Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 9:2

"in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years." — Daniel 9:2 (ASV)

I Daniel understood by books – By the sacred books, and especially by the writings of Jeremiah. It has been made a ground of objection to the genuineness of Daniel that he mentions “books” in this place (ספרים s^ephârı̂ym) as if there were at that time a collection of the sacred books, or as if they had been enrolled together in a volume.

The objection is that the writer speaks as if the canon of the Scriptures was completed, or that he uses such language as the Hebrews did when the canon of the Scriptures was finished, and thus betrays himself. See Bertholdt, “Commentary,” p. 78. Compare DeWette, “Einl.” Section 13. This objection has been examined by Hengstenberg, “Beitrag,” pp. 32-35.

It is sufficient to reply that there is every probability that the Jews in Babylon would be in possession of the sacred books of their nation. Furthermore, though the canon of the Scriptures was not yet completed, private collections of those writings would have existed. The word Daniel uses here is precisely what he would employ on the supposition that he referred to a private collection of the prophets' writings. Compare Lengerke, in loc. See the Introduction, where the objection is examined.

The number of the years, about which the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah – This refers to the number of years concerning which the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah; that is, the years which He had revealed to Jeremiah. The “books” referred to, therefore, were evidently a collection of the writings of Jeremiah, or a collection that embraced his writings.

That He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem – This means that Jerusalem would lie waste for so long. This was expressly declared by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11–12): And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, etc.

So also Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:10): For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. The time of the desolation and of the captivity, therefore, was fixed and positive, and the only difficulty in determining when it would close was in ascertaining the exact year when it commenced. There were several occurrences that might, perhaps, be regarded as the beginning of the desolations and the captivity—the terminus a quo—and, as one or another of them was fixed upon, the close would be regarded as nearer or more remote.

Daniel, it seems, by close study, had satisfied his own mind on that subject. He had been able to fix upon a period that was undoubtedly the proper beginning and, therefore, to compute the time when it would close. The result showed that his calculation was correct, for, at the time he expected, the order was given by Cyrus to rebuild the city and temple. When he instituted this inquiry and engaged in this solemn act of prayer, it would have been impossible to conjecture how this could be brought about.

The reigning monarch was Cyaxares II, or, as he is called here, Darius. There was nothing in his character, or in anything that he had done, that could have been a basis for calculating that he would favor the return of the Jews and the rebuilding of the city.

Furthermore, there was then no probability that Cyrus would so soon come to the throne. There was also nothing in his character, as known, that could be a ground of hope that he would voluntarily intervene and accomplish the divine purposes and promises regarding the holy city.

It was probably such circumstances as these that produced the anxiety in Daniel’s mind and led him to offer this fervent prayer.

His fervent supplications should lead us to trust in God that He will accomplish His purposes and should induce us to pray with fervour and faith when we see no way in which He will do it. In all cases, He can as easily devise a way in answer to prayer as He could remove Cyaxares from the throne and incline the heart of Cyrus to undertake the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple.