It's easy to read this and think Daniel just stumbled upon a number. But the text highlights that he "understood by books," implying he was actively studying existing sacred writings, specifically Jeremiah's prophecy. This shows that God's promises aren't just passively received; they require engaged faith and diligent study, even for those who, like Daniel, already had direct communion with God.
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)
Daniel, now an old man serving in the Babylonian court under King Darius, is reading Jeremiah's prophecies. He realizes that the seventy years of Jerusalem's desolation, predicted by Jeremiah, are about to end, prompting a profound realization and a deep desire to understand God's plan. This discovery sets the stage for Daniel's earnest prayer and the angelic revelation that follows in the chapter.
Even with angelic encounters, Daniel didn't stop studying. He found critical understanding not just in divine messages, but in the written Word.
Imagine Daniel, living in exile, surrounded by the grandeur of Babylon. He's experienced direct angelic communication, yet he turns to something seemingly less dramatic: books. The text says he "understood by books." This wasn't just casual reading; he was actively studying, poring over the sacred writings, especially the prophecies of Jeremiah.
This highlights a crucial principle for us: God's written Word is a primary source of understanding. While we might seek direct revelation or spiritual experiences, Daniel shows us the value of diligently engaging with Scripture. He found the specific duration of Jerusalem's desolation, a truth vital for his prayer and God's timing, within those pages.
It reminds us that wisdom, discernment, and God's will are often revealed through careful study of the Bible. The 'books' Daniel consulted weren't just scrolls; they were the treasured collection of God's past communications to His people, forming what we recognize as the Old Testament.
Seventy years. It sounds like a long time, but for Daniel, it was a precise number that sparked a fervent prayer for his people's return.
The core of Daniel's discovery was the specific timeframe of seventy years for Jerusalem's desolation, a prophecy given through Jeremiah. This wasn't a vague prediction; it was a divinely set period.
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This teaches us that understanding prophetic timelines and God's promises isn't meant to make us passive. Instead, it should fuel our faith and ignite our prayers, bringing His purposes closer.
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's understanding of the 70-year prophecy wasn't just academic; it sparked fervent prayer and action at a pivotal moment, highlighting how studying God's Word should lead us to seek Him.
c. 605 BC
Jeremiah Prophesies 70 Years of Exile
Jeremiah delivers his prophecy, including the prediction of 70 years of Babylonian dominance and desolation for Jerusalem, as recorded in Jeremiah 25:11-12 and 29:10.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many of Jerusalem's elite are exiled to Babylon, a significant event in the unfolding desolation of the city and land.
587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces completely destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, marking a pivotal point in the 70-year period of desolation.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, leading to a shift in imperial power and setting the stage for the end of the Babylonian exile.
538 BC
Cyrus Issues Edict for Return
Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of 70 years.
c. 538 BC— this verse
Daniel Perceives the 70 Years
In the first year of Darius' reign (likely referring to Cyrus in Babylon), Daniel studies the sacred scrolls and understands that the 70-year period of desolation predicted by Jeremiah is nearing its end.
This passage directly contains the prophecy that Daniel is referencing, stating that the nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years, and that Jerusalem will be a desolation.
Jeremiah 29:10This passage, a letter to the exiles in Babylon, also speaks of the seventy years of captivity and God's promise to visit them and bring them back, which Daniel would have studied.
2 Chronicles 36:21This historical summary reflects on how the land finally observed its Sabbaths during the Babylonian exile, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of seventy years, providing historical context for Daniel's realization.
Ezra 1:1This verse marks the fulfillment of the seventy years Daniel calculated, as Cyrus the Persian king issues a decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
ellicottDaniel 9:2: "In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem."
(2) Understood.— He gave special attention to Jeremiah’s prophecy of the seventy years of the Captivity. Two passages occur in that prophet’s writings where the duration of the Captivity is mentioned ( Jeremiah 25:11 ; Jeremiah 29:10 ), to the former of which Daniel re…
barnesDaniel 9:2: "In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem."
I Daniel understood by books - By the sacred books, and especially by the writings of Jeremiah. It has been made a ground of objection to the genuineness of Daniel that he mentions "books" in this place (ספרים sephârı̂ym) as if there were at that time a collection of…
It's easy to read this and think Daniel just stumbled upon a number. But the text highlights that he "understood by books," implying he was actively studying existing sacred writings, specifically Jeremiah's prophecy. This shows that God's promises aren't just passively received; they require engaged faith and diligent study, even for those who, like Daniel, already had direct communion with God.
Daniel, now an old man serving in the Babylonian court under King Darius, is reading Jeremiah's prophecies. He realizes that the seventy years of Jerusalem's desolation, predicted by Jeremiah, are about to end, prompting a profound realization and a deep desire to understand God's plan. This discovery sets the stage for Daniel's earnest prayer and the angelic revelation that follows in the chapter.
Daniel, now an old man serving in the Babylonian court under King Darius, is reading Jeremiah's prophecies. He realizes that the seventy years of Jerusalem's desolation, predicted by Jeremiah, are about to end, prompting a profound realization and a deep desire to understand God's plan. This discovery sets the stage for Daniel's earnest prayer and the angelic revelation that follows in the chapter.
"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." — It's easy to read this and think Daniel just stumbled upon a number. But the text highlights that he "understood by books," implying he was actively studying existing sacred writings, specifically Je…
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Last reviewed October 2026
