Question:

Jews always criticize the Christian explanation of Daniel 9…  https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/daniel-9-a-true-biblical-interpretation/
Can you prove that Daniel really spoke about Jesus in Daniel 9?

Answer:

I cannot “prove” that Daniel is talking about Jesus in Daniel 9.  Such things do not allow for mathematical-type proofs.  However, I can show sufficient evidence that any open-minded person would conclude that this is the most reasonable conclusion.  Here is why:

1. First of all, as Daniel is interpreting Jeremiah, and he is told by the messenger, that this prophecy concerns the salvation of God’s people from the desolation caused by sin (Daniel 9:2).

2. The response involves the Messiah coming to Jerusalem.  The Hebrew word Messiah/annointed One is found in both 9:24 and 9:26.  This is perhaps the most clear-cut messianic prophecy in all the Hebrew Bible.

3. There is no doubt that the prophecy concerns Jerusalem.

4. The salvation announced here is not freedom from captivity in Babylon, as it involves such things as “putting an end to sin” and “atoning for wickedness” and sealing up (putting to and end) vision and prophecy.

5. Besides, this prophecy is fulfilled seventy “sevens” after the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.  This decree was given by Artaxerxes, in his seventh year, 458 BC, as recorded in Ezra 7:13f.  This is the only decree found in the Bible which is telling the Jews to rebuild the city.  In fact, under Nehemiah, this is exactly what they eventually did.  This is further evidence that the prophecy does not concern the restoration under Cyrus, as the decree was given eighty years after the restoration.

6. If we count 490 years from the decree of Artaxerxes, we come to AD 33 (there was no year zero).  Actually, the prophecy has the Messiah coming to Jerusalem to make atonement for sin and to bring in everlasting righteousness during the 70^th week (Daniel 9:25).  This means that the Messiah will come to Jerusalem to provide atonement for sins somewhere between AD 26 and 33.  The match of Daniel 9:24-25 with the crucifixion of Jesus in inescapable. To argue that this is mere coincidence is to defy common sense.  It is to apply an ad hoc treatment to the facts.

Given all the evidence, it is what I would call a “slam dunk” that this prophecy concerns a Messiah who will come to Jerusalem around AD 30 to provide for the forgiveness of sins and to bring God’s plan to its fulfillment. The only candidate for this is Jesus of Nazareth, who, it just so happens, also fulfilled all the other prophecies of the Messiah (birth in Bethlehem, crucifixion, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, being pierced, silent before accusers, etc.)

Of course, Jews do not like this interpretation, but they have no counter argument which works well with the data in Daniel 9.  The argument made at the web site above is no exception to this. Some will say that no Jew will accept this interpretation.  Not true.  Many Jews accept this interpretation, but, inevitably, they become Christians.  It is true that no Jew who rejects Christianity accepts this interpretation, but what else would one expect?

I conclude that Jews reject this, not because of the evidence, but because they reject the implications of the conclusion

John Oakes