# Daniel Chapter 9
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## Summary
Daniel is greatly troubled by his vision and in prayer confesses both his own sin and the sin of his people. Whilst praying Daniel is visited by Gabriel from an earlier vision who outlines the timeline for this vision that Daniel might understand the vision and God's timeline.

Gabriel explains that seventy weeks are decreed to put an end to the iniquity of the people. In seven weeks there will be the coming of an anointed one. Then for sixty-two weeks Jerusalem will be rebuilt after which the anointed one will be cut off. Then the city and sanctuary will be destroyed and war will ensue. A weeks respite will occur when a covenant is made. This will follow with the end to sacrifice, and one will come who will make desolate.

## Imagery and Themes
Notably absent from Daniels prayer of repentance is any notion of blame. God is not to blame for the present calamity but this is a natural consequence of the iniquity of the people. There is clear contrast between the righteousness of God and the shame of the people. Daniels appeal then is to God's zeal for his own name and the reputation of God among the nations. 

In the ancient world there was a god for everything. Want your crops to Grow? There's a god you need to satisfy. Want to win your war? A god for that too. Need to make a difficult decision? Yep you guessed it, there's a god you need to consult. As such the shame brought down upon the Hebrews through displacement, the desolation of the temple and it's use for pagan worship, would have tarnished the reputation of the God of Israel. As such the appeal to God's righteousness and his own reputation appears to move the heart of God. The principle here seems to be one by which God rewards concern for the reputation and honour of God vs accusation that he has "forsaken" those he loves.

The clarification of the vision offers some very precise and clear timescales within which events will unfold but nevertheless do not offer the comfort Daniel was perhaps seeking. The notion that one anointed by God will emerge and then be cut off, and the end of sacrifice with the coming of the desolator seems a distinctly suboptimal conclusion. Certainly from a narrative perspective the hope of the restoration of Israel would have been a greater reassurance.