George,
For some reason my response to the list did not go through. I have
made some changes in hopes of making my points clearer to readers on
this list.
I believe the text of Dan 9:25-27 divides the 70 weeks into 7 weeks,
62 weeks, and 1 week to point out that several important events will
take place during this (70 week or 490 year) time span. In other words
the division of the 70 weeks points to smaller periods of time that in
themselves function as event markers, either at the beginning, end or
middle of each segment of time.
These are the events I find in the text:
1) The text points out that the first period will last 7 weeks or 49
years, making it our first marker of the total 70 week period. This
time period begins with the edict to reconstruct Jerusalem.
2) The next time period (62 weeks or 434 years) follows the 7 week
period and culminates with the appearance of the Messiah.
3) After the 62 week time period, we note that there is a 1 week
period (7 years) left to complete the 70 weeks. The text indicates
that in the middle of the week sacrifices and offerings cease. The
text also indicates that after the 62 week period, or in the 1 week
time period, the anointed one is killed.
We notice that each time period marks its events differently. We also
notice that in order for these periods to reach a total of 70 weeks or
490 years they cannot overlap or have a gap between them that subtract
or add to the total amount of time alloted.
Regarding the use of the numbers 7 weeks and 62 weeks and 1week, the
only significance I can see in these specific numbers is in relation
to the Jubilee year (49 years) and the Sabbatical year (7 years).
These two numbers were a Sabbath or rest for the land, and freedom
from debt; they also served as a memorial of the Creator's and
Redeemer's rightful ownership of all things (Lev. 25:2, 9, 10, 25; see
also Deut. 15:12). The 62-week period is the time period left between
these two highly significant numbers in the Jewish economy, and is
used to mark the appearing of the Messiah at the end of this time
period.
Cheers,
Samuel Nunez
On Oct 21, 2012, at 2:14 AM, George Athas wrote:
Samuel,
I've done some further thinking on your following claim:
"One reason why I see the 69 week period divided in seven weeks and
62 weeks is to indicate that even though the Messiah would not come
until the 69th week, the reconstruction of the city streets and
ditches would take place in a shorter amount of time, namely 7 weeks
or 49 years."
I can't see how this is working. Are you connecting the rebuilding
to Artaxerxes' sanctioning of Nehemiah's mission? If so, the decree
comes in 445 BC, but Nehemiah completes the repairs of the walls of
Jerusalem in 52 days in 444 BC. What do you see is happening until
396 BC? And what evidence do you have for it?
Also, if we take the start of a 69-week period (483 years) to be 445
BC, then 483 years after that gets us to AD 39. This is well after
the death of Jesus. I just don't see how it adds up. If there is a
need to resort to co-regencies and accession years, etc., then I
find this hugely problematic, because it's inserting elements into
the text that are simply not there. It's actually changing the
numbers—contorting the text. How do you get around this? I'm very
willing to be persuaded, but I just don't see how this hypothesis
has any traction.
You might want to check out my brief comments at my blog:
http://withmeagrepowers.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/the-seventy-weeks-of-daniel-9/
GEORGE ATHAS
Dean of Research,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia
From: Samuel Nunez <[email protected]>
Date: Saturday, 20 October 2012 4:54 AM
To: George Athas <[email protected]>
Cc: B-Hebrew <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Daniel 9:2127
George,
One reason why I see the 69 week period divided in seven weeks and
62 weeks is to indicate that even though the Messiah would not come
until the 69th week, the reconstruction of the city streets and
ditches would take place in a shorter amount of time, namely 7 weeks
or 49 years.
The 62 week period is significant because at the end of this time
period, that follows the seven week period of reconstruction, the
anointed one appears.
The last week or 70th week is then also connected to the 62 weeks (v.
26); it is significant because the text indicates that after the 62
weeks or in the last one week time period the anointed one is karat.
Therefore looking at the text I do not see anything, which would
indicate the possibility for gaps or overlaps in the 70 weeks (v.24).
Greetings,
Samuel Nunez
On Oct 19, 2012, at 2:43 AM, George Athas wrote:
We will agree to disagree, Samuel. I know your view is shared by
many, but I just don't see how it works contextually within Daniel,
or historically. It quite literally doesn't add up in my view.
Just to continue the conversation, though, could you let me know
why you think the 69-week period is divided into a 7-week and 62-
weeks period?
GEORGE ATHAS
Dean of Research,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia
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