Recent Expositions of Daniel. By Prof. W. H. Green, D. D. [pp. 397-424]

Recent Expositions8 of Daniel.
seventy years. He was uncertain whether these were to be
reckoned from the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when the p)rediction,was uttered, and the first deportation of exiles took place,
or from the complete destruction of Jerusalem, which was
nearly twenty years later. He, therefore, set himself by fervent supplication to seek a solution of this difficulty, and at
the conclusion of his prayer the angel was sent to him to
interpret the prophecy of Jeremiah. This he expounds
by a "mystico-prophetic conversion" of the seventy years
into as many weeks or periods of seven years, which must
elapse before the theocracy is restored in its full meaning and
power. The introduction of the Messianic period, with its
fulness of blessings, is to be for that time delayed. The angel informs Daniel, ix. 24, that seventy weeks of years have
been fixed as the appointed term for the bestowment of all
that had been predicted and promised at the coming of the
expected Saviour. Then transgression should be completed,
i. e., it should reach its climax and consummation, and the
full measure of iniquity should be filled up. Then guilt should
be adequately atoned for, and a righteousness slhoultl be
brought in not of a temporary and provisional character like
that which attached to the Mosaic covenant and its ancient
ceremonial, but possessing everlasting efficacy and validity.
Then prophecy should be sealed by the accomplishment of
all that had been foretold from the beginning respecting the
future salvation. And a most hlolyn should be anointed; that
is to say, the holy oil of conse6cration shall be poured upon a
new altar of burnt-offering, the altar of the New Testament
church. Conmp. Ex. xxix. 37, xxx. 29, xl. 10; Lev.-viii. 1.
This is the sanctuary that is cleansed, viii. 14, and never to be
defiled, and which is destined to replace the profaned and
desecrated structure of the old economy.
The particulars here unfolded belong unquestionably to the
region of Messianic anticipations. They are such as are by
the prophets uniformly connected with the coming Redeemer,
and the dispensation which he should introduce. Nevertheless this is not, as our author judges, in its strict and primnary
intent a prophecy of the advent and work of Christ. It is
not directly but only typically Messianic. The 490 years here
[JU'LY,
400