PAGE

under four heads-First class date from the decree of

Cyrus Eusebius, Clemens Alexandrinus, Dr. Blayney,

Mr. Lancaster-Second, from the decree of Darius, sup-

posed to be Cambyses, or Darius Hystaspis, or Darius

Nothus-Scaliger's supposition disproved-Third, from

the decree in the twentieth of Artaxerxes: Africanus,

Bishop Lloyd, Marshall, Usher, Petavius-That this

king was Artaxerxes Mnemon disproved-Fourth, from

the decree in the seventh of Artaxerxes-Objections to

this scheme as modified by Prideaux-Sir I. Newton

and Mr. Faber add an extra half week beyond the Se-

venty-No interpreter hitherto accounts for the period

of seven weeks-No satisfactory application of the one

week-Various suggestions as to the seven weeks-

Principal points to be established in the proposed

scheme-First, that Darius, by whose edict Jerusalem

was rebuilt, was Xerxes: Second, that the word cove-

nant refers to the covenant with Abraham, that his seed

should possess the land of Canaan.....

CHAPTER III.

Ezra and Nehemiah intimately connected with the kings

they speak of Herodotus wrote shortly after them---

Lists of Persian kings from these two sources com-

pared-Darius signifies sovereign-Xerxes might be

called Darius-Cyaxares called Darius by Daniel-

Ezra's Artaxerxes Darius Hystaspis-Could not be

Smerdis-Letter to Artaxerxes concerning his tribute

carried by tribute collector-Darius Hystaspis first

Persian king who laid fixed tributes on the provinces-

Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes said to be the same king-

Usher has shown that Ahasuerus, called also Arta-

xerxes, was Darius Hystaspis-this king's successor,

called Darius, therefore Xerxes-Could not be Darius

Hystaspis-Difficulty in books of Ezra and Nehemiah

explained on the supposition that he was Xerxes-High

probability of the account of apocryphal Esdras-Fore-

going conclusions confirmed by an ancient chronicle of

the Seventy Seniors..

CHAPTER IV.

Seventy Weeks to be computed from a commandment to

build Jerusalem-Decree in apocryphal Esdras alone

answers this description-Epistles of the Persian kings

concerning holy gifts collected by Nehemiah-Other

epistles not in Scripture recorded by Josephus-Jose-

phus and Philo adopt the above decree-A command

from heaven sent through Haggai and Zechariah-

Another decree in canonical Ezra-Importance of the

period of the above decree-Covenant renewed about

the same time-Perhaps also the computation by weeks

of years-Date of the commencement of the Seventy

Weeks-Period of Seven Weeks terminates in the com-

pletion of the wall-Sixty-two weeks in the birth of

Christ-Various interpretations of the word covenant

-The one week of covenant placed about the time of

the Jewish war..

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104

CHAPTER V.

Covenant made with Abraham and his seed-Word cove-

nant in Scripture sometimes refers to the conditions,

sometimes to the promises of the covenant-Nature of

the promises-Promise of the Messiah-Promise of the

Land of Canaan-Spiritual promise not referred to by

the Jews under the term covenant-Temporal pro-

mise constantly so referred to-Daniel in his suppli-

cation uses the word as referring to the temporal pro-

mise-Used therefore in the same sense in the pro-

phecy in reply . . .

133

CHAPTER VI.

Literal city of Jerusalem lasted more than four hundred
and ninety years-Figurative city, or ecclesiastical po-
lity, lasted also more than that time-Covenant fulfilled
upon Jerusalem and Judah for four hundred and ninety
years exactly--Suspended at the time of the birth of
Christ-Renewed at the time of the revolt of the Jews-

The one week separated from the sixty-nine by the

period during which the sceptre was held by the Ro-

mans-Sceptre departed from Judah at the birth of

Christ-Jerusalem and other fortresses seized by the

Romans on Herod's death-Tax laid on Judæa at the

birth of Christ-Covenant suspended in a similar

manner by Nebuchadnezzar-Revolt of the Jews in the

reign of Nero-Lasted seven years, till the fall of

Massada-Daily sacrifice ceased in the midst of these

seven years-Romans absolutely dispossessed of the

government during that time-Conclusion

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155

DANIEL'S PROPHECY,

&c.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

THE most striking, if not also the most convincing, argument in proof of the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, is drawn from the accomplishment of the predictions which they contain: and many treatises have accordingly been written, taking up this course of evidence, and pointing out the exact fulfilment of some of the most important of the sacred prophecies.

Daniel's prophecy of the Seventy Weeks, in which the coming of the Messiah is foretold, we might expect to find among

B

the first selected by these writers, as an example of the strength of their position: the dates of the predicted events being more distinctly and minutely marked in that, than in most other prophecies, and the fact of its delivery long previous to the fulfilment being capable of the easiest demonstration. From this one prophecy, could it be clearly and undeniably shown, that what is there foretold has literally come to pass, at the time and in the manner predicted, proof, such as neither Jew nor Infidel could escape from, would be established, not only of the inspiration of the Old Testament, but also of the divine origin of the doctrines of the New.

It is disappointing, therefore, to find, that so far from being brought forward as a prominent and indisputable example of the literal accomplishment of prophecy, this important prediction has in some instances been entirely avoided, and in others only lightly touched upon, as one of doubtful interpretation (1). And in