Welcome back to another episode of NachDaily with Doniel, chapter 9.

The main theme is Doniel’s prayer and how the angel Gavriel came to tell him that the 2nd Beis Hamikdash will be both rebuilt and destroyed.

[May this segment be a merit for the aliyas neshamos of Raizel bas

Moshe and Avraham Aharon ben Yisroel Yitzchok]

This took place in the 1st year of the reign of King Darius. The Meforshim point out that this was Darius the 1st, the son of Belshatzar, and not Darius the 2nd, son of Queen Esther and Achashverosh.

A little bit of background: Yirmiya 29:10 prophesied that the Jews would return to Eretz Yisrael after 70 years of exile. But when did the 70 years begin? Initially both Doniel and Belshatzar erred in beginning the calculation from the start of Nevuchadnetzer’s reign.

Doniel started counting from the initial conquest of Yerushalayim during the 2nd year of Nevuchadnetzer’s reign. This led him to believe that the redemption would take place during the first year of Darius’s rule. At that time however, there was no sign of redemption on the horizon.

Doniel realized that Yirmiyah had not made any promises regarding the building of the 2nd Beis Hamikdash. Indeed, the Jews actually started to return to Eretz Yisrael shortly after, as promised by Yirmiya Hanavi. We will learn about this more when we begin Sefer Ezra next.

Our perek begins with Doniel wondering why, according to his calculations of the 70 years spoken about in sefer Yirmiya, Hashem had not rebuilt the Bais Hamikdash. He later realized that Yirmiya had only spoken about our return to the Land. (to learn about this more in depth, check out the NachDaily archives on Yirmiya, chapters 25 and 29.)

Now the perek turns its attention to Doniel’s prayer, which is split into two parts. The first part is from pessukim 4 through 14, when Doniel confesses the sins of Am Yisrael.

Verse 7 says, “Shame is our lot to this very day…in all the lands to which You banished them.”

Verse 9 says, “Forgiveness belongs to God, for we rebelled against Him.”

Verse 14: “Hashem is righteous, we have not obeyed Him.”

In the second half of Doniel’s tefilla he prays for the redemption.

In verses 15 through 19 he tells Hashem, “Listen and act! Do not delay! Do it for Your own sake. Your name is associated with Your city and Your people!”

It should be noted that Doniel’s prayer is not about himself at all; He was davening on behalf of Klal Yisrael. It’s the role of true tzaddikim to pray for everyone in the entire nation, not just for their own personal agendas.

Doniel prays that Hashem should do it for Himself. I once saw from the Maggid of Mezrich that the Gemarah says a person should “daven m’toch kavod rosh – from more of a serious mindset.”

The Maggid of Mezrich explained that a person should daven for Shechina sh’nekra rosh – a person should daven for Hashem, Who is called the Rosh, head or first. Praying for our own needs is necessary, but it’s a higher level to daven for Hashem’s needs (kaviyachol, so to speak). We pray for Hashem to bring the redemption because every second that the Jewish nation is in exile is considered a chillul Hashem, desecration of God’s Name. Doniel asked Hashem to do it for His sake!

As Doniel was in the middle of his prayer, speaking to God in his own words, Gavriel appeared in the form of a man and revealed the future rebuilding of the 2nd Beis Hamikdash.

Gavriel told Doniel that he was sent to tell him this because he is so beloved to Hashem!

Gavriel told Doniel that after 72 weeks pass, an anointed prince will come to Yerushalayim for 7 weeks. It will take 62 weeks after that for the Beis Hamikdash to be rebuilt. After that time, the anointed one will be cut off, and destruction will fall upon the Beis Hamikdash once again.

There’s much debate among the Meforshim as to what this refers. Some explain that 72 weeks is meant literally, and is about the 2nd Beis Hamikdash. Others explain that they really mean 72 cycles of Yovel (50 years), a significantly longer time. Still others learn that all this refers to the 3rd Beis Hamikdash and the final redemption.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when Gavriel appears to Doniel for the 3rd time.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.