Jeremiah’s “Seventy Years” (9:1-6):

Big Idea: Yahweh faithfully fulfills his prophetic word and keeps his covenant with his people, whether for blessing or for judgment.

Understanding the Text

Daniel 9 is woven into the book’s overall literary structure in several ways. First, it advances the chronology of chapters 8–12. Second, it forms the middle of Daniel’s final concentric Hebrew section, which is framed by the parallel units of chapter 8 and chapters 10–12. Third, it covers the same long-range time period as Daniel 2 and 7, aligning the “four kingdoms” with the “seventy sevens.” Fourth, it is the third of four apocalyptic visions. Fifth, it is an “appearance” vision, like its parallel in Daniel 10–12 (see table 1).1

The Hebrew mar’eh, “appearance, vision” (9:23; 10:1)2differs slightly fro…