Daniel 9:1-2
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrasing "which was made king" highlights that this Darius, though a powerful ruler, did not claim the throne by his own might but received his authority from another, signifying a shift in power and dependence on a higher authority, much like Daniel's own reliance on God. This detail points to the broader theme of God orchestrating even political transitions to fulfill His purposes, rather than simply allowing them to happen.
The Babylonian Empire has just fallen, and a new ruler, Darius the Mede, has taken the throne over the conquered land. Daniel, reflecting on the seventy years of exile predicted by Jeremiah, realizes the appointed time for Israel's return is nearing its end, prompting him to a deep season of prayer and confession.
Who is this Darius, and how did he end up on the throne of Babylon? It’s not quite what it seems at first glance.
Daniel 9:1 introduces Darius, a Mede, who has become king over the Chaldean realm. The wording, "which was made king," is significant. It suggests he didn't seize power by his own might, but rather, his authority was given to him.
Scholars understand Darius the Mede to be Cyaxares II, an uncle to Cyrus the Great. When Cyrus conquered Babylon, he didn't take the throne for himself immediately. Instead, he appointed his uncle Darius to rule over the conquered Chaldean empire. This political arrangement highlights a transition of power, not a simple conquest by one individual.
This detail is important because it places Darius's reign, and thus Daniel's prayer, before Cyrus issued the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return home. It sets the stage for Daniel's deep contemplation of God's promises regarding the end of the captivity.
Daniel is praying for his people’s return from exile, but the timing is crucial. What does this specific moment in history reveal?
The first year of Darius the Mede’s reign over Babylon, as noted in Daniel 9:1, is a pivotal moment. This date, around 539/538 B.C., is significant because it falls before Cyrus the Great issued his famous decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
Daniel, a wise and learned man, understood from his study of the prophets, particularly Jeremiah, that the seventy-year period of exile was nearing its end. However, with the fall of Babylon and the ascension of Darius, the exact path to their restoration was unclear.
This timing is critical. It meant that the promised redemption and rebuilding were not immediate. Instead, there was a period of waiting, a time for deeper reflection and prayer. Daniel’s fervent prayer in chapter 9 is prompted by this understanding: the exile was ending, but the details of God’s plan for their return and the rebuilding of Jerusalem were yet to be fully revealed.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, self-existent, covenant-keeping God of Israel who revealed Himself to Moses; the name emphasizes His faithfulness to His promises.
nabi · Hebrew Noun
An inspired spokesperson for God who conveys His divine will, warnings, and promises to His people, often calling them to repentance.
chorbah · Hebrew Noun
The state of being ruined, laid waste, or desolate, often brought upon a city or land as divine judgment for disobedience to God’s covenant.
Daniel is praying in the first year of Darius the Mede's reign over Babylon, shortly after its fall. He has just realized from Jeremiah's writings that the seventy years of exile are nearing their end, prompting his urgent prayer for Jerusalem's restoration.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and deports many Israelites, including Daniel, to Babylon, beginning the 70-year exile.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians
The Babylonian Empire is conquered by the combined forces of the Medes and Persians, marking a significant shift in regional power.
538 BC— this verse
Darius the Mede Made King
Darius the Mede, identified as Cyaxares II, is appointed king over the Babylonian realm, likely by his nephew Cyrus the Great.
537 BC
Cyrus Permits Jewish Return
Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, ending the 70-year captivity.
This passage in Jeremiah lays out the seventy-year period of exile that Daniel is reflecting on, providing the prophetic basis for his prayer and the subsequent revelation.
Jeremiah 29:10This verse specifically foretells the end of the Babylonian exile and the return of the people to Jerusalem, which Daniel is trying to understand the timing of.
Daniel 5:31This verse marks the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians, establishing the context for Darius the Mede's rise to power, which is the starting point for Daniel's reflections in chapter 9.
Ezra 1:1This verse speaks of Cyrus the Great, who succeeded Darius the Mede and issued the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah, directly fulfilling the prophecy Daniel is contemplating.
Luke 21:24Jesus quotes and expands upon prophetic timelines concerning Jerusalem, echoing the theme of appointed times and divine fulfillments that Daniel grapples with.
ellicottDaniel 9:1: "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;"
IX. (1) On Darius the Mede see Excursus D. Was made king.—The phrase corresponds with “took the kingdom” (Daniel 5:31), and shows that Darius was not king by his own right, but that he received his authority from another—i.e., Cyrus.
jfbDaniel 9:1: "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;"
CHAPTER 9Da 9:1-27. Daniel's Confession and Prayer for Jerusalem: Gabriel Comforts Him by the Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks.The world powers here recede from view; Israel, and the salvation by Messiah promised to it, are the subject of revelation. Israel had naturally expected salvation at the end of the captivity. Daniel is therefore told, that, after t…
The phrasing "which was made king" highlights that this Darius, though a powerful ruler, did not claim the throne by his own might but received his authority from another, signifying a shift in power and dependence on a higher authority, much like Daniel's own reliance on God. This detail points to the broader theme of God orchestrating even political transitions to fulfill His purposes, rather than simply allowing them to happen.
The Babylonian Empire has just fallen, and a new ruler, Darius the Mede, has taken the throne over the conquered land. Daniel, reflecting on the seventy years of exile predicted by Jeremiah, realizes the appointed time for Israel's return is nearing its end, prompting him to a deep season of prayer and confession.
The Babylonian Empire has just fallen, and a new ruler, Darius the Mede, has taken the throne over the conquered land. Daniel, reflecting on the seventy years of exile predicted by Jeremiah, realizes the appointed time for Israel's return is nearing its end, prompting him to a deep season of prayer and confession.
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"In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of th…" — The phrasing "which was made king" highlights that this Darius, though a powerful ruler, did not claim the throne by his own might but received his authority from another, signifying a shift in power…
