Text -- Daniel 12:1-9 (NET)

12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape. 12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake– some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence. 12:3 But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever. 12:4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.” 12:5 I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river. 12:6 One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?” 12:7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky and made an oath by the one who lives forever: “It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.” 12:8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, what will happen after these things?” 12:9 He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Dan 12:1

¹ tn Heb “stands over the sons of your people.”

² tn Heb “will stand up.”

³ tn Or “from the beginning of a nation.”

⁴ tn The words “whose names are” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.

NET Notes: Dan 12:2

¹ sn This verse is the only undisputed reference to a literal resurrection found in the Hebrew Bible.

NET Notes: Dan 12:4

¹ tn Or “will run back and forth”; KJV “shall run to and fro”; NIV “will go here and there”; CEV “will go everywhere.”

sn Many will dash about is probably an allusion to Amos 8:12.

NET Notes: Dan 12:5

¹ tn Heb “one to this edge of the river and one to that edge of the river.”

NET Notes: Dan 12:7

¹ tn Or “to the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.

² tc The present translation reads יַד־נֹפֵץ (yad-nofets, “hand of one who shatters”) rather than the MT נַפֵּץ־יַד (nappets-yad, “to shatter the hand”).

NET Notes: Dan 12:8

¹ tn Heb “my lord,” a title of polite address.