Daniel 9:2

"In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—"

Key Reflection

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, a Persian king who was part of the Median lineage and ascended to rule over the Chaldean Babylonian empire, this verse marks the beginning of a significant period in Jewish history. The original audience would have understood that with this new ruler, there might be opportunities for relief from the harsh decrees imposed by the previous Babylonian regime, setting the stage for potential deliverance and restoration for the exiled Israelites.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

I Daniel understood by books -By the sacred books, and especially by the writings of Jeremiah. It has been made a ground of objection to the genuineness of Daniel that he mentions “books” in this place (ספריםsephârı̂ym) as if there were at that time a collection of the sacred books, or as if they had been enrolled together in a volume. The objection is, that the writer speaks as if the canon of the Scriptures was completed, or that he uses such language as the Hebrews did when the canon of the Scriptures was finished, and thus betrays himself. See Bertholdt, “Commentary” p. 78. Compare DeWette, “Einl.” Section 13. This objection has been examined by Hengstenberg, “Beitrag.” pp. 32-35.

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