Daniel 9:24 “ Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city,
25 “ Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering
In this prophecy, God designated the time when the Messiah would come. How are we to understand it?
First, how do we interpret the "week" or "sevens"?
The prophecy is divided into units of sevens, signifying the period of seven days or the week. Yet literal weeks could not contain the whole of the prophecy. So here we have the prophetic meaning of "day" which equals a year. (see Ezek 4:6; Num 14:34) Each seven signifying seven years. Thus 70 sevens equals 490 years.
The seven weeks and sixty two weeks take place prior to the coming of the Messiah, thus Messiah comes at the end of sixty-nine weeks or 483 years.
Beginning point
The time would begin when a "word" or degree would go out concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
The prophecy is specific about the restoration and building of the city itself. It was not just the building of the temple, but of the restoration and building of the city of Jerusalem.
The degrees
The decree of Cyrus in Ezra 1:2-4 specifically gives authorization for the rebuilding of the temple but does not mention the city.
The decree of Darius in Ezra 6 repeated the authorization of Cyrus to rebuild the temple. The temple was completed in the sixth year of Darius I, 516 B.C., but the city was still in ruins in the time of Artaxerxes in the middle of the next century.
The next decree given by king Artaxerxes is found in Ezra 7. It is quite a long decree giving authorization for a number of things. --authority for the sacrifices in the temple --authority to appoint magistrates and judges over the whole region (not just Jerusalem) But also "the region beyond the river" --authority to collect money from surrounding area to further his work --authority to teach the law and enforce it in the whole region --authorized the return of a large number of Jews from Babylon back to Jerusalem
The last, the "decree" to Nehemiah recorded in Nehemiah 2 According to W.H.Shea "Nehemiah was given a letter that authorized him to receive recognition and assistance for the tasks that the king permitted him to perform. It had the net effect of a decree, but it was not quite the same thing. The relation between the two communications was that of initial authorization and supplementary authorization. What Ezra went and started was then taken up and carried on to partial completion by Nehemiah. As in the preceding case of Cyrus' initial decree in Ezra 1 and Darius' supplementary authorization in Ezra 6"
History of what happened after the Decree Ezra received
Ezra returns to Jerusalem with a large number of Jewish exiles from Babylon. He begins to impliment the authority given him over the region (including Samaria), and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Of course this new, large influx of Jewish families would need to have Jerusalem rebuilt!
The surrounding neighbors were greatly distressed over the decree! They sent petitions to King Artaxerxes.
We find the petition (accusation) in Ezra 4
Ezra 4:11 To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth: 4:12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. 4:13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished. 4:14 Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king, 4:15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed. 4:16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.
They are speaking of a new (and apparently large) influx of Jewish families that came from Babylon during Artaxerxes reign and were rebuilding the city. No doubt they were angry that king had authorized Ezra to collect funds from them to rebuild!
The king, fearing an uprising tries to pacify them. Some have indicated there were uprising against Artaxerxes at this time thus helping to explain his reversal.
He writes: "Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me." (Ezra 4:21)
Notice he doesn't cancel his decree -- only puts it on hold.
When Nehemiah later presents his petition for Jeruselem, the king doesn't give a new degree, but authorizes Nehemiah to carry out what was begun by Ezra, but was put on hold "until the command is given" by Artaxerxes.
So in Conclusion--
The decree to restore Jerusalem was given by Artaxerxes to Ezra.
Having located the decree, we need to establish the date.
