In this portion there are but a few connecting links that call for remark.
In Jeremiah 25;11-12; and Jeremiah 29:10, there is an inclusive period given, namely, the captivity of seventy years. It commenced in 6o6 B.C., and terminated in the first year of Cyrus, 536 (Ezra 6:3).
In Zechariah 1:12-16 another period of seventy years is named, and here it is Zion, and God’s “house shall be built.” The destruction was in 588; and though, on the return of the captivity, the building was begun, it was not continued. It was recommenced in the second year of Darius (Ezra 4:24), in the year B.C. 519, which would be seventy years from its destruction.
THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL 9
It is generally acknowledged that these seventy weeks are weeks of years; that is, 490 years in all.
It is also clear from the prophecy that the seventy weeks are divided into three parts: seven weeks; threescore and two weeks; and one week.
The seven weeks (49 years) would seem to refer to the building of the city in troublous times.
The sixty-two weeks (434 years) to the time after which Messiah was to be cut off.
Then the destruction of the city and sanctuary is mentioned.
And then the last week.
Our task here is not to enter minutely into the prophecy, but to see how its fulfillment agrees with chronology.
Observe, 1, that the seventy weeks begin when the command goes forth to build Jerusalem, and not to build the temple. The former was in the 20th year of Artaxerxes (Neh. 2:1), and the latter in the 7th year (Ezra 7:7). It must then be the 20th year.
The date generally given for this is B.C. 446; but Usher gave B.C. 455, and Hengstenberg and others also contend for the same date.
Nearly all are agreed that Xerxes began to reign B.C. 485, the difference being as to how long he reigned, and consequently as to when Artaxerxes succeeded him; and the question resolves itself into this: Did Xerxes reign eleven years or twenty-one years?
Hengstenberg says, “We should probably have been spared the trouble of this inquiry altogether, had not the error of an acute writer, and the want of independence on the part of those who succeeded him, involved the question in obscurity. According to Thucydides, Artaxerxes began to reign a short time before the flight of Themistocles into Asia. Dodwell was led astray by certain specious arguments, and set down the year 465 as the date of both these events. The thorough refutation of these arguments by Vitringa was, strange to say, entirely overlooked by both linguists and historians.... The view expressed by Dodwell was adopted by Corsini in his Fastis Atticis,’ and currently received.... The credit of having once more discovered the right road is due to Kruger, who, after an interval of more than a hundred years, by an entirely independent inquiry, arrived at the same result as Vitringa.... he places the death of Xerxes in the year 474 or 473, and the flight of Themistocles a year later.” And Hengstenberg then proceeds, in his “Christology,” to give the direct and indirect proofs that this is the correct date.
This would make the twentieth year of Artaxerxes B.C. 455; which date agrees well with the prophecy; whereas the commonly received date (446) does not. We have no hesitation, therefore, in adopting the date that agrees with the prophecy, and its fulfillment stands thus:
Years.
Twentieth year of Artaxerxes ——— B.C. 455
The Crucifixion——————————- A.D. 29
484
Deduct for adjustment of the Eras- 1
Sixty-nine weeks—————————- 483
January 1, B.C. 2 to January 1, B.C. 1 = 1 year
to January 1, A.D. 1 = 2 years
to January 1, A.D. 2 = 3 years)
After the cutting off of Messiah, we believe the remainder of Dan 9:26 to have been fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (“the people of the prince that shall come,”) the desolation still going on.
The last week would thus still be future — the present time not being reckoned to the Jews; for they are now Lo-ammi, not God’s people. This is proved in two ways. 1. After the crucifixion there was no one that made a covenant with the Jews for seven years, and broke it in the middle, and caused the sacrifice to cease, according to Daniel 9:27. Jerusalem was not destroyed till A.D. 70, forty-one years after the crucifixion. 2. The blessings named in Dan 9:24 have not yet been made good to Daniel’s people and the “holy city.”
The confirming a covenant for one week, but breaking it in the midst, is by some future prince, and not by Christ. But this does not come within our present subject.
The prophetical parts of the Book of Daniel already fulfilled will be found in the table, with the various kings of the north and kings of the south therein referred to. Palestine is the center, and “north” and “south” are north and south of Palestine.
These kings referred to in Daniel reach down to B.C. 170. From this to the beginning of New Testament history a few links are added.
As to what is future, and as to there being again kings of the north and south, we do not enter upon.
There are, however, three periods named in Dan. 12 which call for a passing remark.
Daniel 12:7 “A time, times, and a half.” This is generally taken to be a year, two years, and half a year; in all, three years and a half, or 1260 days: or, if each day is for a year, 1260 years. It will be remembered that the same number of days is twice named in the Revelation (Rev. 11:3, 12:6).
Daniel 12:11 “A thousand two hundred and ninety days.” These would be literal days or years.
Daniel 12:12 “The thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” This again may be days or years.
In Daniel 12:11 it is said that the period shall be “from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate.” This evidently refers to the same time as Daniel 9:27. And doubtless all these periods are connected with the last week of Daniel’s seventy weeks, and are still future. The three years and a half of Daniel 12:7 would be exactly half the week: thirty days more (the 1290 days of Dan. 12:11) would doubtless mark some further deliverance: and forty-five days more (the 1335 days of Dan. 12:12) would bring into blessing. There may have been a partial fulfillment of some of this in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes; but it could only have been partial, because universal blessing to the Jews was not brought in; and by the seventy weeks we see it must be after Messiah is cut off. At the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus desolation followed, not blessing; and if years be reckoned instead of days, it would only bring it to the fourteenth century, when there was still no blessing to the Jews as a nation. It must be still future.
The links in this division of events are, that, the Jews being carried into captivity, God recognizes Gentile dominion in Nebuchadnezzar (the Babylonian empire, the first beast of Dan. 7), and a revelation is made to him of future events. But he and his successors impiously exalt themselves against God, who tears the kingdom from them, and the Medo-Persian kingdom succeeds (the second beast of Dan. 7). A portion of the Jews are now restored to Jerusalem, and in humble faith the city is repaired and the temple rebuilt. This closes Old Testament history. The Grecian empire succeeds (the third beast of Dan. 7); which is afterward divided into four parts, but which soon become two, the “north” and “south” of Daniel 11. The Jews again and again suffer under these, and especially under Antiochus Epiphanes. Judas Maccabeus delivers Jerusalem, and the Jews enjoy freedom for a short time. In the meantime Rome has been ascending in power, and become supreme (the fourth beast of Dan. 7); Judea is made tributary to Rome, and Herod is made king. And this brings us to the opening of New Testament history.
SUMMARY
We here give a general view of the various links in the chain of events from Adam to the Era of A.D. It will be observed that all but one are taken from Scripture.
Era
Years
From Adam to the Flood—-
1656
This we arrive at by adding the ages of the patriarchs when the sons named were born.
From the Flood to the call of Abraham—-
427
This is found in the same manner; and putting Terah’s age at 130 when Abraham was born.
From the call of Abraham to the Exodus—-
430
This is obtained from Ex. 12:40; and Gal. 3:17.
From the Exodus to the Temple——
479
This is stated in 1 Kings 6:1, as in the 480th year, or 479 complete years.
From the commencement of the Temple to the division of the Kingdom
37
Solomon reigned 40 years (1 Kings 11:42), and the Temple was begun in his 4th year: 40-3 = 37.
From the division of the Kingdom to the destruction of Jerusalem.
388
Stated in Ezek. 4:4-6, to be 390 years, or 388 entire years.
From the destruction of Jerusalem to the return of the captives, in the first year of Cyrus in Babylon -
52
They were captives 70 years (Jer. 25:11, 12; 29:10). This began in the 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar, and Jerusalem was destroyed in his 19th, year, 70-18 = 52.
From the 1st year of Cyrus to the 20th of Artaxerxes, when the 70 weeks of Daniel commence
81
This is not given in Scripture. Cyrus, 7 years; Cambyses, 7; Pseudo-Smerdis, 1; Darius, 36; Xerxes, 11; Artaxerxes, 19.
From the 20th of Artaxerxes to the Era of A.D.—-
454
From the 20th of Artaxerxes to the Crucifixion is, according to the prophecy of the seventy weeks (Dan. 9) 69 weeks = 483 years; from which deduct 29, the date of the Crucifixion: 483-29 = 454
Total
4004