What does Daniel 9:15 mean?
This begins a subtle shift in Daniel's prayer (Daniel 9:3–4). He has been confessing Israel's corporate sins (Daniel 9:5–14) which led the nation to defeat and exile (2 Kings 17:1–8; 2 Chronicles 36:5–7; Jeremiah 25:7–11). God predicted these consequences (Deuteronomy 28:15–24, 48–50; 29:25), but the Jewish people and their leaders ignored those warnings. Now, Daniel begins to appeal to God to accept these prayers of confession and restore Israel as He promised to do (Jeremiah 29:10–14).The exodus, when Israel was freed from slavery in Egypt, was a clear display of the Lord's infinite power (Exodus 3:19–20; 12:50–51). He carved a path through the Red Sea to give the Hebrews safe passage (Exodus 14:21–22), but He brought the waters together when the Egyptian cavalry pursued the Hebrews (Exodus 14:26–29). These events generated a reputation among the Canaanite people (Joshua 2:10–11).
Later, as the people entered the Promised Land, God piled up the waters of the Jordan River to allow His people safe passage (Joshua 3:15–17). This miracle further enhanced God's reputation in Canaan. Joshua 5:1 reports: "As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel."
Yet, despite all the Lord's miraculous intervention on their behalf, Israel sinned and acted wickedly (Psalm 106:9–14; Isaiah 1:4). The Old Testament records the many wicked rulers who led the people even further into sin (see 1—2 Kings).