Gabriel appeared almost 500 years later to Mary
"Skill and understanding" reads in other translations "Skill in understanding" in other words greater understanding.
Directed at the Jews and Jerusalem "determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city", most of these elements in this verse point toward salvation - "finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness". So in 490 years, salvation would come in the form of Jesus. The last few elements point toward Jesus as well "to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy".
"Most Holy" can be translated "holy one of holy ones" or "holy one of saints"
The original word for "week" or "weeks" means sevens. For example, seventy weeks is actually better translated seventy sevens. 70 x 7 = 490.
Timeline of Daniel Chapter 9
A period of four hundred and ninety years was predetermined by God: in the midst of the last seven years of which the Messiah would be cut off.vs.24-27Daniel 9:24-27XWaiting for response Seventy weeks represents, on the day for a year principle, 490 years and this information enabled the faithful to look for the coming of the Messiah and explains the visit of the wise men seeking “he that was born king of the Jews” Matthew 2:2Matthew 2:2XWaiting for response and also the general expectancy among the people Luke 3:15Luke 3:15XWaiting for response when John came among them as Christ’s forerunner.
In the event, Artaxerxes issued a decree in B.C.455 that the Jews could return to the land to build Jerusalem v.25;Daniel 9:25XWaiting for response Ezra 7:7-8Ezra 7:7-8XWaiting for response so that the period of 490 years ended in A.D.36. Jesus began preaching the gospel in A.D.29 and, after “half a week” or three and a half years, in A.D.33 he was cut off,v.26Daniel 9:26XWaiting for response i.e. crucified, in the middle of the last week of years.v.27Daniel 9:27XWaiting for response Daniel was told, not only that the Messiah would be cut off and when this would occur, but also what would be accomplished by his death. Christ would confirm the covenant made with Abraham,v.27Daniel 9:27XWaiting for response bring the need for animal sacrifices to an end,v.27Daniel 9:27XWaiting for response make reconciliation for iniquity and an end of sins by dying for the sins of the people, and bring in everlasting righteousness,v.24Daniel 9:24XWaiting for response i.e. open the way by which men and women can be accounted righteous and live with him in the future age.
The earliest manuscript of Daniel has been found in the dead sea scrolls and is dated to 100BC or earlier. Considering Jesus being born in approximately 3BC, we can see that it is proven that this book was written before Jesus came, proving that this is indeed the word of God.
Daniel has 4 Messianic prophecies, this is the only one related to Christ's first coming
The city was rebuilt with contention as recorded in Nehemiah
The timeline for the Messiah's coming enabled the faithful to look for his coming Matthew 2:1-2,Matthew 2:1-2XWaiting for response Luke 3:15Luke 3:15XWaiting for response
The beginning of the 490 years "from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem". 483 years after this would be the Messiah the Prince - seven sevens plus 62 sevens = 483.
Artaxerxes decreed the Jews could return to rebuild Jerusalem in ~455BC. 483 years later takes us to when Jesus was baptised, anointed with the Holy Spirit and began preaching - 29AD. Likely one of the reasons Jesus asked John to baptise him Matthew 3:15Matthew 3:15XWaiting for response
"not for himself" can be translated in other ways. NIV has it "will have nothing". This corresponds with NT teaching that Christ died for himself and for everyone who will live by him. Hebrews 13:20Hebrews 13:20XWaiting for response - "[God because of] the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus"
"People of the prince" prophesied by Jesus in Olivet prophecy Matthew 24:15-16,28,30,34Matthew 24:15-16,28,30,34XWaiting for response as the Romans - "wheresoever the carcase is [Jesus' body], there will the eagles [Roman banner] be gathered together". God uses armies to do his will at other times as well Isaiah 45:1,4Isaiah 45:1,4XWaiting for response
AFTER 434 years, the Messiah would be cut off (it was 486 years later that Jesus was crucified), and that AFTER 434 years the people of the prince would come with terrible destruction (it was 525 years later that the Romans came to destroy Jerusalem)
The covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be confirmed as Jesus taught the scriptures to his disciples, specifically that he is the seed. They then taught us this same lesson Galatians 3:16Galatians 3:16XWaiting for response
"midst" can be translated "middle". So in the middle of the last seven years the "sacrifice would cease" - meaning this would not be required anymore (as it was under the Law of Moses). This happened when Jesus would be crucified and Moses law was fulfilled and people were no longer to keep the laws regarding the sacrifices. This would be 486 (and a half) years after the beginning of the timeline when the decree was issued by Artaxerxes in 455BC. This puts Jesus death at 32BC, exactly when it was.
"The covenant shall be confirmed with many for [seven years]", knowing that in the middle of the week, Jesus was crucified puts these seven years at the last seven years of the 490 years. So the covenant would be confirmed at the end of the 490 years - the end of which would be 36AD. By 36AD it is likely that the Gentiles were being preached to as well. With two points for evidence: 1. the prophecy is directed at the Jews v24,Daniel 9:24XWaiting for response 2. the key word "many" in this verse. The year 36AD was likely when Cornelius and his house received the Holy Spirit Acts 10:44,47Acts 10:44,47XWaiting for response
"and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation [destruction], and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate" is what Jesus mentions when he refers to this prophecy in the Olivet prophecy where he warned them about how the Romans would come against them in their generation Matthew 24:15-16,28,30,34.Matthew 24:15-16,28,30,34XWaiting for response Jesus is also recorded referring to it in Mark 13:14.Mark 13:14XWaiting for response The people that went against Jesus, the Son of God, and did not repent did an abominable thing and would receive desolation and destruction.
Daniel prayed according to God's will, knowing from the scriptures that the Jews’ captivity in Babylon would only last for seventy years after which they would be permitted to return to Jerusalem and the promised land.vs.1-2,Daniel 9:1-2XWaiting for response Jeremiah 25:11-13.Jeremiah 25:11-13XWaiting for response That's how we know our prayers will definitely be done, by making them according to God's will. Matthew 17:20-21Matthew 17:20-21XWaiting for response It's important to pray in accordance with God's will/prophecy but first we need to understand God's will/ prophecy/ word. We are in a similar position to Daniel in that we also can see that the times God has set in the scriptures for the return of all Israel to the land are coming to an end. Therefore we can learn from Daniel’s action: he prayed earnestly for the LORD to do what he had declared beforehand,vs.3-19Daniel 9:3-19XWaiting for response and Daniel was heard because he asked his petitions according to God’s will.