Daniel 9:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.

NIV: You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.

NASB: So He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great disaster; for under the entire heaven there has not been done anything like what was done in Jerusalem.

CSB: He has carried out his words that he spoke against us and against our rulers by bringing on us a disaster that is so great that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done under all of heaven.

NLT: You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem.

KJV: And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

NKJV: And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem.

God promised Israel great blessings if they obeyed Him in the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 28:1–6). He also warned them of terrible consequences if they betrayed Him (Deuteronomy 28:15–24). Among those results was being scattered among hostile nations (Deuteronomy 28:48–50; 29:25). Over time, the Jewish people turned away from the Lord and received exactly the outcome which God had promised (2 Kings 17:1–8; Jeremiah 25:7–11; Daniel 1:1–7). That message was given to the people, and their rulers, by many prophets over the years. Here, as Daniel prays for Israel's restoration (Daniel 9:1–3), he accepts that these events are all consistent with God's prophecies.

Daniel also understood that it was ultimately God, not Assyria or Babylon, who determined the fate of Jerusalem. For thirty months the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem. The blockade led to starvation, cannibalism, and destruction. In Ezekiel 24:13, the Lord indicts Jerusalem for its perversity and evil, promising the cleansing would not end until He exhausted His wrath. He assures Ezekiel that what He has spoken will happen. "I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged" (Ezekiel 24:14).

Romans 6:23 states that the correct repayment for sin is death. Unbelievers who refuse to trust in Christ as Savior will learn to their eternal dismay that the Lord keeps His word (1 Peter 3:18; John 3:36).

Daniel 9:1–19 records a prayer of confession on behalf of God's rebellious people; Daniel includes himself by using terms such as "us" and "we." After the fall of Babylon, Daniel sees evidence in the writings of Jeremiah that Israel's exile may be nearing an end. He prays for forgiveness and restoration, referring to God as righteous, merciful, and forgiving. This prayer leads to an appearance from the angel Gabriel. Gabriel will deliver a prophetic message about Israel's future.

Darius became king when Babylon fell to Medo-Persia. Daniel compared this to writings from Jeremiah, and realized the exile of Israel was almost over. As he prayed for God's intervention, the angel Gabriel arrived to provide further explanation. Gabriel's prophecy ties the arrival of an "anointed one," or "Messiah," or "Christ," to a moment in history followed by a set interval of time. This prediction includes dire moments for Israel and Jerusalem.

This chapter forms part of the prophetic section of Daniel's writing. After confessing the sins of both Israel and his own life, Daniel received a visit from the angel Gabriel. Gabriel revealed a message about Israel's then-future. This includes reference to the arrival of Christ and information about the still-future end times. Chapter 10 begins the last of Daniel's prophetic messages.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.