Dan 9:4-11 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Dan 9:4-11: 9:4-11 God’s faithfulness contrasted sharply with his people’s unfaithfulness and rebellion. When Daniel confessed the sins of his people, he included himself among them (9:5 ), though he had lived a laudatory life (see thematic note for Community Identity at end of chapter). Daniel prayed the equivalent of a high priestly prayer on behalf of his people, using many quotations from and allusions to the Torah, prophets, and psalms. 9:4 the Lord (Hebrew Yahweh ): The covenant name of God (Exod 6:2-3 ; 20:2 ) is found in Daniel only in this chapter. • God is faithful to his covenant with his people who love ... and obey him (cp. Exod 34:6-7 ; Deut 7:9 ; Rom 8:28 ). God’s unfailing love (Hebrew khesed , elsewhere translated “grace,” “mercy,” “kindness”) is his fundamental nature that is the cause of faith, hope, and worship throughout the Bible (see Num 14:18 ; Neh 9:17 ; Pss 108:4 ; 136:1-26 ; Jon 2:4 ; 1 Jn 4:7-8 ).

Summary for Dan 9:4-11: 9:4-11 ^a God’s faithfulness contrasted sharply with his people’s unfaithfulness and rebellion. When Daniel confessed the sins of his people, he included himself among them (9:5 ^b), though he had lived a laudatory life (see thematic note for Community Identity at end of chapter). Daniel prayed the equivalent of a high priestly prayer on behalf of his people, using many quotations from and allusions to the Torah, prophets, and psalms. 9:4 ^c the Lord (Hebrew Yahweh): The covenant name of God (Exod 6:2-3 ^d; 20:2 ^e) is found in Daniel only in this chapter.

• God is faithful to his covenant with his people who love ... and obey him (cp. Exod 34:6-7 ^f; Deut 7:9 ^g; Rom 8:28 ^h). God’s unfailing love (Hebrew khesed, elsewhere translated “grace,” “mercy,” “kindness”) is his fundamental nature that is the cause of faith, hope, and worship throughout the Bible (see Num 14:18 ⁱ; Neh 9:17 ^j; Pss 108:4 ^k; 136:1-26 ^l; Jon 2:4 ^m; 1 Jn 4:7-8 ⁿ).
9:5 ^o Daniel used four different words meaning sin: The people had sinned (literally missed the mark), done wrong (i.e., committed a bent or twisted act), rebelled against the covenant, and scorned (literally turned away from) the Lord’s instructions.
9:6 ^p God’s servants the prophets were his specially called and inspired spokesmen (9:10 ^q; Deut 18:15-22 ^r; 2 Kgs 17:23 ^s; 21:10-15 ^t; Jer 7:25 ^u; 25:4 ^v).
Summary for Dan 9:7-14: 9:7-14 ^w Lord, you are in the right: God orchestrated the Exile as a judgment on unfaithful Israel (9:11-14 ^x). God had given ample warning that it would happen (see Deut 28:36-37 ^y, 49-68 ^z).