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Text -- Daniel 9:3 (NET)

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Context
9:3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to implore him by prayer and requests, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Seekers | Sackcloth | Prophets | Prayer | Nation | Intercession | Fasting | Daniel | Confession | Ashes | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

JFB: Dan 9:3 - -- Literally, "intercessions . . . entreaties for mercy." Praying for blessings, and deprecating evils.

Literally, "intercessions . . . entreaties for mercy." Praying for blessings, and deprecating evils.

Clarke: Dan 9:3 - -- I set my face - to seek by prayer - He found that the time of the promised deliverance could not be at any great distance; and as he saw nothing tha...

I set my face - to seek by prayer - He found that the time of the promised deliverance could not be at any great distance; and as he saw nothing that indicated a speedy termination of their oppressive captivity, he was very much afflicted, and earnestly besought God to put a speedy end to it; and how earnestly he seeks, his own words show. He prayed, he supplicated, he fasted, he put sackcloth upon his body, and he put ashes upon his head. He uses that kind of prayer prescribed by Solomon in his prayer at the dedication of the temple. See 1Ki 8:47, 1Ki 8:48.

Calvin: Dan 9:3 - -- When they were cast out and dispersed throughout the various countries of the earth, it seemed as if the covenant of God had been abolished, and as i...

When they were cast out and dispersed throughout the various countries of the earth, it seemed as if the covenant of God had been abolished, and as if there was no further advantage in deriving their origin from those holy fathers to whom their land had been promised. For the purpose of meeting these temptations, God fixed beforehand a set time for their exile, and Daniel now recurs to this prediction. He adds, Then I raised my face It is properly אתנה , ath-neh, I placed; but as some interpreters seem to receive this word too fancifully, as if Daniel had then looked towards the sanctuary. I prefer rendering it, He raised his face to God It is quite true that while the altar was standing, and the ark of the covenant was in the sanctuary, God’s face was there, towards which the faithful ought to direct, both their vows and prayers; but now the circumstances were, different through the temple being overthrown. We have previously read of Daniel’s praying and turning his eyes in that direction, and towards Judea. but his object was not a desire to pray after the manner of his fathers. For there was then neither sanctuary nor ark of the covenant in existence. (Dan 6:10.) His object in turning his face towards Jerusalem was openly to shew his profession of such mentally dwelling in that land which God had destined for the race of Abraham. By that outward gesture and ceremony the Prophet claimed possession of the Holy Land, although still a captive and an exile. With regard to the present passage, I simply understand it to mean, he raised his face towards God. That I might inquire, says he, by supplication and prayers Some translate, that I might seek supplication and prayer. Either is equally suitable to the sense, but the former version is less forced, because the Prophet sought God by supplication and prayers. And this form of speech is common enough in Scripture, as we are said to seek God when we testify our hope of his performing what he has promised. It now follows: —

Defender: Dan 9:3 - -- Daniel realized that God desires us to claim His promises in prayer. Thus, the fulfillment of a divine prophecy can also be understood as an answer to...

Daniel realized that God desires us to claim His promises in prayer. Thus, the fulfillment of a divine prophecy can also be understood as an answer to a believer's prayer. Over and over, Christ has promised to come again, yet John closes the revealed Word of God with a prayer: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20)."

TSK: Dan 9:3 - -- I set : Dan 6:10; Neh 1:4-11; Psa 102:13-17; Jer 29:10-13, Jer 33:3; Eze 36:37; Jam 5:16-18 with : Dan 10:2, Dan 10:3; Ezr 8:21, Ezr 9:5, Ezr 10:6; Ne...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Dan 9:3 - -- And I set my face unto the Lord God - Probably the meaning is, that he turned his face toward Jerusalem, the place where God had dwelt; the pla...

And I set my face unto the Lord God - Probably the meaning is, that he turned his face toward Jerusalem, the place where God had dwelt; the place of his holy abode on earth. See the notes at Dan 6:10. The language, however, would not be inappropriate to denote prayer without such a supposition. We turn to one whom we address, and so prayer may be described by "setting the face toward God."The essential idea here is, that he engaged in a set and formal prayer; he engaged in earnest devotion. He evidently set apart a time for this, for he prepared himself by fasting, and by putting on sackcloth and ashes.

To seek by prayer and supplications - To seek his favor; to pray that he would accomplish his purposes. The words "prayer and supplications,"which are often found united, would seem to denote "earnest"prayer, or prayer when mercy was implored - the notion of "mercy"or "favor"implored entering into the meaning of the Hebrew word rendered "supplications."

With fasting - In view of the desolations of the city and temple; the calamities that had come upon the people; their sins, etc.; and in order also that the mind might be prepared for earnest and fervent prayer. The occasion was one of great importance, and it was proper that the mind should be prepared for it by fasting. It was the purpose of Daniel to humble himself before God, and to recal the sins of the nation for which they now suffered, and fasting was an appropriate means of doing that.

And sackcloth - Sackcloth was a coarse kind of cloth, usually made of hair, and employed for the purpose of making sacks, bags, etc. As it was dark, and coarse, and rough, it was regarded as a proper badge of mourning and humiliation, and was worn as such usually by passing or girding it around the loins. See the notes at Isa 3:24; Job 16:15.

And ashes - It was customary to cast ashes on the head in a time of great grief and sorrow. The principles on which this was done seem to have been,

(a) that the external appearance should correspond with the state of the mind and the heart, and

(b) that such external circumstances would have a tendency to produce a state of heart corresponding to them - or would produce true humiliation and repentance for sin.

Compare the notes at Job 2:8. The practical truth taught in this verse, in connection with the preceding, is, that the fact that a thing is certainly predicted, and that God means to accomplish it, is an encouragement to prayer, and will lead to prayer. We could have no encouragement to pray except in the purposes and promises of God, for we have no power ourselves to accomplish the things for which we pray, and all must depend on his will. When that will is known it is the very thing to encourage us in our approaches to him, and is all the assurance that we need to induce us to pray.

Poole: Dan 9:3 - -- Observe two things: 1. That deep revolting, and deep afflictions, call for deep and solemn humiliation. 2. God’ s decrees and promises do not...

Observe two things:

1. That deep revolting, and deep afflictions, call for deep and solemn humiliation.

2. God’ s decrees and promises do not excuse us from duty and prayer, but include it and require it. God will be inquired of for those things which he hath purposed and promised to give his people, Eze 36:37 . And if it be objected by any, (as it is by Calovius,) that both God’ s threats and promises are absolute, and not hypothetical, as they will prove by Jer 25:11,12 29:10 ; it is answered that,

1. Though it be spoken peremptorily and absolutely, yet not without a tacit condition and secret reserve in God, Jon 3:4 .

2. God often speaks positively to put sinners in the more awe of his judgments, and to drive them to repentance, Jer 18:7-10 .

3. If God give a reason of his threatening, viz. because they have despised his word and abused his patience, 2Ch 36:15,16 Lu 19:42-44 ; then the threat is absolute.

4. And if God add upon his threatenings such words as these, I will not hear you, pray not for this people , of which we have many instances, then it is peremptory.

5. When the threat and the judgment threatened are the fruit of God’ s decree, then it is irreversible; not else. Mind all these rules well in this case.

Gill: Dan 9:3 - -- And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,.... He set apart some time on purpose for this service, distinct from his us...

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,.... He set apart some time on purpose for this service, distinct from his usual stated times of prayer, as well as from his civil business and employment; and he not only set his face toward Jerusalem, as he used to do, Dan 6:10, the more to affect his mind with the desolations the city and temple lay in; but towards the Lord God, the sovereign Lord of all, who does according to his will in heaven and in earth, the Governor of the universe, the one true God, Father, Son, and Spirit: and this denotes the intenseness of his spirit in prayer; the fixedness of his heart; the ardour of his mind; the fervency of his soul; his holy confidence in God; the freedom and boldness he used in prayer, and his constancy and continuance in it; which is a principal means, and a proper manner of seeking God. The Septuagint version, agreeably to the Hebrew text d, renders it, "to seek prayer and supplications"; such as were suitable and pertinent to the present case; most beneficial and interesting to him and his people, and most acceptable to the Lord:

with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes; as was usual on extraordinary occasions, in times of public mourning; and this he did, to show his sense of the divine Being, and of his own unworthiness to ask or receive anything of him; his great humiliation for the sins of the people; and to distinguish this prayer of his from ordinary ones, and to affect his own heart in it, with the sad condition his nation, city, and temple were in; and therefore abstained from food for a time, put sackcloth on his loins, and ashes on his head, or sat in them.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Dan 9:3 When lamenting, ancient Israelites would fast, wear sackcloth, and put ashes on their heads to show their sorrow and contrition.

Geneva Bible: Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to ( d ) seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: ( d ) He does not speak of th...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Dan 9:1-27 - --1 Daniel, considering the time of the captivity,3 makes confession of sins,16 and prays for the restoration of Jerusalem.20 Gabriel informs him of the...

MHCC: Dan 9:1-3 - --Daniel learned from the books of the prophets, especially from Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would continue seventy years, which were dra...

Matthew Henry: Dan 9:1-3 - -- We left Daniel, in the close of the foregoing chapter, employed in the king's business; but here we have him employed in better business than any ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Dan 9:3-19 - -- Daniel's prayer. This prayer has been judged very severely by modern critics. According to Berth., v. Leng., Hitzig, Staeh., and Ewald, its matter...

Constable: Dan 8:1--12:13 - --III. Israel in relation to the Gentiles: God's program for Israel chs. 8--12 Two things signal the beginning of ...

Constable: Dan 9:1-27 - --B. Daniel's vision of the 70 sevens ch. 9 This chapter records a third vision that Daniel received (cf. ...

Constable: Dan 9:1-3 - --1. Jeremiah's prophecy of Jerusalem's restoration and Daniel's response 9:1-3 9:1 What Daniel did and saw in this chapter dates from 538 B.C., the fir...

Guzik: Dan 9:1-27 - --Daniel 9 - The Seventy Weeks of Daniel A. The prayer of Daniel. 1. (1-2) Introduction: Daniel's reason for prayer. In the first year of Darius the...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Daniel (Book Introduction) DANIEL, that is, "God is my judge"; probably of the blood royal (compare Dan 1:3, with 1Ch 3:1, where a son of David is named so). Jerusalem may have ...

JFB: Daniel (Outline) THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY BEGINS; DANIEL'S EDUCATION AT BABYLON, &C. (Dan. 1:1-21) NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM: DANIEL'S INTERPRETATION OF IT, AND ADVANCEM...

TSK: Daniel 9 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Dan 9:1, Daniel, considering the time of the captivity, Dan 9:3, makes confession of sins, Dan 9:16. and prays for the restoration of Jer...

Poole: Daniel (Book Introduction) BOOK OF DANIEL THE ARGUMENT IN Daniel and his prophecy, observe these things for the better understanding of this book, and the mind of God in it...

Poole: Daniel 9 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 9 Daniel, considering the time of the captivity, Dan 9:1,2 , maketh confession of his people’ s sins, Dan 9:3-15 , and prayeth for the...

MHCC: Daniel (Book Introduction) Daniel was of noble birth, if not one of the royal family of Judah. He was carried captive to Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiachin, B. C. 606, whe...

MHCC: Daniel 9 (Chapter Introduction) (Dan 9:1-3) Daniel considers the time of the captivity. (v. 4-19) His confession of sin, and prayer. (Dan 9:20-27) The revelation concerning the com...

Matthew Henry: Daniel (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Daniel The book of Ezekiel left the affairs of Jerusalem under a doleful aspect...

Matthew Henry: Daniel 9 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have, I. Daniel's prayer for the restoration of the Jews who were in captivity, in which he confesses sin, and acknowledges the...

Constable: Daniel (Book Introduction) Introduction Background In 605 B.C. Prince Nebuchadnezzar led the Babylonian army of h...

Constable: Daniel (Outline) Outline I. The character of Daniel ch. 1 A. Historical background 1:1-2 ...

Constable: Daniel Daniel Bibliography Albright, William F. From Stone Age to Christianity. 2nd ed. New York: Doubleday Press, Anc...

Haydock: Daniel (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL. INTRODUCTION. DANIEL, whose name signifies "the judgment of God," was of the royal blood of the kings of Juda, and one o...

Gill: Daniel (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL This book is called, in the Vulgate Latin version, "the Prophecy of Daniel"; and in the Syriac and Arabic versions "the Prop...

Gill: Daniel 9 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 9 This chapter contains a prayer of Daniel, and the answer to it. The time, occasion, and manner of his prayer, or circumsta...

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