Biblical Hebrew Forum

["David Kummerow" <farmerjoeblo AT hotmail.com>]

The proposed new pointing (and its associated interpretation) I think is 
somewhat new; however, the attempt to pin down the prophecy to specific 
dates and events is not. Also, the understanding that the time period refers 
to *years* is not new (for which see inter alios Goldingay; Lucas; Redditt; 
Collins; Archer; Baldwin).

Since $NH and YMYM do not occur with $B(YM, I don't think the "weeks" need 
be understood as chronological years or days. I'm happy with Vern 
Poythress's ("Hermeneutical Factors in Determining the Beginning of the 
Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:25)," Trinity Journal 6 [1985], 142-145) argument 
that Gabriel's reply is put within a jubilary framework, ie Gabriel 
structures salvation history into jubilee cycles, much like 1 Enoch 93:1-10; 
91:12-17 and 11Q Melchizedek. Seven weeks, then, comprises one jubilee out 
of ten, signifying a preliminary restoration; here a physical restoration of 
Jerusalem. However, much lies still in the future: a cycle of ten jubilees 
that culminate in final restoration.

Hope this helps some.

David Kummerow.


> Shalom!
>
> In his recent study Osmo Alho suggests that by interpreting certain
> occurences of the word $B(YM in Daniel 9:24-27 as $:BU(AYIM [shvuayim]
> one gets a historically correct interpretation of the prophecy.
>
> For example, by reading the first $B(YM in Dan 9:25 as $:BU(AYIM, the
> verse becomes "From going forth of word to restore and to build
> Jerusalem until Messiah, Prince [will be] seven periods of fourteen
> years and sixty-two periods of seven years." This is 7x14 + 62x7 = 532
> years. Starting from the generally accepted year of the Cyrus
> Declaration, 538 B.C.E., one reaches the birth year of Jesus, 6 B.C.E.
> Seems like a perfect fit to me.
>
> Has this interpretation been published before?
>
> Below is the study in its entirety.
>
>
>
> Osmo Alho:
>
> A New Interpretation of the Prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27.
>
>
>
> Basic Principles of the Interpretation.
>
>
> The vocalization of the Hebrew word $B(YM
>
> This word in unvocalized Hebrew, which is the original Biblical
> Hebrew, can be vocalized in three different ways:
>
>   1. $IB:(IYM [shiv`im] = seventy
>   2. $FBU(IYM [shavu`im] = weeks = periods of 7 days
>   3. $:BU(AYIM [shvu`a'yim] = two weeks = period or periods of 14 days
>
> The third vocalization has been used in Leviticus 12:5 so that it is,
> too, included in the vocabulary of the Hebrew Bible. In this new
> interpretation the third vocalization has been used two times in
> verses Daniel 9:24 and 25, even if in contradiction to the Masoretic
> vocalization.
>
>
> The principle of YWM L$NH
>
> The principle of YWOM LA$.FNFH [yom lashshana(h)], which is that one day
> means one year, given in Numbers 14:34, has been often used in the Hebrew
> Bible, e.g. in Ezekiel 4:5. Thus, one week means period of seven years,
> two weeks means period or periods of fourteen years and half a week means
> half a period of seven years. This principle has been generally used also
> in the interpretations of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27.
>
>
> The time definitions in Daniel 9:24-27.
>
> According to these two principles presented above the following time
> definitions can be found in Daniel 9:24-27.
>
>
> Verse 24.
>
> The Masoretic vocalization:
>
> $FBU(IYM $IB:(IYM [shavu`im shiv`im] = seventy periods of seven years = 70
> x 7 years = 490 years. This time interval does not fit in with any
> historical events. It has been used as one of the bases in Seder Olam
> chronology, but "a large error emerges in the Seder Olam author's
> calculation of the Persian period" (Encyclopædia Judaica, CD-ROM edition,
> article CHRONOLOGY, chapter In the Talmud).
>
> The new vocalization:
>
> $:BU(AYIM $IB:(IYM [shvu`a'yim shiv`im] = seventy periods of fourteen
> years = 70 x 14 years = 980 years. This time interval will give a very
> accurate fulfilment of the prophecy, as can be seen later.
>
>
> Verse 25.
>
> The Masoretic vocalization:
>
> $FBU(IYM $IB:(FH W:$FBU(IYM $I$.IYM W.$:NAYIM
> [shavu`im shiv`a(h) veshavu`im shishshim ushna'yim] = seven periods of
> seven years and sixty-two periods of seven years = 7 x 7 years + 62 x 7
> years = (49 + 434) years = 483 years. This time definition is illogical.
> If the meaning is really 483 years we can ask why it has not been said
> $FBU(IYM $I$.IYM W:TI$:(FH = 69 x 7 years = 483 years. In addition this
> time interval does not fit in with any historical events.
>
> The new vocalization:
>
> $:BU(AYIM $IB:(FH W:$FBU(IYM $I$.IYM W.$:NAYIM
> [shvu`a'yim shiv`a(h) veshavu`im shishshim ushna'yim] = seven periods of
> fourteen years and sixty-two periods of seven years = 7 x 14 years + 62 x
> 7 years = (98 + 434) years = 532 years. This time interval will give again
> a very accurate fulfilment of the prophecy.
>
>
> Verse 26.
>
> The Masoretic vocalization:
>
> )AX:AR"Y HA$.FBU(IM $I$.IYM W.$:NAYIM
> [acharei hashshavu`im shishshim ushna'yim] = after the sixty-two periods
> of seven years. No new time definition, but a reference to some undefined
> times after the time defined in the previous verse.
>
> No new vocalization.
>
>
> Verse 27.
>
> The Masoretic vocalization: Two different time definitions:
>
>   1) $FBW.(A )EXFD [shavu'a` 'echadh] = one period of seven years = 7
> years.
>   2) X:ACIY HA$.FBW.(A [chatzi hashshavu'a`] = half the period of seven
> years = 3 ½ years.
>
> No new vocalization.
>
>
>
> A New Translation of the Text in Daniel 9:24-27.
>
> 24. Seventy periods of fourteen years have been decreed upon your
> people and upon your holy city to terminate the transgression and to
> end sin and to atone iniquity and to bring everlasting righteousness
> and to seal vision and prophet and to anoint holy of holies.
>
> 25. And you should know and you should understand: From going forth of
> word to restore and to build Jerusalem until Messiah, Prince [will be]
> seven periods of fourteen years and sixty-two periods of seven years.
> It (= Jerusalem) will be restored and will be built, [even] square and
> trench, but in times of distress.
>
> 26. And after the sixty-two periods of seven years Messiah will be cut
> off, but not for Himself. The people of a prince who is to come will
> destroy the city and the Sanctuary, but its end (= the end of the
> destroying people) [will be] in a flood. And until end of war
> desolations are decreed.
>
> 27. It (= the destroying people) will \ strengthen / defeat \ an
> alliance of many [during] one period of seven years and [during] half
> the period of seven years. It (= the destroying people) will cease
> sacrifice and offering, and on wing of abominations (= in consequence
> of the idolatry) [will be] appalments, and [that will continue] until
> complete destruction as decreed will be poured upon desolator.
>
>
>
> Comments and Explanations.
>
>
> Verse 24.
>
> The logical beginning point of the defined time of 980 years is the
> moment when Jerusalem became the holy city, which occurred when the
> Divine Presence ($:KIYNFH [Shekhina(h)]) filled the First Temple
> during the dedication of Solomon's Temple. That year can be calculated
> as follows:
>
>   David's conquest of Jerusalem (generally accepted year
> e.g. in Jerusalem's 3000 years celebration brochures)      1005 B.C.E.
>   David as king in Jerusalem (I Kings 2:11)                  33 years
>   David's death                                             972 B.C.E.
>   David and Solomon as kings jointly (I Kings 1 and 2)     c. 2 years
>   The 1st year of Solomon as king                        c. 974 B.C.E.
>   The 4th year of Solomon as king, the beginning of
> the constructing of the Temple building (I Kings 6:1)    c. 971 B.C.E.
>   The constructing of the Temple building (I Kings 6:38)      7 years
>   The 11th year of Solomon as king, the Temple
> building ready (I Kings 6:38)                            c. 964 B.C.E.
>   The constructing of Solomon's palace and the making,
> transporting and installing of all the furnishings and
> vessels of the Temple (I Kings 7)                            13 years
>   The Temple ready for the dedication                    c. 951 B.C.E.
>   The preparations for the dedication feast, like making
> of a temporary altar in the outer Temple court,
> distributing of invitations, gathering of the people
> etc. (I Kings 8)                                           c. 1 year
>   The dedication of the Temple                           c. 950 B.C.E.
>
> Because of the approximations of the time intervals not given in the
> Bible a time error is of course possible, and it can be estimated as ±
> 2 years. The year of the dedication of the First Temple can so be
> written in the form 950 B.C.E. ± 2 years, which means one of the years
> 952, 951, 950, 949 or 948 B.C.E.
>
> The calculation of the terminating point of the defined time of 980
> years can be presented graphically in the following diagram, where the
> time point A is the beginning moment of the Christian Era, which is in
> the Roman calendar the midnight moment between the 31st of December
> and the 1st of Ianuarius in the year 753 ab urbe condita. In the
> diagram it has been supposed that the beginning point of the defined
> time is exactly 950 B.C.E.
>
>                            A
> <-- B.C.E. |950|       | 1 | 1 |       | 31| C.E. -->
>              |<--------->|<->|<--------->|
>                949 years 1 year 30 years
>              |<------------------------->|
>                       980 years
>
> Taking into account the possible time error of ± 2 years, the final
> result is 31 C.E. ± 2 years, which means one of the years 29, 30, 31,
> 32 or 33 C.E.
>
> Inside these years are most of the estimations concerning the year of the
> crucifixion of Jesus Christ (= MF$IYXA Y:$W.(A [Mashi'ach Yeshu'a`]), in
> old commentaries generally 33 C.E. (e.g. the Scofield Reference Bible) and
> in new commentaries generally 30 C.E. (e.g. Encyclopædia Judaica, CD-ROM
> edition, article JESUS). So this interpretation of the verse Daniel 9:24
> gives very accurately the year of Jesus' death.
>
> According to the New Covenant Scriptures (SPRY HBRYT HXD$H) the death
> of Jesus as the Lamb of God is the atonement of all transgressions,
> sins and iniquities. This atonement gives everlasting righteousness to
> everyone who accepts it personally.
>
> In the same year also the holy congregation of the holies (= the believers
> in Jesus), which is the living Temple of the New Covenant, was anointed by
> the Holy Spirit during the Shavuot feast as has been described in Acts 2.
> This very accurate fulfilling of the prophecy is also sealing Daniel's
> vision and his service as a prophet.
>
>
> Verse 25.
>
> The translation of the Hebrew words MF$IYXA NFGIYD [mashi'ach naghidh]
> as "Messiah, Prince" has been criticized because in the Hebrew text
> there is no definite article HA- [ha-], and therefore these words have
> been rendered e.g. in the ArtScroll Tanach Series translation as "an
> anointed prince".
>
> According to the Hebrew word order, however, "an anointed prince" is in
> Hebrew NFGIYD MF$IYXA [naghidh mashi'ach], like e.g. in Leviticus 4:3 the
> Hebrew expression HAK.OH"N HAM.F$IYXA [hakkohen hammashi'ach] means
> plainly "the anointed priest" and not "the Priest, the Messiah", even if
> there is now, according to the Hebrew usage, the definite article HA-
> [ha-] in both of the Hebrew words. Thus, the word order is in such
> expressions clearly more important than the definite article to show the
> real meaning of the expression.
>
> The word to restore and to build Jerusalem is logically "the Cyrus
> Declaration" (Ezra 1:1-4, II Chronicles 36:22-23 and Josephus:
> Antiquities, Book XI, Chapter I:1-2). This word gave the permission to
> rebuild both the Temple and the city, as can be seen from Haggai
> 1:1-4. Concerning Cyrus' word there is also a very accurate prophecy
> in Isaiah 44:28. The generally accepted year of "the Cyrus
> Declaration" is 538 B.C.E. (e.g. Encyclopædia Judaica, CD-ROM edition,
> article PERSIA, chapter Pre-Islamic Persia).
>
> Beginning from this time point the following calculation can be made:
>
> The Cyrus Declaration                            538 B.C.E.
> The defined time in Daniel 9:25                  532 years
> The terminating point of this defined time         6 B.C.E.
>
> If we take again the time tolerance of ± 2 years, the final result can
> be written 6 B.C.E. ± 2 years, which means one of the years 8, 7, 6, 5
> or 4 B.C.E.
>
> Inside these years are all realistic estimations concerning the birthyear
> of Jesus Christ. As described in the New Covenant Scriptures, verses
> Matthew 2:1 and 22 Jesus was born during king Herod the Great, the father
> of Archelaus, and therefore the birthyear of Jesus cannot be after 4
> B.C.E., which is the year when Herod the Great died (e.g. Encyclopædia
> Judaica, CD-ROM edition, article HEROD I). So this new interpretation
> gives again a very accurate fulfilling of Daniel's prophecy.
>
>
> Verse 26.
>
> As has been said before, no new time definition has been given in this
> verse. The time reference to the latter part of the time definition in
> verse 25 means only that all the events mentioned in this verse 26
> will occur after Jesus' birth. The year of Jesus' death was already
> defined in verse 24 and the year of the destruction of the city (=
> Jerusalem) and the Sanctuary (= the Second Temple) has not been given
> in this prophecy. Not depending of any time calculations, however,
> according to this verse the first advent of the Messiah has been
> clearly occurred already before the destruction of the Second Temple.
>
> The coming prince was the Roman military commander and later emperor
> Titus, the destroying people was the ancient Roman people, in practice
> its army, and the flood was the Great Migration of barbarian peoples,
> which ended the existence of the ancient Roman people. Every war means
> always desolations until the end of war.
>
>
> Verse 27.
>
> Taking into account all what has been said above, the meanings of the
> two time periods in this verse are logically the following:
>
> 1) The Jewish War in 66-73 C.E., which lasted 7 years (e.g.
> Encyclopædia Judaica, CD-ROM edition, article HISTORY: SECOND TEMPLE
> PERIOD, chapter The Revolt (First Roman War)).
>
> 2) The Bar Kokhba Revolt in 132-135 C.E., which "apparently lasted
> about three and a half years" (Encyclopædia Judaica, CD-ROM edition,
> article BAR KOKHBA, chapter Bar Kokhba Revolt).
>
> The attacking Roman army strengthened the mutual alliance of Jews
> especially in Gamla and in Masada (= MCDH [Metzadha(h)]) and defeated it
> especially in Jerusalem, thus fulfilling the both opposite interpretations
> of the Hebrew expression. The conquest of Jerusalem by the Roman army
> caused to cease the sacrifice and offering and brought along also the
> Roman idolatry with its abominations and appalments. That continued until
> the Byzantine period, which began in Jerusalem in 324 C.E. and during
> which the Roman idolatry was completely destroyed (e.g. Encyclopædia
> Judaica, CD-ROM edition, article JERUSALEM, chapter Byzantine Jerusalem).
> So this new interpretation fulfils very accurately also this part of the
> prophecy.
>
>
>
> Conclusion.
>
> In this article a new interpretation of the prophecy given in Daniel
> 9:24-27 has been presented. Concerning two time definitions in
> Daniel's text a new vocalization has been used instead of the
> Masoretic vocalization, but without changing the original unvocalized
> consonant text. As a consequence a more logical and reliable
> interpretation has been formed, which is giving a very accurate and
> realistic fulfilment of the whole prophecy.
>
> Karstula, Finland, March 2004.
>
> Osmo Alho
>
>
>
> Appendix. Bibliography.
>
>   1. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. The 4th edition. Deutsche
> Bibelgesellschaft. Stuttgart 1990.
>
>   2. TN''K, The Holy Scriptures Hebrew and English. The Society for
> Distributing Hebrew Scriptures. Cambridge.
>
>   3. Abraham Even-Shoshan: A New Concordance of the Bible. "Kirjat
> Sefer" Publishing House Ltd. Jerusalem 1992.
>
>   4. Solomon Mandelkern: Veteris Testamenti Concordantiae. Impressio
> duodecima. Schocken Publishing House Ltd. Jerusalem-Tel Aviv 1986.
>
>   5. Ernest Klein: A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the
> Hebrew Language. Carta Jerusalem Ltd.-The University of Haifa.
> Jerusalem 1987.
>
>   6. Reuben Alcalay: The Complete Hebrew-English Dictionary. New
> Enlarged Edition. Massada Ltd. Jerusalem 1990.
>
>   7. Marcus Jastrow: Dictionary of the Talmud. Reprint of the edition
> 1903. "XWRB". Jerusalem.
>
>   8. Wilhelm Gesenius-Frants Buhl: Handwörterbuch über das Alte
> Testament. Neudruck der 17. Auflage 1915. Springer-Verlag.
> Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg 1962.
>
>   9. Emanuel Tov: Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Fortress
> Press - Van Gorcum. Assen-Maastricht 1992.
>
>  10. Septuaginta. Edition by Alfred Rahlfs.Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.
> Stuttgart 1979.
>
>  11. The Holy Scriptures. The J.P.S. Translation 1917. The Jewish
> Publication Society of America. Philadelphia 1956.
>
>  12. Tanakh, The Holy Scriptures. The New J.P.S. Translation 1985. The
> Jewish Publication Society. Philadelphia-Jerusalem 1985.
>
>  13. ArtScroll Tanach Series: Daniel. A New Translation with a
> Commentary Anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic and Rabbinic Sources.
> Mesorah Publications Ltd. New York 1979.
>
>  14. Nestle-Aland: Novum Testamentum Graece. The 27th edition.
> Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. Stuttgart 1993.
>
>  15. The New Covenant. Aramaic Peshitta Text with Hebrew Translation.
> The Bible Society in Israel. Jerusalem 1986.
>
>  16. HBRYT HXD$H, The New Covenant Hebrew and Russian. Hebrew
> Translation by Franz Delitzsch. The Society for Distributing the Holy
> Scriptures to the Jews. Norwich 1979.
>
>  17. C.I. Scofield: The Scofield Reference Bible. Reprint of the
> edition 1917. English translation: King James Version (1611), with
> comments and references. Oxford University Press. New York.
>
>  18. Flavius Josephus: The Complete Works of Josephus. Edition 1960.
> Kregel Publications. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
>
>  19. Encyclopædia Judaica. CD-ROM Edition. Judaica Multimedia (Israel)
> Ltd.
>
> In addition many other Bible translations, concordances and
> commentaries as well as dictionaries and grammars in several
> languages.