The 70 Weeks & 2300 Days (Years)

"While I was speaking in prayer," says he, [Dan. chapter 9, 20-23], "even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at

the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me and talked with me, and said, O, Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city," etc.

That this is a continuation of the explanation of the vision of chapter viii, would seem sufficiently evident without the aid of any special argument to prove it so. 

 

But as there is a vital point that hinges upon this fact, we will offer a few reasons which place it beyond the limits of contradiction.

1. Gabriel had received a charge [chapter 8, 16], to make Daniel understand the vision; but at the end of the chapter, Daniel says he was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. Gabriel therefore did not complete his mission in chapter 8; the charge still rested upon him, Make this man to understand the vision.


2. The being who came to Daniel at the time of the supplication, was the very same who had appeared to him in the vision at the beginning; namely, Gabriel. And that he had now come to
   
   undeceive him concerning his application of the time, is evident in that he says, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. Why did he not give him a full understanding of the vision at first? We answer, because he revealed to him all that he was then able to bear. He fainted and was sick certain days.


3. Direct reference is made to the vision at the beginning. And if that is not the vision of chapter viii, it is impossible to find it. And again, if Gabriel does not explain in chapter ix, what he omitted in chapter viii, it is impossible for any man to show wherein Gabriel fulfilled his commission to make this man understand the vision.


4. When Gabriel commenced his further explanation, he did not explain the symbol of the ram; for that he had already explained. He did not explain the goat; for he had likewise explained that.
   
   Neither did he commence about the little horn; for he had made that plain also in chapter viii. What then did he explain? The very point there omitted; namely, the time: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, etc. These facts are sufficient to show the connection of Dan.ix with the vision of chapter viii. But how do the words of Gabriel, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people etc., explain the period of the 2300 days? The answer is, The word rendered determined, signifies literally, cut off. Gesenius, in his Hebrew Lexicon, thus defines it: Properly, to cut off; tropically, to divide, and so to determine, to decree. The Englishman's Hebrew Concordance says, Determined, literally divided. From what period are the seventy weeks divided, or cut off ? From the 2300 days; for there is no other period given from which they can be taken; and this is placed beyond a doubt by the connection of the two chapters, which has already been proved.

Having now ascertained that the 70 weeks of Dan. 9 are the first 490 years of the 2300 days, and that consequently the two periods commence together, we further learn that this period of weeks dates from the going forth of a commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. Dan. 9,25. If then we can definitely locate this commandment, we have the starting point for the great period of the 2300 years. The Bible furnishes us with four tests by which to determine when the true date is found:

1. From the time of the commandment, 49 years were to witness the completion of the street and wall of Jerusalem. Dan.ix,25


2. Threescore and two weeks from this time, or, in all, 69 weeks,
   
   483 years, were to extend to Messiah the Prince.


3. Sixty-nine and a half weeks were to extend to the crucifixion - the cessation of sacrifice and oblation in the midst of the week. Verse 27.


4. The full period of 70 weeks was to witness the complete confirmation of the covenant with Daniel's people. In the seventh of Ezra, we find the decree for which we seek. It went forth in B.C. 457. Much concerning this decree, and the date of its promulgation, might here be said. But a more full explanation of it may more properly be given in another place. I will say, however, that, admitting that B.C. 457, is the correct date for the commencement of the 2300 years, which is susceptible of the clearest proof, ....that this prophetic period would close in the year 1843.

From              2300 
Take               457
                 ------
And there remains 1843." Uriah Smith