Daniel 9:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.

NIV: Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.

NASB: Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our wrongdoing and giving attention to Your truth.

CSB: Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to your truth.

NLT: Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.

KJV: As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.

NKJV: “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.

Daniel understood that the people of Israel had been given clear warnings from the Law of Moses and many prophets. They were told of the disasters which would follow disobedience to God (Deuteronomy 28:15–24, 48–50; 29:25). And yet, the people betrayed their Lord and suffered exactly the consequences predicted (2 Kings 17:1–8; Jeremiah 25:7–11). Rather than learning from the Lord's Word, they chose idols and sin. Daniel's own life was part of this story (Daniel 1:1–7). He has been praying for Israel's forgiveness and the Lord's restoration (Daniel 9:1–3).

Deuteronomy 28 includes chilling details of what would happen if the people turned away from God to pursue evil and false idols: "The LORD will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known" (Deuteronomy 28:36). That conquest was accomplished by Assyria (2 Kings 17:1–8) and Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:5–7). If Israel had listened to the warnings God gave them, she would have been blessed instead of cursed. Writing many years before Daniel, Isaiah describes Judah as a "sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged" (Isaiah 1:4). He also describes the nation under the Lord's hand of judgment: "Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire" (Isaiah 1:7).

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.