Daniel 9:20

¶ And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

And whiles I was speaking {H1696}, and praying {H6419}, and confessing {H3034} my sin {H2403} and the sin {H2403} of my people {H5971} Israel {H3478}, and presenting {H5307} my supplication {H8467} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068} my God {H430} for the holy {H6944} mountain {H2022} of my God {H430};

While I was speaking, praying, confessing my own sin and the sin of my people Isra'el, and pleading before ADONAI my God for the holy mountain of my God -

While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—

And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Jehovah my God for the holy mountain of my God;

Commentary

Daniel 9:20 captures a pivotal moment in the prophet Daniel's spiritual life, immediately preceding the divine revelation of the "seventy weeks" prophecy. This verse highlights Daniel's intense devotion and deep intercession for his people, Israel, and for the restoration of Jerusalem.

Context

This verse is part of Daniel's extended prayer found in Daniel 9:3-19. Daniel had been meditating on Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem (Jeremiah 29:10). Recognizing that these years were drawing to a close, Daniel humbled himself before God, engaging in fervent prayer, fasting, and confession. Verse 20 specifically describes the state of his prayer when the angelic messenger, Gabriel, was dispatched to him, indicating the immediate divine response to his earnest plea.

Key Themes

  • Earnest Prayer and Supplication: Daniel's prayer was not a casual request but a profound act of spiritual intensity, marked by "speaking, and praying, and confessing... and presenting my supplication." This demonstrates a model of persistent and heartfelt communication with God.
  • Personal and Corporate Confession: Daniel did not only confess his own sins but also identified deeply with "the sin of my people Israel." This act of corporate confession acknowledges shared responsibility for national disobedience and highlights genuine humility before God. Such intercessory prayer, where one stands in the gap for others, is a powerful biblical principle (Ezekiel 22:30).
  • Intercession for Jerusalem: Daniel's prayer was specifically "for the holy mountain of my God," which refers to Jerusalem, particularly Mount Zion where the temple stood. For Daniel and the exiled Jews, Jerusalem symbolized their spiritual heritage, their covenant relationship with God, and the hope of restoration after years of Babylonian captivity. His heart's desire was for the city's welfare and the rebuilding of the temple.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "supplication" here is teḥinna (תְּחִנָּה), which carries the nuance of an earnest plea for grace or mercy. It signifies a fervent and humble request, acknowledging one's unworthiness and appealing to God's compassion. The phrase "holy mountain" (har qodshiy) directly points to Jerusalem, God's chosen city, emphasizing its sacred status and the spiritual significance of its desolation and future restoration.

Practical Application

Daniel's prayer in this verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • The Power of Earnest Prayer: Just as Daniel's prayer prompted an immediate divine response, our fervent prayers are heard by God. It encourages us to approach God with sincerity and persistence (Luke 18:1).
  • Importance of Confession: Daniel's example reminds us of the necessity of both personal confession of sin and, where appropriate, identifying with the collective sins of our community or nation. True repentance begins with acknowledging wrongdoing (1 John 1:9).
  • Intercessory Heart: Daniel's burden for Jerusalem and his people challenges us to pray not only for ourselves but also for our cities, nations, and fellow believers, especially concerning spiritual and societal restoration.

This verse sets the stage for one of the Bible's most significant prophecies, underscoring that divine revelation often follows a period of humble, intense, and intercessory prayer.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 145:18

    The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

  • Daniel 9:3

    And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

  • Daniel 9:4

    ¶ And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

  • Romans 3:23

    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  • Isaiah 58:9

    Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

  • Isaiah 6:5

    ¶ Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.