Page 271 - Daniel

which a commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem is issued.
As the history of the interpretation of this verse illustrates, a number

of interpretations are theoretically possible. Young says the above
expression “has reference to the issuance of the word, not from a Persian
47
ruler but from God.” Young goes on to point out that the expression
“the word” (Heb. dābār; cf. 2 Chron. 30:5) is also found in Daniel 9:23
for a word from God. He argues, “It seems difficult, therefore, to assume

that here, two vv. later, another subject should be introduced without
some mention of the fact.” 48
It is rather obvious, however, that another subject has been introduced
in verse 24 and the two commandments are quite different—that of

verse 23 having to do with Gabriel being sent to Daniel and verse 25
having to do with the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Most expositors recognize
that the word or commandment mentioned here is a commandment of
men even though it may reflect the will of God and be in keeping with
the prophetic word. Several commands were issued by the Persians in

reference to Jerusalem: 49

1. Ezra 1:1–4; 2 Chronicles 36:22–23. In 538 B.C. Cyrus king of Persia

issued a decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The “house of the
LORD” to be rebuilt is specifically said to be located in Jerusalem, but
there is no mention in the decree of rebuilding the city itself. This also

seems to be supported by the Cyrus Cylinder that records a similar
command from Cyrus that allowed for the return of refugees and the
rebuilding of sanctuaries but that made no mention of rebuilding cities.
“I returned to (these) sacred cities on the other side of the Tigris, the
sanctuaries of which have been ruins for a long time, the images which
(used) to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I
(also) gathered all their (former) inhabitants and returned (to them)

their habitations.” 50
2. Ezra 4:1–24. Ezra 4 provides a summary of several attempts to

thwart the remnant who had returned from captivity. Though the
passage begins and ends with the opposition that continued from Cyrus
to Darius I (4:5, 24), the writer included events that extended beyond
the time of the rebuilding of the temple, including attempts to rebuild