Daniel 9:12
He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Daniel's confession highlights a crucial, often overlooked point: the people's suffering isn't random, but a direct confirmation of God's spoken word. Even their rulers ("judges") are included, emphasizing that no authority can shield anyone from divine judgment when God's promises and warnings are in play.
Daniel is deep in prayer, confessing the sins of his people and acknowledging the just judgment that has befallen them. This verse explains that the terrible devastation and exile they are experiencing are not random misfortunes, but a clear confirmation of God's spoken threats against their disobedience, affecting both the people and their rulers. The severity of Jerusalem's destruction, the narrator insists, is unparalleled in all of history, underscoring the magnitude of their sin and God's faithfulness to His word, even in judgment.
When disaster strikes, it's easy to feel like God's promises are distant and his threats are forgotten. But Daniel, in the midst of devastating exile, saw something profoundly different.
Daniel looks at the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of his people not as random misfortune, but as a powerful confirmation of God's spoken word.
The Justice of Judgment
God's Word Verified
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Who is responsible when a nation falls? Daniel points the finger not just at the people, but specifically at their leaders, highlighting a critical truth about leadership and accountability.
Daniel doesn't just speak of 'us' suffering; he specifically includes 'our rulers who ruled us.' This is a crucial distinction.
Leadership's Heavy Burden
Universal Accountability
The destruction of Jerusalem was so horrific that Daniel claims 'under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like it.' What makes this disaster so uniquely terrible?
Daniel's description of the calamity as unparalleled under the entire heaven speaks volumes about the severity of God's judgment on Jerusalem.
The Height of Sin, The Depth of Punishment
Divine Vengeance and Divine Love
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
A disastrous event or severe trouble often interpreted as divine judgment for covenant unfaithfulness.
Daniel's lament and prayer are deeply rooted in the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Babylonians. This devastating event, unparalleled in its scope for the time, served as a tangible, horrifying confirmation of God's spoken judgments against His people's disobedience.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Captivity of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) was conquered by the Assyrians, with a significant deportation of its population. This event served as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting its elite, including young men like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the exile.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a Judean revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Jerusalem's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's army destroys Jerusalem, its walls, and Solomon's Temple. The remaining population is largely exiled to Babylon. This is the calamitous event Daniel refers to.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
538 BC
Decree of Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian exile.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Daniel 9:12, crying out about an unprecedented level of suffering and calamity befalling Jerusalem, emphasizing the unparalleled nature of its destruction as a divine judgment.
Deuteronomy 28:15-68Daniel's confession acknowledges God's judgment, and this extensive list of curses in Deuteronomy details the very 'great evil' that would befall Israel for disobedience, confirming God's faithfulness to His spoken warnings.
Jeremiah 25:8-14Jeremiah prophesied the 70-year exile, a specific 'word' of God against His people and rulers that Daniel is referencing as being confirmed by the current calamity, connecting prophecy to its devastating fulfillment.
Psalm 2:2-9This psalm speaks of earthly rulers rebelling against God and His Anointed, a theme that resonates with Daniel's mention of 'our judges who ruled us' and God's ultimate sovereign response through judgment, which is confirmed by the destruction of Jerusalem.
ellicottDaniel 9:12: "And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem."
(12) Our judges.— Used in a wide sense to signify kings, princes, and rulers generally. (Comp. Hosea 7:7 .)
pulpitDaniel 9:12: "And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem."
Verse 12. - And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us. and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. The LXX. differs somewhat, "And he hath confir…
Daniel's confession highlights a crucial, often overlooked point: the people's suffering isn't random, but a direct confirmation of God's spoken word. Even their rulers ("judges") are included, emphasizing that no authority can shield anyone from divine judgment when God's promises and warnings are in play.
Daniel is deep in prayer, confessing the sins of his people and acknowledging the just judgment that has befallen them. This verse explains that the terrible devastation and exile they are experiencing are not random misfortunes, but a clear confirmation of God's spoken threats against their disobedience, affecting both the people and their rulers. The severity of Jerusalem's destruction, the narrator insists, is unparalleled in all of history, underscoring the magnitude of their sin and God's faithfulness to His word, even in judgment.
Daniel is deep in prayer, confessing the sins of his people and acknowledging the just judgment that has befallen them. This verse explains that the terrible devastation and exile they are experiencing are not random misfortunes, but a clear confirmation of God's spoken threats against their disobedience, affecting both the people and their rulers. The severity of Jerusalem's destruction, the narrator insists, is unparalleled in all of history, underscoring the magnitude of their sin and God's faithfulness to His word, even in judgment.
"He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem." — Daniel's confession highlights a crucial, often overlooked point: the people's suffering isn't random, but a direct confirmation of God's spoken word. Even their rulers ("judges") are included, empha…
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