An Investigation of the Chronology of Daniel 9:24-27

<p>This study attempted to investigate the chronological issues of Dan 9:24-27. Its main objective was to provide an interpretation based on textual, linguistic, literary, grammatical-syntactical, structural, and contextual study of the major terms and expressions in Dan 9:24-27.</p> <p>Chapter 1 surveys the chronological interpretations of Dan 9:24-27. Four major schools of interpretation emerged (Historicist-Messianic Interpretation, Historical-Critical Interpretation, Futurist-Dispensational Interpretation, Historical-Critical Interpretation, Futurist-Dispensational Interpretation, and Symbolic-Amillennialist Interpretation) under the main categories of continuous and noncontinuous interpretations. Major chronological issues emerged from these interpretations and set the stage for this study.</p> <p>Chapter 2 examines major Hebrew expressions and terms that affect chronology (<em>sabu im sib nehtak, dabar, l^ehasib w^elibnot, tasub w^enibn^etah, r^ehoh w^eharus, masiah, nagid, b^erit</em>). The term <em>dabar</em>, determines the terminus a quo of the Seventy Weeks to be computed continuously and sequentially, and is itself contextually defined by three pairs of parallel terms, namely, (1) <em>l^ehasib w^elibnot</em>, "to restore and build," which designates political "restoration" and physical "rebuilding" of Jerusalem; (2) <em>tasub w^enibn^etah</em>, "it shall be restored and be built," which provides comparative support for thefirst word pair, and (3)<em>r^ehoh w^eharus</em>, "square and decision-making," which stresses further that the "word" is about the restoration of Jerusalem as a religio-political self-governing entity with the rights to judicial decision-making. The three expressions, "Messiah, the Prince" (vs. 25), "Messiah" (vs. 26a), and "Prince" (vs. 26b), refer contextually and structurally to the same personality.</p> <p>Chapter 3 investigates the historical-chronological correlates of the events stipulated in Dan 9:24-27. The decree of Artaxerxes I given to Ezra is the only terminus a quo that fits the stipulations of the text of Dan 9:25 and the chronological outline of Dan 9:24-27. The events of the "seventieth week" relate to the Messiah and are properly fulfilled by Jesus Christ.</p> <p>Finally, a summary and conclusions bring together the various chronological issues of Dan 9:24-27. This study has provided new evidence that shows that the Historicist-Messianic interpretation emerges from the text as the viable view for the chronology of the passage.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Religion, Old Testament Studies PhD

Year

1993

Author dc:creator

• Owusu-Antwi, Brempong

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gerhard F. Hasel
• Jacques B. Doukhan
• Abraham Terian

• Biblical Studies
• Religion

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/120

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.andrews.edu:dissertations-1119