Daniel 9:2

Somehow Daniel had obtained a copy of Jeremiah’s prediction of the length of Jerusalem’s desolation (cf. Jeremiah 36:23; Jeremiah 36:28). Jeremiah had revealed that the city would lie in ruins for 70 years and then God would destroy Babylonia (Jeremiah 25:11-12; Jeremiah 29:10-14; cf. 2 Chronicles 36:21). Daniel received this vision about 67 years after Nebuchadnezzar had deported the first group of exiles, including himself, in 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The specific period of desolation in Daniel 9:2 probably refers to 586-515 B.C., since "the desolations of Jerusalem" are in view. Daniel may also have been aware of Isaiah’s prophecy that God would raise up a king named Cyrus, who would order the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple (Isaiah 44:28; cf. Isaiah 45:1-2; cf. Isaiah 45:4; cf. Isaiah 45:13). However, there is no mention of this in the Book of Daniel.

Daniel interpreted literally the "70 years" that Jeremiah predicted. As he saw the end of this period approaching, he prayed for the restoration of his people. Daniel’s understanding of a literal fulfillment of numbers in prophecy helps us know how we should understand at least some of them. Notice also that he regarded Jeremiah’s prophecy as "the word of the LORD."