Daniel must have been at this time at least seventeen or eighteen years of age.
The King required three things: that they should be of noble birth, that they should be intelligent and learned, and that they should be of a strong and handsome nature, so that they might do him better service. The King esteemed learning, and knew that it was a necessary means to govern by.
That they might forget their own religion and country fashions to serve him the better to his purpose: yet it is not to be thought that Daniel learned any knowledge that was not godly. In all points he refused the abuse of things and superstition, inasmuch that he would not eat the meat which the King appointed him, but was content to learn the knowledge of natural things.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
**** Daniel = God is my judge, or judge of God; Belteshazzar = Beltis protect the king, Bel means god (i.e. Marduk) Hananiah = Jehovah has given; Shadrach = Aku's command Mishael = who is like God; Meshach = Who is what god is? Azariah = whom Jehovah helps; Abednego = servant of Nego = Nebo a Chaldean god.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.*****Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars. Daniel was therefore resolved not to defile himself with their food offered unto idols; yet he did not rudely refuse what was intended as a kindness but mildly and modestly requested the proper officers to indulge him in this respect.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
***Pulse, {zer"im,} denotes all leguminous plants, which are not reaped but pulled or plucked; which, however wholesome, was not naturally calculated to render them fatter in flesh than the others.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
****Ex 23:25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
***De 28:1-14) Daniel alone was a Prophet, and none of the others: for by dreams and visions God appeared to his Prophets; (Nu. 12:6)
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.
***wisdom and understanding. Heb. wisdom of understanding.
21 And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Chapter 2 This is the 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign as sole ruler. Daniel is still young, having been in Babylon three years, apparently right after his questioning in verse 18-20.
The four world empires predicted here are generally understood to have been the Babylonian, Persian,Greek and Roman empires. From Daniel's time to the coming of Christ the world was ruled by these four empires, exactly as Daniel had predicted. This prophecy of the four kingdoms is further explained in chapter 7, the four beasts; chapter 8, the ram and the he-goat; chapter 9, the 70 weeks; and chapter 11, the kings of the north and the kings of the south.
1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
***** Syriack. Aramith, "Aramean," the language of Aram or Syria; a general term comprehending both the Chaldee and Syriac, the latter merely differing from the former as a dialect, and being written in a different character. With the following words the Chaldee part of Daniel commences; and is continued to the end of the seventh chapter. Since the Astrologers were of various racial backgrounds, they communicated in Aramaic, the language everyone understood. These next six chapters deal with matters of importance to the Gentile nations of the near east and written in a language understandable to all. The last five chapters revert back to Hebrew, since they deal with special concerns of the chosen people.
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6 But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, [there is but] one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. Even the unsaved can speak truths.
****Judas of Iscarot said he betrayed innocent blood. Isa. 41:21-23
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon.
13 And the decree went forth that the wise [men] should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
*** 1 Ki. 18:17-40 Elijah vs. Baals prophets, the difference is the false prophets were killed. They were adulterous of the chosen people.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise [men] of Babylon:
15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
*** Why did the King give Daniel time and not the wise men?
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,his companions:
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon.
*****He did not only pray for this discovery himself, but he engaged his companions to pray for it too.They desired mercy of God in this matter, so Daniel and his brothers might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, that the righteous might not be destroyed with the wicked. The union of forces produces greater force. Esth. 4:16. Paul often entreats his friends to pray for him. Praying friends are valuable friends; it is good to have an intimacy with and an interest in those that have fellowship with God and an interest at the throne of grace; and it becomes the greatest and best of men to desire the assistance of the prayers of others for them. We must show that we put a value upon our friends, upon prayer, upon their prayers. Prayer Jer. 33:3; Ps. 37:5; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 13:15; Jas. 1:5; 1 Pe. 5:7.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: Daniel mentions seven attributes of God here in his praise to the Almighty.
*****The same attributes that the antichrist is mentioned trying to copy or to do throughout scripture. Other similar praises to our LORD: Job 12:13-22; Ps. 31:15; 41:13; 75:6; 103:1-2; 113:1-2
21 And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: *** Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws...
22 He reveals the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. **** 1 Cor. 2:9-11
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who has given me wisdom and might, and has made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou has [now] made known unto us the king's matter. *** Mat. 11:25
24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise [men]of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise [men] of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation.
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; "Latter Days" ******* Messianic Age; Hos. 3:5; Isa. 2:2; Mic. 4:1. Israel: Gen. 49:1; Nu. 24:14; Deut. 4:30;; 31:29. ***2nd Coming: Jer. 48:47; 49:39; 23:20; 30:24. ***Magog: Eze. 38.16. ***New Test: Ac. 2:17-21; Joel 2:28-32. Last Days: Jon. 6:36, 40, 44, 54; 7:37; 11:24; 12:48; 2 Tim 3:1; Heb. 1:2; Jas. 5:3; 2 Pe. 3:3. ***Last Time: 1 Pe. 1:5, 20; 1 Jon. 2:18; Jude 18.
29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came [into thy mind] upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that reveals secrets makes known to thee what shall come to pass. ****"Hereafter" not only in the near future, but to the latter days.
30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for [any] wisdom that I have more than any living, but for [their] sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou might know the thoughts of thy heart.
**** Daniel is not taking the glory but giving it to God. He tells why the Lord showed him these things, for his and his brothers sake. Also God is starting to do a work in Nebuchadnezzar's heart. Cht 4
31 Thou, O king, saw, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness [was] excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof [was] terrible. **** We cannot make the mistake of not differentiating the "times of the Gentiles" vs. "the fullness of Gentiles". "Times": Luke 21:24; Hos. 3:4-5 "Fullness" = the church: Lu. 19:42; until Rom. 11:25; In the book of Acts the Christian Jews said that to be saved the Gentiles would have to become Jews. The act of circumcision brought all this to a head. After Peter gave his famous decree on the subject of circumcision, the underlining question still remained; What is to become of the nation of Israel? James answered (Ac. 15:14-17) that question quoting Amos (9:11-12). The jest of it is after the Fullness of the Church God will again turn to the nation of Israel and deal with them.
32 This image's head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 This [is] the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
37 Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven has given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven has he given into thine hand, and has made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art]this head of gold. **** Babylon = "city of gold" Isa. 14:4
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
***** Fall to the Persians Dan. 5:28, 31; 6:28; 8:20.
70 years fulfilled: 2 Chron. 36:20-21. Succeeded by Greece: Dan 8:21; 11:2
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all [things]: and as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. *** Daniel 7:7; 9:26
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. Divided into pieces. ****Will be covered in detail in Cht. 7.
42 And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. ****Pieces recollected but mixed with clay. The Spirit uses clay as an idiom meaning people. Job 10:9; 13:12; 33:6; Isa. 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Jer. 18:4-6; Rom. 9:21
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. ***** "seed of man"?
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream [is] certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. ****Seed of the women, Gen. 3:14-15 "Stone cut without hands": Ex. 17:3-6; 33:22; Ps. 118:22; Isa. 8:14 28:16; Zec. 3:9; Mat. 21:43-44; Ac. 4:11; Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4; 1 Pe. 2:4-8. Another idiom, mountain = Government: Isa. 2:2; 9:6; Lu. 1:32-33; Rev. 17:9-
Insight into Cht. 7
Dan. 2 Dream Dan. 7 Babylon...Head of Gold.."Winged Lion"..606BC to 537BC
Persia...Breast & Arms of silver.."Bear"..537BC to 332BC
Greece...Belly and thighs of brass.."Leopard"..332BC to 68BC
Iron..Legs of Iron..Terrible Beast..68BC to 476AD
Iron+Clay Feet of Iron and Clay 10 Heads Time?________ 46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him.
47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth [it is], that your God [is] a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou could reveal this secret.
48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise [men] of Babylon.
49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel [sat] in the gate of the king.
? Jer 27:5-7 = Why wasn't Nebuchadnezzar told of this prophecy?
Chapter 3
18-20 years later? According to the Septuagint this occurred in the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon All gold.
60x6 cubits. (Score = 20; cubits = 18 in. ?) Height is 1080 in. or 90 ft. Breadth 108 in. or 9 ft . 7-1=6 = number of man. Man created on the sixth day. Goliath measured in 6's (1 Sam 17:4-7). 6 steps for Solomon's throne (1 Ki. 10:19: 2 Cr. 9:18).
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded,O people, nations, and languages,
5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up:
6 And whoso falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. *** Enforced state religion: Rev. 13:4-5; 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:4; 2 Thes. 2:4 Mt. 13:41-42... The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Re. 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. ** 3779 Kasday (Aramaic) {kas-dah'-ee} Chaldean = "clod breakers" 1) the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris 2) those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension)
9 They spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, has made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falls not down and worships, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou has set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up.
*** Prohibited in the Torah: Ex. 20:4-5; Le. 26:1; Deut. 16:22. Hananiah = Jehovah has given; Shadrach = Aku's command Mishael = who is like God; Meshach = Who is what god is? Azariah = whom Jehovah helps; Abednego = servant of Nego
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 2nd chance? "My gods" Dan. 4:8
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. *** Not careful = do not need to defend ourselves before (NIV)
17 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. Always His will, whatever the outcome they will be delivered out of Nebuchadnezzar's hand, whether in death or deliverance. **These are the faithful "remnant": Isa. 1:9; Ro. 11:5; Ps. 2:5; Rev. 7:14.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up. ** Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Pr. 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. "Seven" times?
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. *** Notice, fully clothed.
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. *** Back draft
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded, and rose up in haste, [and] spoke, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. The four are not bound as the three were, when put in; but with freedom in their limbs, and separate from one another. The furnace is large enough to walk in. In Northern Iraq, brick furnaces have been uncovered the size of a city block. They were feed pitch and sulfur and oxygen was delivered by huge bellows. They have no hurt; neither in their bodies, or their garments. None of them being burnt; they suffered no pain, and will have to be called out. [Son of God; like one of the angels, who are called the sons of God; but many of the ancient Christian writers interpret it of Christ the Son of God, whom Nebuchadnezzar, though a Heathen prince, might have some knowledge of from Daniel and other Jews in his court, of whom he had heard them speak as a glorious Person; and this being such an one, he might conclude it was he, or one like to him; and it is highly probable it was he, since it was not unusual for him to appear in a human form, and to be present with his people, as he often is with them, and even in the furnace of affliction. Isa 43:2 48:10. Gill's Expositor]
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spoke, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. KJV-- (most) high = 185943 `illay (Aramaic) (il-lah'-ee); supreme (i.e. God):. KJV-- God, god = 426 'elahh (Aramaic) (el-aw'); God:
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. Chapter 4 This edict was written probably 562 BC, the year Nebuchadnezzer recovered from insanity. Eze. 28:3 confirms a 6 century Daniel. This is the only chapter in the Jewish Torah written by a gentile. Knowing the first three chapters of Daniel gives great insight into the truths Elihu tells Job and his three friends. Job 33:12-17
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has wrought toward me.
3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation. End of prologue.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
** Second mention of dream by Nebuchadnezzer.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],
9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubles thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
**Master of magicians = scholars = magi = wise men.
10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. *** Ps 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
A man: Ps. 37:35; 52:; 92:12; Isa. 56:3; Jer. 17:8
Nations: Eze. 31:3-18; Rom. 11:16-24
Age of Grace: Mat. 13:31-32 Dan. 2:38
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art] this head of gold.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; ***singular
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: his branches, his leaves, his fruit: *** person singular
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
*** Stump: Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. *** "Brass" = "bronze" ?
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. ***Times = 7 years, 7:25. Aramaic has a word for singular, a word for two, and a word for more than two or plural. In English a word for two would be "both".
17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men. ***Councils in Heaven: 1 Kg. 22:19-22; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6. Ro 13:1 ... the powers that be are ordained of God.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was perplexed "astounded" for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
*** Daniel wasn't perplexed because he didn't know what the dream meant, he was perplexed because he did know! Daniels wish was that the dream be for Nebuchadnezzar's enemies.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reaches unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shall have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. *****Dream was fulfilled.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? *** God hates pride; Pr 6:15-19 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 1 Cor. 4:6-7; Philip. 2:3-4; 1 Tim. 6:4-10; 17; James 4:13-16
31 While the word [was] in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws].
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What does thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. *** Summed up by Daniel to Belshazzar; 5:20-21. Nebuchadnezzar saved? New heart given to him; 7:4. This is the last of Nebuchadnezzar, he lives for one more year then his son Evil-Merodach succeeds him. Evil-Merodach: Merodach's man, the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (2 Kings 25:27; Jer.52:31, 34). He seems to have reigned but two years (BC 562-560). Influenced probably by Daniel, he showed kindness to Jehoiachin, who had been a prisoner in Babylon for thirty-seven years. He released him, and "spoke kindly to him." He was murdered by Nergal-sharezer=Neriglissar, his brother-in-law, who succeeded him (Jer. 39:3, 13).
To prepare for Chapter five and on, we need to read at one setting the following chapters. Idioms are used throughout the Old Testament with consistency. It is important to understand these idioms, for the understanding of eschatology. All these chapters are relating to Daniel 5. The Bible has two main cities in focus, Babylon and Jerusalem. One will be destroyed and the other replaced.
Isaiah 13 and 14 50 and 51 Revelation 17 and 18 The Bible has two main cities in focus, Babylon and Jerusalem. One will be destroyed and the other replaced. The first mention of Babylon is in Gen. 10:10. The last mention is in Rev. 18:21. 897 Babulwn Babulon bab-oo-lone' of Hebrew origin 0894 lbb; 0894 Babel {baw-bel'} from 01101; TWOT - 197; n pr loc Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)" 1) Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates
Babylon is the Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning "The Gate of God." In the Assyrian tablets it means "The city of the dispersion of the tribes." The monumental list of its kings reaches back to BC 2300 and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (BC 606) it threw off the Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of the growing Babylonian empire. Under Nebuchadnezzar it became one of the most splendid cities of the ancient world. After passing through various vicissitudes the city was occupied by Cyrus, "king of Elam, " BC 538) who issued a decree permitting the Jews to return to their own land Ezr. 1:1ff. It then ceased to be the capital of an empire. The Babylon mentioned in 1 Pe. 5:13 was not Rome, as some have thought, but the literal city of Babylon, which was inhabited by many Jews at the time Peter wrote.
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
**Belshazzar is said by Josephus to be the same as Naboandelus, the Nabonadius of Ptolemy, and the Labynetus of Herodotus. He reigned seven years, during which time he was engaged in unsuccessful wars with the Medes and Persians; and at this very time was besieged by Cyrus.
2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. ** Dan. 1:2
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
** The reason of his fall. vs. 23
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. *** Col. 2:14 [this is where the phrase -writing on the wall was coined from :*) ]
6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. ** Two well known phrases that are in use today, being articulated in various ways.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spoke, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
8 Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astounded (perplexed).
10 [Now] the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: [and] the queen spoke and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee,nor let thy countenance be changed:
11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him;whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and] soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams,and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spoke and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15 And now the wise [men], the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing:
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou can make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about thy neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
***Daniel already knows the interpretation. He goes directly into the testimony Nebuchadnezzer. No doubt Daniel has been already praying because of the siege and in the Spirit.
18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men,and [that] he appointed over it whomsoever he will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, has not humbled thine heart, though thou knew all this;
*** If Belshazzar knew this then he must have known of Daniel also. Was he too intoxicated to remember Belteshazzar in vs. 11.??
23 But has lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou has praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, has thou not glorified:
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
26 This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. ***Jer. 51:31
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old
********* Nabonidus appointed his son Belshazzar regent in Babylon, and devoted a great deal of attention to the cult of Sin the moon god in Tema. Many of the Babylonian priests were alienated because Nabonidus neglected the New Year festival of Marduk at Babylon, and the stage was set for rebellion. Meanwhile (in 549) Cyrus the Persian had taken over the Medan Empire. In 539 he took advantage of the prevailing situation, captured Babylon, and as a separate entity that empire passed away. Belshazzar As Co-Regent Nabonidus appointed his son Belshazzar as co-regent while he himself was absent. The Biblical statement that Daniel would become "third in the kingdom" is an interesting piece of local colour - it is a pointer to the contemporary nature of the writing. Technically, Nabonidus was first, with his son Belshazzar the second, and Daniel would have been third -the chief official after the royal rulers themselves.
Belshazzar was defeated, and Babylon was taken over by a Medo-Persian alliance. In 538 BC Cyrus issued a radically new decree: captive peoples could return to their own lands and worship in their own chosen way. They were allowed a greater measure of freedom than earlier conquerors had allowed. In this his policies were drastically different from those who had preceded him. On the Cyrus Cylinder he claims that the Babylonian god Marduk appointed him to restore rightful worship in Babylon. He goes on to say that he had returned various gods to their sanctuaries. Details of this decree as they affect the Hebrew people are found at 2Ch 36:23 and Ezr 1:1-4, and when we allow for the perspective of Cyrus as against that of the Hebrew people the two records come together beautifully. It appears there were various copies of this "Cyrus Decree", and they would be suited for the peoples to whom they were specifically addressed. In the overruling of God Cyrus was the instrument who was fulfilling His purposes, for the Jewish return from exile took place 70 years after these chosen people first were taken into captivity - the figure is precise if we start from the actual control over Judah itself. There are differences between the Cyrus Decree and what we find in the Bible, but they are to be expected. Cyrus writes from his own perspective, not necessarily understanding that he was fulfilling prophecy. The Hebrew version of course sees in his action the overruling of God, and specifically states that as fact. Ezra starts his Book by telling us that it was:
"... in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia ..."
It was indeed remarkable, for this return took place 70 years after it began, as Jeremiah had said at Chapter 29 of his Prophecy, and earlier at Jer 25:12.
It seems that in October, 539 BC, Cyrus' ally Ugbaru, the Governor of Gutium, entered Babylon without a battle, and two weeks later Cyrus himself entered the city and began his task of reorganizing the enlarged empire. At the New Year festivals he himself participated in the accession ceremony which had been neglected by Nabonidus, and took to himself the title of king of Babylon.
We do not know the identity of Darius the Mede who is referred to in Da 5:31 and 6:1. Possibly he was Ugbaru - or Gobrius as his name is sometimes translated - or possibly "Darius" is a throne name of Cyrus himself, thus being a title rather than a name.
This is the approach taken by Professor D.J. Wiseman in, for example, his translation of Da 6:28: {17} "In the reign of Darius, even the reign of Cyrus the Persian." (NOTE - This writer (Dr. Clifford Wilson) does not agree with this interpretation. Three kings named Darius are known, with others in between, referred to by name and not "Darius". This does not suggest that "Darius" was merely a title.) Professor W.F. Albright has a comment in The Biblical Period From Abraham To Ezra: {18} "The substantial historicity of the Edict of Cyrus (Ezr 6:2-4; 6:3-5) in 538 has been confirmed by modern archaeological discoveries." THE A.B.C. OF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY A SURVEY PRESENTED BY DR. CLIFFORD WILSON M.A., B.D., M.R.Ed., Ph.D. VOLUME V: THE DIVIDED KINGDOM TO THE EXILE AND RETURN 29. The Exile And Return p164 RULERS OF NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE Nabopolassar; 625-604 BC Nebuchadrezzar II (s); 604-568 BC Evil-Merodach (s); 561-560 BC (1 Kg. 25:27; Jer. 52:31) Neriglissar (brother-in-law); 559-556 BC (Nergal-Sharezer Jer. 39:3) Labosoarchad (s); 556 BC Nabonidus; 555-539 BC Cyrus conquered Babylonia in 539 BC
PERSIAN RULERS OF BABYLONIA Cyrus; 538-529 BC Cambyses; 529-522 BC Barzia Nebuchadrezzar III Darius I; 521-485 BC Xerxes; 485-464 BC Artaxerxes I; 464-424 BC Xerxes II; 424-423 BC Darius II; 423-404 BC Artaxerxes II; 405-358 BC Artaxerxes III (Ochos); 358-338 BC Arses; 338-335 BC Darius III; 335-331 BC ------------------- Alexander the Great conquered Babylonia 331 BC.
Chapter 6 *** Daniel is between 70 and 80 years old. He has 60 years of public office behind him.
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
** Darius is a title here, not a name; Grotefend has read it in the cuneiform inscriptions at Persepolis, as Darheush, i. e., Lord-king-- a name applied to many of the Medo-Persian kings in common. Three of the names occur; Darius Hystaspis, B. C. 521, in whose reign the decree, originally issued by Cyrus, was carried into effect for rebuilding the temple
; Darius Codomanus, 336 B. C., whom Alexander overcame, called "the Persian" -- an expression used after the rule of Macedon was set up; and Darius Cyaxares II, between Astyages and Cyrus(Eschylus, `Persia, ' 762, 763), who is the one here meant, the king under whom Cyrus, as subordinate prince, took Babylon, 538 B. C. 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
** Administration: Daniel still in a position of honor.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
** Daniel Dan. 5:12,14 9:23 Joseph Gen. 41:38,39,40,41
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
**These two presidents and the princes were jealous. Jealousy leads man to attack a colleague who is more competent then himself.
Heb 13:5 [Let your]conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. "No fault", After 60 years in office. In contrast to our current administration. Only one other person in the Bible is mentioned as having no fault found in him except for Jesus, and he was an administrator also. That was Joseph.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find [it]against him concerning the law of his God.
** Even in this country, there is an emerging persecution of the "Religious fundamentalists" and "dangerous religious cultists", i.e. The Waco Massacre, Randy Weaver at Ruby Creek. We may not agree with the theology of these groups or peoples, but their beliefs did not warrant such action from our own government.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
**Kings setting themselves up as gods are recorded throughout history. From Nebuchadnezzer Dan. 3 to King Herod Acts 12:21-23. We will see it sin. "Den" = 01358 gob (Aramaic) {gobe} = pit (pit of lions)
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
** Esth. 1:19; 8:8.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
**Daniel was a man of prayer, habitual prayer. He knew of the decree but still kept his appointment with the LORD. Knees = Lu. 22:41; Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5. People honored for not kneeling 1 Kg. 8:54; Eze. 9:5; Dan. 3
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Has thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said,The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regard not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou has signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his]heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
** Daruis was first mad at himself. For letting his pride be elevated? For letting himself be tricked into the intrigue? Daruis spent the rest of the day looking for a loop hole in the law to deliver Daniel with. Daruis had a close relationship with Daniel that will be revealed in the following verses.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.
** Was the King stalling for time? Notice the difference between Nebuchadnezzer's authority and Darius's. Dan. 5:19
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou serves continually, he will deliver thee. **Is this a statement or a question?
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
**The king had to have his Lords seal it also for a witness.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. ** Repenting or stressing?
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. ** The King was waiting for the earliest time to remove Daniel.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou serves continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
**The unbeliever wants to know if God is able to do things. The saint knows God is able to do all things, but will He.
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
**Daniel lets the King know that he is in the pit by the Kings doings.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
** Hebrews Cht. 11 "The Hall of Faith". Jug. 14:5-6; 1 Sam.17:34-36; Ps. 574,7; 58:6; 2 Sam. 23:20.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
** Kindred also: Dathan, Abiram, Korah; Num. 16. Mosaic Law more lenient, Deut. 24:16.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
***The first six chapters are a narrative. The last six chapters are visions. Chapter 7 is the most complete outline of Gentile rule of the world in the Bible. At the end of Cht. 7 the text reverts back to the Hebrew language. Chapter 7 is in the first year of Balshazzer (after Cht. 4, before Cht. 5). Chapter 8 is in the third year of Balshazzer (before Cht. 5). Chapter 9 is in the first year of Darius. Chapter 10 through 12 is in the third year of Cyrus.
To prepare for Chapter 7 we have to review Dan. 2 (mans view of human progress) vs. Dan. 7 (Gods view of mans decline). Also we need to read these following three chapters in one sitting; Dan. 7, Rev. 13, 17.
CHAPTER 7 1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, [and] told the sum of the matters. **Nabonidus made Belshazzer his co-regent in his 3rd year. 553 BC. Daniel was about 67 years old. Nebuchadnezzer had died about nine years earlier.
2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
** Winds = Rev. 6:13; Cht. 7 held back not to hurt. Satan's? Job 1:19; Mat.14:24. Sea = Symbolic = Isa. 8:7-8; 17:12-13; 27:1; 57:20; Jer. 6:23; 46:7-9; 47:2; Rev. 13:1; 17:1, 15.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked,and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
** Babylon: Lion + eagle, Jer. 4:7; 48:40; 49:19-22; 50:17, 43-44; Lam 4:19; Eze. 17:3, 12; Hab. 1:8. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
** Persia = Bear; One side = unbalanced union Medes already pushed aside; Three ribs = Babylon, Egypt, Lydia defeated (Isa. 13:17-18).
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. **Leopard = Greece. Lion devours, Bear crushes, Leopard springs upon its prey. 4 heads; Cassander: Greece & Macedonia Lysimachus: Thrace & Bithynia (Asia Minor) Seleucus: Syria, Babylon, India Ptolemy: Egypt, Palestine, Arabia Petrea 3 Animals: Hos. 13: 5-8; Rev. 13:2; 1 Sam. 17:34-36; Pro. 28:15; Jer. 5:6; Amos 5:9.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns.
**v. 24 = Rev. 17:12. Remains until replaced by Kingdom of heaven; v.26, 27. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
**Eyes and mouth = an individual. Mouth = v. 11; Rev. 11:36; 13:56. Horn is idiomatically of the power of the person or entity in this culture.
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was]white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.
** "cast down" = 07412 r@mah (Aramaic) {rem-aw'} corresponding to 07411; TWOT - 2997; v cast 10, impose 1, cast down 1; 12 1b1) to be cast 1b2) to be placed, be set Thrones = plural; Church hidden in OT. (Mat. 13:34-35; Eph. 3:5, 9) 24 elders? Rev 4, 5, 11. Garment & hair; Ps 45:8 104:2 Mt. 17:2 Mr. 9:3 Php 3:9 1 Ti 6:16 1 Jo 1:5 Re 1:14 His throne; Ps 104:3,4 Eze 1:13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21 10:2,3,4,5,6,7
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
**Books; Ex. 32:32 Isa 65:6 Evil deeds Mal. 3:16 Book of Remembrance Dan. 12:1, Luke 10:20 [Rev. 20:10, 12-15 after millennium. ]
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld [even]till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. ** Rev. 19:19-21 & 20:10? Dan. 7:10!
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
**Joel 3:1-2; Mat. 25:31-46; Rev. 1:13; Mk. 14:61. Continue for a season: survive in another form in the kingdom that replaces them. Absorbed by Rome: Greece in 146 BC. Lysimachus' kingdom 133 BC. Seleucus' in 64 BC Ptolemy's, Egypt in 31 BC. Reappear in recent times: Greece 1830 Egypt 1922 Turkey (Lysimachus 1924 and part of Seleucus') the rest of Seleucus' kingdom: Afghanistan 1921 Iran 1925 Lebanon 1930 Jordan 1946 Pakistan 1947 Israel 1948
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
**Son receives Father's gifts; Ps. 2:6-9. Will rule over nations; Ps. 72:11; Rev. 19:15-16 Clouds: OT. Ex. 13:21; 19:9; 24:16; 34:5; Le. 16:2; 1 Kn. 8:10-11; Ps. 18:11,12; 78:14; 97:2-4; Isa 19:1; Jer.4:13; Eze. 10:4; Nah. 1:3. NT. Mat. 17:5; 24:30; Lu. 21:27; Acts 1:9, 11; Mk. 14:61, 62; Mat 26:64; 1 Thes. 4:17; Rev. 1:7; 14:14.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.
15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my] body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
**Body (Aramaic) {nid-neh'} body = sheath. Troubled (Aramaic) {be-hal'} to frighten, alarm, dismay
16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
17 These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
**Saints = qaddiysh (Aramaic) {kad-deesh'} holy, separate OT. Mat. 27:52,53; Ex. 19:6 NT. 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Phil 1:1... Trib. Rev 13:7; see v.21
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass; [which] devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that [were] in his head, and [of] the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even [of] that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look [was] more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; War with the saints: 2/3 fall; Zech. 13:8-9. Jerusalem falls; Zech. 14:1-2 Rev. 13:5-7 Not the church; Mat. 16:18; Rev. 1, 2 , 3.
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
**See v. 25. First four trumpet judgments Rev. 8:5-13?
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings [that] shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
**"1 hour": Rev. 17:12 25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
**Change times and laws: Jesus sends "sore judgment" on Nature. The sixth seal Rev. 6:12-17 (Eze. 14:21). The "little horn" will try to remedy this, in the first four Trumpet judgments. They are given into his hand, Rev 11:7; 12:15; 13:3-5, 13???
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.
**The "Roman" Empire will cease to exist when the Little Horn is judged. Isa 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
28 Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitation's much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart
Chapter 8 Chapter 1 through 2:4 is written in Hebrew and is an introductory statement. From Cht. 2 through 7 it is written in Aramaic and deals with the gentile rule of the known world. Cht. 8 is where the text reverts back to Hebrew. The text implies that from here to the end of Daniel, the visions will deal with the state of Israel.
This takes place two years after Cht. 7, and twelve years before Belshazzar's feast in Cht. 5. Nabonidus made Balshazzar his co-regent in his 3rd year: 553 BC. Chapter 8 will focus on the transition of the Persia and Grecian empires.
1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, [even unto] me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
** 3rd year: 551 BC. 2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
** Shushan: The Susa of Greek and Roman writers, once the capital of Elam. It lay in the uplands of Susiana, on the east of the Tigris, about 150 miles to the north of the head of the Persian Gulf. It is the modern Shush, on the northwest of Shuster. Here Nehemiah (Neh. 1) began his public life. Most of the events recorded in the Book of Esther took place here. Modern explorers have brought to light numerous relics, and the ground-plan of the splendid palace of Shushan, one of the residences of the great king, together with numerous specimens of ancient art, which illustrate the statements of Scripture regarding it (Dan. 8:2).
The inscriptions on the ruins represent that the palace was founded by Darius and completed by Artaxerxes. Actually there: Josephus, Kiel, Rosenmuller, Bertholdt. In vision: Vulgate, John Calvin, Montgomery, Syriac. (Eze 8:3; 40:1-2; Rev 17:3)
3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns [were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
** Two horns unequal: W-N-S see map. Medo-Persian empire, 1 not 2 empires, v. 20. Cht 7:5, lopsided bear. Cyrus the Persian already in control of the Medo-Persian empire prior to the fall of Babylon.
5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes.
Notable horn: Alexander the Great, v. 21. Touched not the Ground: Alexander conquered the known world in just eleven years from leaving his home country.
6 And he came to the ram that had [two] horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
**Alexander died at 32 at Babylon. Pneumonia, caused from being drunk. Empire took 22 years to divide. See note 7:6.
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land].
** "Pleasant land": Dan. 11:16, 41, 45; Jer. 3:19; Eze. 20:6, 15; Mal. 3:12 Note the differences between the little horn of Cht. 7 and this little horn.
"Out of one of them" vs. "There came up among them" This horn comes out of the 3rd world empire vs. Cht. 7 little horn coming out of the fourth empire. The text implies they are not the same "horn", as far as personality is concerned, but as far as typology is concerned, and as far as purpose is concerned, and as far as the spirit of these two are concerned, they are exactly the same. The little horn in Daniel 7:8 is a prophecy concerning the antichrist, the man of sin, called by the apostle Paul, the son of perdition. The little horn in chapter 8 is not necessarily the personal antichrist but rather a leader who arose soon after Daniel's day who is a perfect type of the antichrist who is going to appear. Even until this day Daniel 7 has not been fulfilled.
In chapter 8 the prophecy of the little horn was fulfilled in the time of Antiochus Epiphanies. The man does exactly in his day what the antichrist is going to do in a greater sense, and greater way when he moves upon the scene at the end of the age. This little horn of Daniel 8, is a figure and type of the little horn, the son of perdition, the antichrist, who will appear at the end of the age to confirm the covenant with Israel for one week (9:27). Then, later on, the antichrist will commit the abomination of desolation exactly as Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the holy place in his day.
Antiochus committed the abomination in that he defiled the temple. The abomination of desolation and the transgression of desolation, verse 13. He is only a shadow of the antichrist, the little horn, of verse 9 and Daniel 7:8.
Jesus told his deciples "when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains" 196 years after Antiochus committed the abomination of desolation.
Here we see the Spirit talk about the man (Antiochus) and also about the motivation behind the man(spirit of the antichrist). Read Eze 28:1-20.
10 And it waxed great, [even] to the host of heaven; and it cast down [some] of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
** Spirit of antichrist; Rev 12:6-9. Host: people of God: Gen. 15:5; 22:17; Dan 12:3; Mat. 13:43
11 Yea, he magnified [himself] even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.
Antiochus Epiphanies: 8th king of the Syrian dynasty, 175-164 BC (1 Macc 1:10; 6:16); infamous brother of CLeopatra. Ascended the throne following the murder of his brother, the former king, Seleucus Philopator. The son of Seleucus, Demetrius, the rightful heir to the throne still lived, but was held as a hostage in Rome. Antiochus succeeded in obtaining the throne largely through flattery and bribery (11:21).
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which spoke, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
"Days" = 06153 `ereb {eh'-reb} evening, night, sunset 01242 boqer {bo'-ker} morning, break of day. After "the son of perdition" the sacrifices do not resume. Heb. 10:10. History didn't record exact date of the cleansing of the temple after the Maccabees revolt. 171 BC, Onias III, the legitimate high priest murdered. Pseudo-priest assumed power. Onias III had been removed from office and replaced by his wicked brother, Jason, who had bribed Antiochus for the position. In 172 BC another brother, Menelaus, succeeded in replacing Jason by promising a larger bribe. In 171, Menelaus murdered the good Onias III who had rebuked him for giving away and selling many of the gold utensils of the Temple. 2 Macc. 4:7-50.
15 And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision. Between Ulai: see map. Gabriel = "warrior of God" or "man of God" an archangel; the angel God used to send messages of great importance to man; sent to Daniel, to Zacharias, and to Mary. Always with Messianic message. First mention of Angel by name in the Bible. Dan. 9:21; Lk. 1:19,26.
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end [shall be] the vision.
"Time of the end" 8:15-17 duel fulfillment; Scofield, Louis T Talbot, William Kelly, and more.
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation:for at the time appointed the end [shall be].
20 The ram which thou sawest having [two] horns [are] the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is]the first king.
22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. The motivation behind Antiochus?
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. "Their kingdom": the four 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully,and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. ***Again duel fulfillment. 1. He is to appear in the latter times of Israel's history. 8:23 2. Through the alliance with other nations, he achieves worldwide influence. 8:24 3. A peace program helps his rise to power. 8:25 4. Extremely intelligent and persuasive. 8:23 5. Characterized by Satanic control. 8:24 6. Great adversary against Israel and the Prince of princes. 8:24-25 7. A direct judgment from God terminates his rule. 8:25 Dan. 11 will take a closer look at these two "little horns"
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told [is] true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days.
Verse 14 There is no temple at this time in Jerusalem. Yet Daniel just saw that the daily morning and evening sacrifices will again take place, and then be interrupted by this "little horn". Does this vision motivate Daniel to the study of the writings of Jeremiah and consequently the prayer in chapter 9.
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick [certain] days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood [it].
"Did the kings business" Belshazzar had to be reminded who Daniel was and is 12 years later. 5:11-12. Was Daniel an ambassador for the king to other provinces? Is this why he is in Shushan. Is that why he wasn't present at the plain of Dura, Cht 3?
Chapter 9 There are some who would like to late date the book of Daniel because of its complete accuracy in prophecy. They would like to make it a book of history instead of prophecy, declaring that historians wrote it and then gave authorship to Daniel. Most of the prophecies in Daniel were fulfilled after his death, (The time and circumstances of his death are not recorded. He probably died at Susa, about eighty-five years of age). Daniel wrote about the four world ruling governments in Chapter 2 and five ruling governments in Chapter 7. The fourth government, Rome, did not start to emerge until 68 BC with Julius Caesar as Emperor. The Hebrew writings, The Law and the Prophets and the Writings, were translated into Greek in 285 BC now called the Septuagint or LXX. Prior to most of the fulfillment of prophecies found in the book of Daniel. But the best authentication we have of the book of Daniel being written by Daniel is Christ Jesus himself. Jesus quoted from Daniel three times, Mt. 24:15: Lu 19:42 (cf. Dan. 9:26); Lu 21:22; (cf. Dan. 9:24).
Chapter 9 takes place about 538 BC. The feast of Cht. 5 took place between Cht. 8 and 9.
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation's of Jerusalem.
Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10 Y@hovah {yeh-ho-vaw'} = LORD, 7x chapter only. Everywhere someone is reading the scriptures in scripture they take the Word literally. Why 70 years 2 Chron. 36:20-21
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
*** Two in OT which no evil is spoken of Joseph and Daniel. 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spoke in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7 O Lord, righteousness [belongs] unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou has driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
8 O Lord, to us [belongs] confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
9 To the Lord our God [belong] mercies and forgiveness', though we have rebelled against him;
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
2 Chron. 7:14 Still in effect today!
12 And he has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven has not been done as has been done upon Jerusalem.
*** Note Jerusalem
13 As [it is] written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
14 Therefore has the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God [is] righteous in all his works which he does: for we obeyed not his voice.
15 And now, O Lord our God, that has brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and has gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people [are become] a reproach to all [that are] about us.
***Jerusalem is the focus!
17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolation's, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness', but for thy great mercies.
"by thy name" = called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the "city of God," the "holy city;" by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning "the holy;" once "the city of Judah" 2 Chr. 25:28). This name is in the original in the dual form, and means "possession of peace," or "foundation of peace. It is first mentioned in Scripture under the name Salem (Gen. 14:18; comp. Ps.76:2).
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
20 And whiles I [was] speaking, and 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;
21 Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
*** Gabriel: 8:16. Daniel's mind set is that of a true Jew. He is telling us the time of the day by the evening sacrifice that would be if there were a temple at Jerusalem.
22 And he informed [me], and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show [thee]; for thou [art] greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
So 7:10 I [am] my beloved's, and his desire [is] toward me. Daniel is given an apocalyptic prophecy, John the beloved apostle was also giving an apocalyptic prophecy, the book of Revelation Mt. 24
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
These seventy weeks are for the chosen people of Israel and Jerusalem. Not the Church nor the Gentile world. Weeks of years is a familiar term for the Jews; Gen. 29:26-28; Le. 25, 26. Six events are prophesied here and yet to be completed. to finish the transgressions;to make an end to sins; to make reconciliation for iniquity; to bring in everlasting righteousness; to seal up the vision; (close authority of) to anoint the Holy of Holies. To understand the next three verses, it is imperative to get some background. Verse 24 gives the scope of the entire passage. Verse 25 deals with 69 of the 70 weeks. Verse 26 deals with the interval between the 69th and 70th week. The key to understanding this passage is to realize that the seventy weeks are not continuous. Verse 27 deals with the 70th week.
Sabbatical years: Sabbath for the land ordained; Le. 25:1-22; 26:33-35; Deut. 15; Ex. 23:10, 11. Biblical year is 360 days. Gen. 7:24; 8:3-4, in Revelation, 42 months = 3 1/2 years = 1260 days. All ancient calendars were based on a 360 day year. Assyrians, Chaldeans, Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks, Chinese, Hindus, etc. Typically twelve 30 day months. All calendars changed in 701 BC. Numa Popilius, the 2nd king of Rome, reorganized the original calendar of 360 days per year, by adding 5 days per year. King Hezekiah, Numa's contemporary, reorganized his Jewish calendar by adding a month each Jewish leap year (on a cycle of 7 every 19 years). If Revelation is taken literally the 360 day year calendar will be in use again.
25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
"Prince" = nagiyd {naw-gheed'} or nagid {naw-gheed'} = King Mathematical prophecy: 69 weeks of years = 483 years = 173,880 days The Trigger (terminus ad quo) The Decrees to "rebuild Jerusalem"? 1) Cyrus, 537 BC, Ezra 1:2-4 2) Darius, Ezra 6:1-5, 8, 12 3) Artaxerxes, 458 BC. Ezra 7:11-26 4) Artaxerxes, 445 BC, Neh. 2:5-8, 17, 18 (1), (2), & (3): were to build the Temple. Only the last one, (4), was to rebuild the city and walls. The Target (terminus ad quem) "The Meshiach Nagid, the Messiah the King dygn xysm
Several times they attempted to take Jesus as king but He did not allow it. "Mine hour is not yet come" Jn. 6:15; 7:30, 44, etc. Then He arranges it! The Triumphal Entry recorded in all four gospels: Mat. 21:1-9; Mk. 11:1-10; Lk. 19:29-39; Jn. 12:12-16. Jesus deliberately arranges to fulfill Zech. 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. This is the only day He allows them to call Him King. (Lk. 19:38)
Jesus held the accountable to recognize this day! Lk. 19:38
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolation's are determined.
After the 69th, before the 70th "cut off" = karath {kaw-rath'} to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant. "Search for the Messiah" by Chuck Smith and Mark Eastman. Rabbi's knew of the two appearances of Jesus. There are at lest 38 years between verse 25 and 27 because of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. But by observation there is no less than 1900 years almost 2000.
Interval also implied: Dan. 9:26; Isa. 61:1,2 (re. Lk. 4:18-20); Rev. 12:5,6. Isa. 54:7; Hos. 3:4,5; Amos 9:10, 11 (acts 15:13-18); Micah 5:2,3; Zech 9:9, 10; Lk. 1:31, 32; 21:24.
Interval defined: Israel blinded (Lk. 19:42) until the fullness of the gentiles (Ro. 11:25). This interval is the church, an era kept secret in the OT. Mat. 13:34, 35; Eph. 3:5, 9. Israel is never used of the church. Church 79X.
Church Born at Pentecost: Col. 1:18; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 1:5, 11:15-16 Prerequisites: Atonement Mat. 16:18, 21 Resurrection Eph. 1:20-23 Ascension Eph 4:7-11 Spiritual gifts only after ascension and only to the Church Mystery Character Body concept Eph. 3:3-5, 9 Indwelling every believer Col. 1:26-27 Bride of Christ Eph. 5:22-32 Rapture 1 Cor. 15:50-58 One "New Man" Eph. 2:15 (Cf. Rev. 12:5) Distinguished 1 Cor. 10:32
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the over spreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
70th week of Daniel (Revelation 6 through 19) is an in depth look of this time period. The Covenant Enforced with "The Many" - an idiom for Israel. This is the "Covenant with Hell" Isa. 28:15; Zech. 11:15-17. (cf. Isa 45:7) "midst of the week" ; The most documented period of time in the Bible. Time, times, and the dividing of time, Dan 7:25; 4:16, 23, 25. 3 1/2 years Dan 12:7. 42 months Rev. 11:2; 13:5. 1260 days, Rev. 11:3; Dan 12:6. 1/2 week, Dan. 9:27.
"cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease" Mat. 24:15-16 abominations = This word is also used symbolically of sin in general (Isa. 66:3); an idol (44:19); the ceremonies of the apostate Church (Rev. 17:4); a detestable act (Ezek. 22:11). Dan. 11:36 "and that determined shall be poured" Bowl Judgments Rev. 15, 16
Chapter 10 This Chapter is a preamble and introduction to the next two Chapters. This Chapter give us a glimpse into the unseen world in which we will spend our eternity with our Adonay, LORD. Man is made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). Yet at the same time Man was created a little lower than the angles (Heb. 2:7). Our spirit is eternal, our soul gives us conciseness, and our bodies are temporal. Chapter 7 verse 15 Daniel writes that his spirit was grieved in the midst of his sheath (body). These bodies are complex biological machines. They burn oxygen and omit carbon monoxide. They deteriorate and cease to function (die). The Good News is that through Christ Jesus we get to upgrade our mortal bodies for immortal bodies (1 Cor. 15:53). The created celestial beings, whom we commonly call angels in the English language, already have immortal bodies (Job 38:7). The word angel is not a translated word. It is a transliterated word. The Greek word aggelov, aggelos (ang'-el-os) means messenger or one who is sent. Its origin is from use as a military term. An example of this would be; if we acquired information about our enemy and need to get that information to headquarters we would send an aggelos (messenger) with the data to headquarters. Angels in scripture always appear as men. Only three angles are named in scripture; Gabriel, Michael, Lucifer. Daemons do not have bodies, they are always looking to posses bodies, (Mat. 8:32), while angles are imbodied.
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing [was] true, but the time appointed [was] long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
Dan. 1:21 "unto the 1st year of King Cyrus"; official public career; 3rd year out of public life. [cf. John at Patmos, given Revelation] 2 years after "return"; 2 Chron. 36:23, 32; Ezra 1:1-3. Only 49,697 returned the first year, Ezra 2:64-65. Daniel still in Persia; Retired? Ill? Over 80 years of age.
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Daniel not on an absolute fast. New Test. fasting; Mat. 9:14-15; Acts 13:2-3; 14:23; 1 Cor. 7:5; 2 Cor. 6:5; 11:27.
4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river,which [is] Hiddekel;
Hiddekel: called by the Accadians id Idikla; i.e., "the river of Idikla", the third of the four rivers of Paradise (Gen. 2:14). Gesenius interprets the word as meaning "the rapid Tigris." The Tigris rises in the mountains of Armenia, 15 miles south of the source of the Euphrates, which, after pursuing a southeast course, it joins at Kurnah, about 50 miles above Bassorah.
5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
6 His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Who is this visitor? Scholars are evenly split whether this is an appearance of Christ Jesus or an angle. What we do get from the text is that he has a major role in the eternal side of life.
7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves
What scared them? cf. Saul on the road to Damascus: others heard, unintelligibly. Acts 9
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength
Awareness of his lack of holiness. Isa. 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips,and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
"deep sleep" cf. Adam, Gen. 2?
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
(This major player is sent.) 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou did set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. (3 weeks before.)
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
This major "angel" was withstood 21 days! It took a "chief prince" Michael to free him up! This is the same Michael in Jude vs. 9. Yet he "remained there with the Kings", We have Guardian Angels Mat. 18:10; Acts 12:15. There are two classes of beings spoken of here, "angles" and men. Isa. 24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones [that are] on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision [is] for [many] days. 15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
16 And, behold, [one] like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18 Then there came again and touched me [one] like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace [be] unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou has strengthened me.
20 Then said he, Know thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come
. "I return to fight", Michael still holding the prince of Persia off? "the prince of Grecia shall come" 200 years in the future.
21 But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and [there is] none that holds with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
This is were we know Michael is the prince over Israel. Questions for your own study time.... How many angels are here? Verse 5-6, 10-14, 16, 18-21. Do we have the complete "scripture of truth"? cf. Rev. 11:4 What would have happened if Daniel stopped fasting after 20 days? Is there a prince of America? Is there a prince over the city in which you live? Do we, today, fast seeking visions? cf. Joel 2:28
1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, [even] I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
2 And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than [they] all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.
5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and [one] of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion [shall be] a great dominion.
6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in [these] times.
7 But out of a branch of her roots shall [one] stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, [and] with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue [more] years than the king of the north.
9 So the king of the south shall come into [his] kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and [one] shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, [even] to his fortress.
11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, [even] with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
12 [And] when he has taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down [many] ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened [by it].
13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither [shall there be any] strength to withstand.
16 But he that comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand [on his side], neither be for him.
18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause [it] to turn upon him.
19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes [in] the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
23 And after the league [made] with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do [that] which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: [yea], and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
27 And both these kings' hearts [shall be] to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end [shall be] at the time appointed.
28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart [shall be] against the holy covenant; and he shall do [exploits], and return to his own land.
29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].
33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
35 And [some] of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make [them] white, [even] to the time of the end: because [it is] yet for a time appointed.
36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge [and] increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many [countries] shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps.
44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6 And [one] said to the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, How long [shall it be to] the end of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swear by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed [is] he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the end [be]: for thou shall rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
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