Footnotes

1. Daniel 9:1 sn The identity of this Darius is a major problem in correlating the biblical material with the extra-biblical records of this period. Most modern scholars treat the reference as a mistaken allusion to Darius Hystaspes (ca. 522-486 b.c.). Others have maintained instead that this name is a reference to the Persian governor Gubaru. Still others understand the reference to be to the Persian king Cyrus (cf. 6:28, where the ו (vav) may be understood as vav explicativum, meaning “even”). Under either of these latter two interpretations, the first year of Darius would have been ca. 538 b.c. Daniel would have been approximately eighty-two years old at this time.
2. Daniel 9:1 tc The LXX reads “Xerxes.” This is the reading used by some English versions (e.g., NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV). Most other English versions retain the Hebrew name “Ahasuerus.”
3. Daniel 9:1 tc The present translation follows the MT in reading a Hophal (i.e., passive). Theodotion, the Syriac, and the Vulgate all presuppose the Hiphil (i.e., active). Even though this is the only occurrence of the Hophal of this verb in the Bible, there is no need to emend the vocalization to the Hiphil.
4. Daniel 9:1 tn Heb “was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans.”
5. Daniel 9:2 tc This phrase, repeated from v. 1, is absent in Theodotion.
6. Daniel 9:2 tn Heb “books” or “scrolls.” The word “sacred” has been added to clarify that it refers to the Scriptures.
7. Daniel 9:2 sn The tetragrammaton (the four Hebrew letters that constitute the divine Name, YHWH) appears 8 times in this chapter and nowhere else in the book of Daniel.
8. Daniel 9:3 tn Heb “face.”
9. Daniel 9:3 tn The Hebrew phrase translated “Lord God” here is אֲדֹנָי הָאֱלֹהִים (ʾadonay haʾelohim).
10. Daniel 9:3 sn When lamenting, ancient Israelites would fast, wear sackcloth, and put ashes on their heads to show their sorrow and contrition.
11. Daniel 9:4 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in vv. 7, 9, 15, 16, and 19 is אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonay).
12. Daniel 9:4 tn Heb “who keeps the covenant and the loyal love.” The expression is a hendiadys.
13. Daniel 9:6 tn Heb “in your name.” Another option is to translate: “as your representatives.”
14. Daniel 9:6 tn Heb “our fathers” (also in vv. 8, 16). The Hebrew term translated “father” can refer to more distant relationships such as grandfathers or ancestors.
15. Daniel 9:6 tn Heb “people.”
16. Daniel 9:7 tn Heb “to you (belongs) righteousness.”
17. Daniel 9:7 tn Heb “and to us (belongs) shame of face like this day.”
18. Daniel 9:7 tn Heb “men.”
19. Daniel 9:8 tn Heb “to us (belongs) shame of face.”
20. Daniel 9:9 tn Heb “to the Lord our God (belong) compassion and forgiveness.”
21. Daniel 9:10 tn Heb “paid attention to the voice of,” which is an idiomatic expression for obedience (cf. NASB “nor have we obeyed the voice of”).
22. Daniel 9:10 tn Heb “to walk in.”
23. Daniel 9:10 tc The LXX and Vulgate have the singular.
24. Daniel 9:11 tn Or “transgressed.” The Hebrew verb has the primary sense of crossing a boundary, in this case, God’s law.
25. Daniel 9:11 tn Heb “by not paying attention to your voice.”
26. Daniel 9:11 tn Heb “the curse and the oath that is written.” The term “curse” refers here to the judgments threatened in the Mosaic law (see Deut 28) for rebellion. The expression “the curse and the oath” is probably a hendiadys (cf. Num 5:21; Neh 10:29) referring to the fact that the covenant with its threatened judgments was ratified by solemn oath and made legally binding upon the covenant community.
27. Daniel 9:11 tn Heb “him.”
28. Daniel 9:12 tn Heb “he has fulfilled his word(s), which he spoke.”
29. Daniel 9:12 tn Heb “our judges.”
30. Daniel 9:12 tn Heb “who judged.”
31. Daniel 9:13 tn Heb “we have not pacified the face of.”
32. Daniel 9:13 tn Or “by gaining insight.”
33. Daniel 9:13 tn Heb “by your truth.” The Hebrew term does not refer here to abstract truth, however, but to the reliable moral guidance found in the covenant law (see vv 10-11).
34. Daniel 9:14 tn Or “righteous.”
35. Daniel 9:14 tn Heb “in all his deeds that he has done.”
36. Daniel 9:14 tn Heb “we have not listened to his voice.”
37. Daniel 9:15 tn Heb “with a powerful hand.”
38. Daniel 9:16 tn Or “righteousness.”
39. Daniel 9:16 tn Heb “your anger and your rage.” The synonyms are joined here to emphasize the degree of God’s anger. This is best expressed in English by making one of the terms adjectival (cf. NLT “your furious anger”; CEV “terribly angry”).
40. Daniel 9:17 tn Heb “hear.” Here the verb refers to hearing favorably, accepting the prayer and responding positively.
41. Daniel 9:17 tn Heb “let your face shine.” This idiom pictures God smiling in favor. See Pss 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19.
42. Daniel 9:17 tn Heb “for the sake of my Lord.” Theodotion has “for your sake.” Cf. v. 19.
43. Daniel 9:18 tn Heb “turn your ear.”
44. Daniel 9:18 tn Heb “desolations.” The term refers here to the ruined condition of Judah’s towns.
45. Daniel 9:18 tn Heb “over which your name is called.” Cf. v. 19. This expression implies that God is the owner of his city, Jerusalem. Note the use of the idiom in 2 Sam 12:28; Isa 4:1; Amos 9:12.
46. Daniel 9:18 tn Heb “praying our supplications before you.”
47. Daniel 9:19 tn Heb “for your name is called over your city and your people.” See the note on this expression in v. 18.