The Vision of the Image composed of four Metals was given first to Nebuchadnezzar, and then to Daniel in a dream:  and Daniel began then to be celebrated for revealing of secrets, Ezek. xxviii. 3.  The Vision of the four Beasts, and of the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, was also given to Daniel in a dream.  That of the Ram and the He-Goat appeared to him in the day time, when he was by the bank of the river Ulay; and was explained to him by the prophetic Angel Gabriel.  It concerns the Prince of the host, and the Prince of Princes:  and now in the first year of Darius the Mede over Babylon, the same prophetic Angel appears to Daniel again, and explains to him what is meant by the Son of man, by the Prince of the host, and the Prince of Princes.  The Prophecy of the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven relates to the second coming of Christ; that of the Prince of the host relates to his first coming:  and this Prophecy of the Messiah, in explaining them, relates to both comings, and assigns the times thereof.

This Prophecy, like all the rest of Daniel’s, consists of two parts, an introductory Prophecy and an explanation thereof; the whole I thus translate and interpret.

[1] ’Seventy weeks are [2] cut out upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and [3] to make an end of sins, to expiate iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, to consummate the Vision and [4] the Prophet, and to anoint the most Holy.

’Know also and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to cause to return and to build Jerusalem_, unto [5] the Anointed the Prince, shall be seven weeks_.

’Yet threescore and two weeks shall [6] it return, and the street be built and the wall; but in troublesome times:  and after the threescore and two weeks, the Anointed shall be cut off, and [6] it shall not be his; but the people of a Prince to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary:  and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war, desolations are determined.

’Yet shall he confirm the covenant with many for one week:  and in half a week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease:  and upon a wing of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that which is determined be poured upon the desolate.’

Seventy weeks are cut out upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, &c.  Here, by putting a week for seven years, are reckoned 490 years from the time that the dispersed Jews should be re-incorporated into [7] a people and a holy city, until the death and resurrection of Christ; whereby transgression should be finished, and sins ended, iniquity be expiated, and everlasting righteousness