in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. Jerusalem. He read attentively the sacred volumes, particularly the prophecy of Jeremiah 25:11 and 29:10. Knowing that many predictions were conditional, he was afraid lest this might be so; notwithstanding a part of it seemed to be verified by the death of Baltassar. Calmet.—Darius had reigned in Persia before. He only ruled part of a year, at Babylon, the 70th of the captivity. 2 Chronicles 36:22. Daniel perceiving that the time of the Jews’ deliverance was at hand, prayed with great zeal and confidence. Worthington.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).