John Gill Commentary Daniel 9:14

"Therefore hath Jehovah watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice." — Daniel 9:14 (ASV)

Therefore has the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it
upon us
The evil of punishment; he watched the fit and proper time to bring it upon them; indeed, he watches over the evil of sin, to bring upon men the evil of chastisement or punishment, (Job 14:16) , but the latter is here meant; see (Jeremiah 31:28) (44:27) , the word used has the signification of hastening; and so Jarchi and Saadiah explain it, "he has hastened" ^F8 : the almond tree, as the latter observes, has its name from here, because it prevents other trees, and is quicker in putting out its blossom than they, (Jeremiah 1:11Jeremiah 1:19) and so this may denote the purity of the Lord; his displicency at sin; his strict justice in punishing it; and his diligence and activity in executing judgment for it, which slumbers not, as some imagine.

for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he does ;
The prophet is all along careful to clear God from any imputation of injustice in any of his works, even in his strange work, punitive justice; though he watches over the evil to bring it, yet he is righteous in so doing; no charge of unrighteousness is to be exhibited against him on this account: for we did not obey his voice ;
neither in his word, nor in his providences; neither by his prophets, nor by his judgments; and being guilty of the evil of fault, it was but just they should bear the evil of punishment.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: (dwqvy) "festinavit", Paguinus, Vatablus.