Now if Level 1 was super easy, the same is not true for Level 2. The density of information contained in this level, when fully explored, is really astounding. There is a huge amount of information embedded here, when properly understood. In this pairing, one finds the true timeline involved in Daniel's fasting in 10:2-4, and then how it serves as a prototype for a larger span given in 12:11-12. This is one of the best examples of how the two portions of the pairing work together to convey a larger concept that is lost when not read together. The true power of the nested literary structure is on display in all its glory in Level 2 ... and I personally think this is the best example overall in Daniel 10-12 -- always useful, always impressive, but here just awe-inspiring. There is absolutely no way that a human mind could have produced the results that come from a deliberate and purposed dive into the details given here. I hold it as irrefutable proof of the Divine Authorship of the vision.
| Dan | KJV | ELH |
|---|---|---|
| 10: 2 | In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. | And in these days I Daniel was mourning three weeks of days. |
| 3 | I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. | I have not eaten desirable bread, and no flesh and wine came into my mouth, and I have not anointed myself at all, until the completion of three weeks of days. |
| 4 | And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; | And in the twenty and fourth day of the first month, I was by the side of the great river, that is Hiddekel. |
| | | | | | | | | |
| 12:11 | And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. | And from the time of removing the continual unto giving the abomination that make desolate, a thousand two hundred and ninety days. |
| 12 | Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. | Happy is he that waits and he that attains the thousand three hundred and thirty and five days. |
Incidentally, I do believe that the two portions of every level can and even should be read as one continuous passage of Scripture. In other words, ignore the divsion betwen the two half and read it all together as a whole. Now, I'm going to impose a condition to illustrate a point here. As we read 10:2-4, let us assume the idea that we understand what each of the three verses is telling us completely (which we don't right now, but think as though we did for this illustration)... If you knew exactly what 10:2 told you and exactly what 10:4 told you (beyond the face valve, so to speak), then what 12:11 told you would be much different than what it would mean to someone reading only 10:2-4 and not having that fuller understanding. The first portion of the pairing (10:2-4) sets up many, many conditions that will cause you to see the 1,290-day span given in 12:11 in that context. This fact alone puts you miles ahead in terms of understanding over someone not reading Daniel 10-12 using the nested structure. This will become more clear soon.
Now then, even without having all this "inside information" about which I speak, 12:12 is NOT an additional time span, which many commentators see it. In fact, many commentators placed the 1,290- and 1,335-day spans sequentially, creating a 2,600+ day span. 12:12 is clearly meant to say that those who are holding fast at the 1,290th day will be "blessed" (the better word choice is "Happy") if they continue holding fast to the 1,335th day. There is no justification to butt these two time spans end-to-end; but I suspect the reason this is done is to try to produce a time span of seven years; and this is done to comport with the so-called "70th week of Daniel," referring to the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. However, to conclude that a "70th week" remains is wholly flawed and incorrect, just as is changing a 7-day week to the 7-year something, which is what's done. There is no jusitification to change from weeks to years in that prophecy. Again, I reject any interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27 that does this. There is no "70th week" (in relation to an explanation for the prophecy) (which is really seen as a 7-year long period, wherein commentators place the time of tribulation). Totally incorrect. There was of course a "70th week," but this was a literal week, the last week of Messiah's ministry (the week before Pentecost before Yeshua ascended to the Father).
In 10:2 and 3, the word for 'weeks' is not in the common form. Rather, the Hebrew spelling is the same as that found in the much discussed Daniel 9:24-27 prophecy. The Hebrew in verses 2 & 3 reads "three weeks of days" and most translators have interpreted 'of days' to mean 'full', hence the text is commonly rendered simply as "three full weeks". This is a mistake, however, because the two expressions do not mean the same thing. "weeks of days" would more probably be "Weeks of Days," a proper noun referring to the Feast of Weeks. "weeks of days" is a term used in the common vernacular to refer to the Feast of Week, a convocation of the Father. Thus, a proper nown is correct in English: "Weeks of Days" which is synonymous with "Feast of Weeks" as the ore formal of the two.
The Feast of Weeks is the seven whole weeks (49 days) between Passover and Pentecost. Since it is whole weeks, it starts on the week after Passover, always on the first day of the week. Therefore it always ends on the seventh day of the week. Pentecost then follows the next day.
Level-2 is dense in terms of the information it conveys when properly understood —— a wholloping
body of details hidden beneath the seemingly prosaic introduction of Daniel’s day by the river.
To get started unpacking that information, the term “sevens of days” must be properly understood.
We might assume it means three literal weeks, but this is incorrect. Instead, in Daniel’s vernacular
it refers to the “Feast of Weeks.” These are the seven full weeks starting after Pesach (Passover)
and concluding at Shavuot (Pentecost). This is why the nostalgic phrase “in those days” (10:2) is
used by Daniel, a phrase that would be out of place if referring to a time only three weeks ago and
apparently concluding at the time of the vision. On the other hand, it naturally fits if referring
to the past three years. This would be the case since the Feast of Weeks is observed each year. To
conclude, Daniel is referring to the past three occurences of the Feast of Weeks, fasting over the
seven full weeks in each. This is a record of the spiritual investment Daniel had made, seeking to
understand the fate of his people, Israel. The vision he experienced was the reward.
The next issue is the “chief month” (10:4). This is a reference to the seventh month on the
Creator’s Calendar, which is the first “in rank” or “preeminence” in spiritual significance. Thus,
Daniel is describing a span of time covering the prior two full years and the year at hand when he
experienced his encounter with the divine ... over two-and-one-half years total. We are in the
autumn time of the third year, in the seventh month in particular. More specifically, it is the
twenty-fourth day of the seventh month (10:4). Imagine, Daniel began his practice of fasting over
“Weeks” three years back. The third time concluded at Pentecost in the early summer. Summer came
and now we have moved into the autumn time. The seventh (chief) month began and now we have moved
into the twenty-fourth day of the month. This is the situation described in 10:2-4.
The Hiddekel River also carries significance. This river signifies rebellion and shame. The
prophetic encounter about which Daniel was to experience revealed these very characteristics about
Israel on the whole. The rebellion would continue towards both a futile and fatalistic conclusion.
Daniel realized this during the encounter, as we will see. The Hiddekel River’s unenviable
connection with rebellion and shame will be covered in more detail later.
Moving on to the companion verses, 12:11 gives the famous 1,290-day span of the “great
tribulation”; 12:12, the grossly misunderstood 1,335-day span.
Due to the importance of the time elements of 10:2-4 // 12:11-12, necessary space will be given
in the pages to follow so that we might explore the full extent of their implications before moving
on to Level-3.