Few prophecies in the Scripture have had a greater influence on our view of “end times” than Daniel 9 and the Seventy Weeks. This prophecy is the basis for much of our understanding concerning the 7 year tribulation, the anti-christ covenant and the great tribulation. But just how well do you understand the Biblical evidence upon which this great Messianic prophecy stands? Not sure? Take this prophecy quiz and find out how well you’ve laid your foundation:
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Christian scholars often point to the first century Jewish historian, Josephus, when trying to determine the year of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) birth. Josephus’ book Antiquities of the Jews, thought not considered Scripture, is full of interesting chronological details which add context to that era. One of the more famous passages from Josephus’ works concerns an eclipse of the moon and the subsequent death of Herod. Since Matthew 2 & Luke 1 indicate that Yeshua’s birth proceeded the death of Herod it is worth considering Josephus’ account to see if it provides any chronological insights. The following is an excerpt from Ant. 17:167-191.
Antiquities of the Jews 17:167-191
167 But Herod deprived this Matthias of the high priesthood, and burnt the other Matthias, who had raised the sedition, with his companions, alive. And that very night there was an eclipse of the moon. {c} 168 But now Herod’s distemper greatly increased upon him after a severe manner, and this by God’s judgment upon him for his sins; for a fire glowed in him slowly, which did not so much appear to the touch outwardly, as it augmented his pains inwardly; ……….. 191 When he had done these things, he died, the fifth day after he had caused Antipater to be slain; having reigned, since he had procured Antigonus to be slain, thirty-four years; but since he had been declared king by the Romans, thirty-seven. {b} A man he was of great barbarity toward all men equally, and a slave to his passion; but above the consideration of what was right;….
The passage goes on to describe Herod’s funeral preparations, his funeral, and a revolt of the Jewish people during Passover. All of these events provide clues which help us limit the possible year of Herod’s death and by development of that information the latest possible date for Yeshua’s birth. Josephus in Ant. 14 describes the ascendancy of Herod to the throne in Jerusalem (about 40 BC). According to Ant. 17 above, Herod ruled for 37 years from the point he was declared “king” by the Romans. Conservatively, this places the death of Herod in the year 4-3 BC. The following chart illustrates Josephus’ chronology of Herod.
Click on Image to enlarge:
A couple of important points to remember when looking at the chart:
1. The Roman A.U.C. (Anno Urbis Conditae) was the dating system in use at the time. (Not BC/AD) The A.U.C. year began and ended in spring.(March/April) For example if Herod died in 750 A.U.C. this year would run from spring of 4 BC to the spring of 3 BC.
2. Josephus gives two dates for the begining of Archelaus’ rule. This should be read in conjunction with Dio Cassius XV, 27.
Now if Josephus dated the death of Herod to sometime in the years 4 or 3 BC then the eclipse he mentioned must have proceed this date by an amount of time adequate to fulfill all the events which transpired between the eclipse and the following Passover. The partial eclipse of March 13, 4 BC seems to best fulfill the above evidence. In the following chart I have proposed what I believe to be a reasonable minimum and maximum timeline for the events mentioned by Josephus.
(Click on image to enlarge:)
As you can see Joseophus gave quite an outline of events leading up to and immediately following the death of Herod. The question before us now is; can the events described above reasonably fit into the period of time between the eclipse of 4 BC and the following Passover? In the first chart below I have laid out what I believe is a reasonable rendering of the evidence in relation to a Biblical reckoning of time as well as the our modern calendar.
One other piece of important chronological information related to Herod’s death is worth noting here. The Megillath Ta’anith, also called the Scroll of Fasting, which was written during the 1st century indicates that Herod died on the 1st Shevat. (Megillath Taanith xi, 1 – Warsh Edition) In the chart below (left) you will see this date noted relative to the other chronological information. (Please click on (left lower) image to enlarge)
In conclusion I believe the eclipse mentioned by Josephus is the astronomical event which occurred on March 13, 4 BC. Following this eclipse Herod’s illness progressed and resulted in his death early in the year 3 BC. Shortly thereafter the Jewish people revolted during the Passover of 3 BC. This evidence adds weight to the Biblical evidence developed in The Messiah Factors (Part 1 & 2) which shows that Yeshua was conceived in the winter of 5 BC and was born nine months later in the fall of 4 BC. For more on the month of Yeshua’s birth see my article The Course of Abijah.
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I should note here that scholars have proposed a total of four eclipses which for various reasons might fulfill the record mentioned in Ant. 17. They are as follows:
1.Sept. 15, 5 B.C.
2. March 13, 4 B.C.
3. Jan. 10, 1 B.C.
4. Dec. 29, 1 B.C.
Have you ever wondered about the Biblical definition of time? Most scholars trace the origins of Biblical time to Genesis 1:14:
Genesis 1:14 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
From this verse we see the origins of the daily and yearly cycles. The verse also indicates that the “lights in the firmament” are for “signs” and “seasons”. The word “signs” comes from the Hebrew ‘owth {oth} which means sign, signal or remembrance. The word “season” comes from the Hebrew mow’ed {mo-ade’} which means an appointed place, appointed time, sacred season, or appointed meeting. The first usage of mow’ed after Gen. 1:14 is when YHWH promises Abraham that Sarah would bear him a son the following year at the mow’ed or set time. After that mow’ed is used to describe the Biblical holy days as given by YHWH to Moses and Israel. In the book of Exodus, we learn these holy days or mow’ed are counted based upon the lunar cycle.
So in summary Genesis specifically identifies the “lights in the firmament” as the means by which the daily and yearly cycles are regulated. These “lights” are for “signs” and “seasons” which further defines Biblical time in terms of the lunar cycles.
Having said that, did you know there is no place in the Scripture which specifically spells out the relationship between the lunar/solar cycle and their intercalations as they relate to the Biblical calendar? While this may seem confusing to us it is important to remember the context. I dare say many of us have never looked up at the moon in the night sky and thought of it in terms of where it was at in its lunar cycle. Back during the Biblical era it was known intuitively. Everyone back then knew there were 13 or 14 days of waxing light followed by 13 or 14 days of waning light. The moon was their calendar! It was such a part of their existence it didn’t have to be explained. That is the real reason you will not find the lunar/solar cycles explained in relation to the Biblical calendar. In order to find any evidence of the relationship between the lunar cycle and solar year we have to look beneath the surface of the Biblical record.
The only place (that I am aware of) which gives any evidence for an intercalated lunar/solar cycle is found in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 1-4, YHWH uses the prophet Ezekiel to give Israel and Judah an object lesson. YHWH instructs Ezekiel to lay on his side 390 days for the sins of Israel. He goes on to instruct him to lay on his other side for 40 days for the sins of Judah. These unusual instructions provide us a rare opportunity to define the lunar/solar calendar and its intercalations.
In the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity, in the 5th day of the 4th month, Ezekiel was given commanded to lay on his left side for 390 days for the iniquity of Israel. Following this he was commanded to lay on his right side for 40 days for the house of Judah. This was a total of 430 days.
In the 6th month of the following year after completing his object lesson Ezekiel was sitting in his house with some of the elders of Judah. From this gathering YHWH physically took Ezekiel and showed him the departure of the Shekinah from Jerusalem. (Eze. 8-10) There are three possible ways to calculate the amount of time between the 4th month of Ezekiel’s 5th year and the 6th month of his 6th year. They are listed in the chart below:
Only the 3rd option allows for the necessary time given the chronological evidence provided in the text. In order for Ezekiel to have lain on his side for 430 days, the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity must have had an intercalary or 13th month. Incidentally this is of great value to the chronologist who is interested in synchronizing the lunar/solar cycle in terms of the macro chronological record. As far as I know this is the only place in the Scripture which provides evidence of an intercalary month. Contextually, this shows that during the captivity period the Jewish people understood time in the sense of an intercalated lunar/solar calendar. Their religious calendar was normally 12 lunar months of 29.53 days each followed by an intercalary or 13th month every 2 or 3 years.
In a symbolic sense the rising and setting of the sun regulated man’s labor and rest throughout the solar year. The lunar cycle on the other hand regulated the religious calendar and its mow’eds (appointed times). These two cycles were synchronized by the 13th Month.
Authors note: On the subject of time and calendars, some today claim the 30 day months of Genesis shows that a different calendar was used pre-flood. Some even suggest that the length of the lunar or solar cycles were substantially different that they are today. Based on my own research I do not believe this to be the case. There is evidence which shows that ancient Egypt did in fact have a 30 day month in their calendar. Here is the catch. Their records indicate they realized they were 5 days short of a complete solar cycle. This they called “5 days over the year”. Some of their dynasties intercalated this 30 day monthly calendar and added an additional month every 5 or 6 years. Others made no intercalations and from them we get a “wandering” calendar where their months began to wander in the solar cycle, no longer rooted in the reality of the seasons.
For those who use this 30 day month to calculate the Prophecy of Daniel’s Seventy weeks it would be good to keep the above information in mind.
More Articles related to the prophecy of 70 Weeks and 2nd temple era chronology:
The “Artaxerxes” Assumption – The best kept secret of Old Testament chronology.
The Fifth Command – Why do prophecy teachers ignore it?
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I – Defining “Artaxerxes” in the context of Ezra.
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part II – Ezra, Darius even “Artaxerxes”.
Nehemiah: The Governor– Nehemiah’s place in the 2nd temple chronology
Queen of Persia – Part I – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
Queen of Persia – Part II – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
A New Testament Cipher – The key to unlocking the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Ezekiel’s 13th Month– Key to understanding Biblical “time” in the 2nd Temple era
6 milestones – Seventy Weeks – Defining the purpose of the Messiah within Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.
The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14 – Symbolism of the Messiah
The Messiah Factors (Part II): The Countdown – Proving Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah promised in Daniel 9.
Ezekiel 4:4-6 4 Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. 5 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
Ezekiel 1:1-3 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3 The word of YHWH came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of YHWH was there upon him.
Ezekiel 8:1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord YHWH fell there upon me.
Thoughts on Daniel 9:24
Daniel :24
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Daniel 9:24 above summarizes the purpose of the 70 “weeks” prophecy by giving six goals which are to be accomplished during that period. These six goals are tied to Daniel’s “people”, the “holy city” Jerusalem, and the coming of the Messiah. They are as follows:
Most Christian scholars today believe the Messiah of Daniel 9 refers to Yeshua/Jesus. Yet there is a curious disconnect in how they interpret the 6 goals of Daniel 9:24. Would you believe many claim not a single one of the above six goals are to be understood within the context of Jesus’ death and resurrection? Think about that for a minute… Nothing Jesus accomplished at Calvary is related to the prophecy of 70 weeks. They believe all those events took place in an undefined and ongoing period of time between the 69th & 70th week of Daniel 9. It seems incredible to me that the most important Messianic prophecy in the Scripture is silent on the single most important act of the Messiah’s efforts on our behalf.
The reason for this incredible interpretation is simple. If any of the above 6 goals of Daniel 9:24 were accomplished by Jesus at Calvary then they, by the context of Daniel 9:24, had to have happened during the 70th week.
Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to….”
I realize that many prophecy teachers will argue that the prophecy was given to Daniel’s “people” so it cannot be a prophecy related to the reconciliation of all mankind. Take a good look at those 6 goals once again and ask yourself if it is a reasonable interpretation to believe none of 6 goals of Daniel 9:24 refer to 1st coming of Jesus and his sacrifice on our behalf. I leave you with a few related Scriptures to consider:
Hebrews 9:24-26 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
Hebrews 2:16-17 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Romans 5:8-12 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Hebrews 1:6-8 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. ut unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 10:3-6 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
More Articles related to the prophecy of 70 Weeks and 2nd temple era chronology:
The “Artaxerxes” Assumption – The best kept secret of Old Testament chronology.
The Fifth Command – Why do prophecy teachers ignore it?
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I – Defining “Artaxerxes” in the context of Ezra.
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part II – Ezra, Darius even “Artaxerxes”.
Nehemiah: The Governor– Nehemiah’s place in the 2nd temple chronology
Queen of Persia – Part I – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
Queen of Persia – Part II – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
A New Testament Cipher – The key to unlocking the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Ezekiel’s 13th Month– Key to understanding Biblical “time” in the 2nd Temple era
6 milestones – Seventy Weeks – Defining the purpose of the Messiah within Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.
The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14 – Symbolism of the Messiah
The Messiah Factors (Part II): The Countdown – Proving Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah promised in Daniel 9.
Yeas ago I set out to see if I could figure out exactly what day Israel crossed over the Jordan river into the Promised Land. Based upon my calculations Israel camped at the Jordan river exactly 40 years, to the day, from the Exodus of Egypt. Further, exactly 40 years, to the day, from the Red Sea crossing , Israel crossed over the Jordan river into the Promised Land. Take a look and see what you think.
Click on Image for full size:
I only included the first and last pages of my chart. The entire 188 page chart in PDF format can be found here: Passover to the Promised Land
Numbers 14:33-34 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Joshua 5:6-12 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of YHWH: unto whom YHWH sware that he would not shew them the land, which YHWH sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. nd it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. And YHWH said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Authors Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the 2nd temple era chronology as it relates to the prophecy of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks.
Nehemiah: The Governor
In 520 BC YHWH gave Joshua and Zerubbabel a “commandment to restore and build Jerusalem.” (See my article Fifth Command for more information on the subject.) Four years later the temple in Jerusalem was completed but very little progress had been made in building the walls of the ancient citadel. The remnant of people who dwelt there was still being harassed by their enemies.
Back in Shushan, the winter palace of the Persian Kings, a Judean captive named Nehemiah was the cupbearer to king “Artaxerxes”. Nehemiah heard of the plight of his brethren in Jerusalem and set out to do something about it. After pouring his heart out to YHWH in prayer, Nehemiah petitioned king Artaxerxes to allow him to go up and repair the walls of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes granted his request and we learn later that Nehemiah also became governor (Tirshatha) of Jerusalem.
Most scholars today identify the Persian “Artaxerxes” in the book of Nehemiah as Artaxerxes Longimanus. If you have read my articles the Artaxerxes Assumption, or Ezra: Priest & Scribe you know why this identification is without a reasonable basis in the Biblical record. A close look at the information provided in the book of Nehemiah further adds to that conclusion.
In Nehemiah 5:14, it states that Nehemiah was appointed governor from the 20th to the 32nd year of “Artaxerxes”. This information allows us to limit our search for Nehemiah’s “Artaxerxes” to three Persian kings because only three ruled 32 years or longer than. Those kings are Darius, Longimanus, and Memnon. (Memnon ruled 46 yrs. but is not included in the list below. His rule commenced after Darius Nothus)
So which of these three Persian kings provides a reasonable basis to claim he is the “Artaxerxes” of Nehemiah? There are several pieces of evidence in the book of Nehemiah which give us the answer so let’s take a look:
So which is the more reasonable explanation? These men were (at their youngest) 65-75 years old during the reign of Darius Hystaspes or they were (at their youngest) 122-132 years old during the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus. Only one of these options does not strain the bounds of credibility. Please see the chart below for comparison.
In summary, it is clear that Nehemiah and Ezra were contemporaries of Darius Hystaspes, also known as Artaxerxes. Any other rendering of the chronology requires one to ignore the most reasonable and natural reading of the book of Nehemiah.
More Articles related to the prophecy of 70 Weeks and 2nd temple era chronology:
The “Artaxerxes” Assumption – The best kept secret of Old Testament chronology.
The Fifth Command – Why do prophecy teachers ignore it?
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I – Defining “Artaxerxes” in the context of Ezra.
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part II – Ezra, Darius even “Artaxerxes”.
Nehemiah: The Governor– Nehemiah’s place in the 2nd temple chronology
Queen of Persia – Part I – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
Queen of Persia – Part II – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
A New Testament Cipher – The key to unlocking the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Ezekiel’s 13th Month– Key to understanding Biblical “time” in the 2nd Temple era
6 milestones – Seventy Weeks – Defining the purpose of the Messiah within Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.
The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14 – Symbolism of the Messiah
The Messiah Factors (Part II): The Countdown – Proving Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah promised in Daniel 9.
In my previous article Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I we learned that the most reasonable explanation of Ezra’s lineage places him as a contemporary of Darius “the Great” son of Hystaspes also known as “Artaxerxes.” Now we will look once again at the chronology of Ezra with this perspective in mind. If Ezra was in fact a contemporary of Darius “the Great” then we should expect additional confirmation from the Old Testament record.
For those who are not familiar with the chronology of the 2nd temple era, it is worth briefly going over it once more to establish the context. In 536 BC, Cyrus gave a decree which allowed the Judean captives to return and build the Temple in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-3 tells of these events. Incidentally, for those willing to dig a little deeper, the Cyrus Cylinder found in the ruins of Babylon also offers some intriguing confirmation of Ezra’s record below.
Ezra 1:1-3 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, YHWH stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia….. Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, YHWH God of heaven ….. he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem…. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of YHWH God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
As I explained in my article The Fifth Command for the next 16 years the enemies of the Jewish people harassed them in their efforts to build the temple. In fact they did not get much further than laying some of the foundation stones.
The chart below is a summary of the Persian rulers from Cyrus to Artaxerxes I. It will provide a handy reference for those trying to figure out how the Persian kings related to the 2nd temple era chronology.
In 520 BC (2nd yr. of Darius), YHWH gave the Judean captives a divine command “to restore and build Jerusalem.” Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor, listened to the words of YHWH as witnessed by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah and construction on the temple resumed. (Ezra 6:14) Four years later, the temple was finished in the 6th year of Darius.
Now here is where modern Biblical scholarship takes a detour. Ezra 6 ends with the completion of the 2nd temple in the 6th year of Darius.(516 BC) Ezra 7 starts with Ezra, the priest & scribe, setting off on his journey to Jerusalem in the 7th year of “Artaxerxes.”
Today, most Biblical scholars have assumed that this “Artaxerxes” is a reference to Artaxerxes I (Longimanus). This requires them to insert a gap of about 58 years between Ezra 6 & 7. They do this despite the fact that Darius (son of Hystaspes) is in fact called “Artaxerxes” in Ezra 6:14. Let’s take a look.
Ezra 6:14-15 14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, {and} Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
It is imperative to note in the verses above, that it clearly states the Jewish people “builded and finished” the temple according to the “commandments” of God of Israel, Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. Notice it states unequivocally that the temple was finished by the 6th year of Darius. That means all the secular rulers mentioned in Ezra 6:14 must have ruled at some point previous to the 6th year of Darius.
Who then is the “and Artaxerxes” mentioned in Ezra 6:14? It couldn’t be the “Artaxerxes” of Ezra 4:7 because this “Artaxerxes” stopped construction of the temple. Who then could it be? Many Biblical scholars have assumed, contrary to the clear context of the verse, that this “Artaxerxes” is a reference to Artaxerxes I – Longimanus. This despite the fact that he reigned almost 60 years after the temple was completed.
Most likely the translators use a single Hebrew letter to further the “Artaxerxes Assumption.” In Hebrew, the letter waw, is often used as a conjunction but as most Hebrew lexicons explain it also has a much wider, though less common, use as well. Below is the TWOT Hebrew lexicon explaining the use of waw.
For those who read the entire excerpt you saw the waw can also be used as a “hendiadys,” i.e. two words with one meaning. Take a look at the little chart below. It shows waw as it appears in the Hebrew text of Ezra 6:14.
Ezra 6:14-15 14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and even Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Since there is no reasonable basis to assume the “Artaxerxes” of Ezra 6:14 was another Persian king the translators should have used waw as a hendiadys not a conjunction. Their decision to use the waw as a conjunction was premised upon the necessity to show that Ezra was a contemporary of Artaxerxes Longimanus. There is simply no other reason to add another Persian king to the chronology of Ezra 6:14-15. I encourage you to work it out yourself.
Now take a look at the Ezra 6 and 7 in this context. In the 6th year of Darius “even” Artaxerxes the 2nd temple is completed. Just a few verses later it shows that the temple had been completed and Ezra decided to go up to Jerusalem and teach the people the Torah. Ezra 7 states he received permission to go up to Jerusalem in the 7th year of “Artaxerxes.” With what we now know, this is perfectly reasonable. No need for another Persian king and a gap of 58 years. Ezra simply went up to Jerusalem in the 7th year of Darius also known as Artaxerxes. This confirms the Biblical evidence concerning Ezra’s lineage as we saw in Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I. This also has far reaching implications for Bible prophecy teachers who hold to the “Artaxerxes Assumption”.
Those of you who have the heart of a Berean, I encourage you to search this out for yourselves. For those of you too proud or stubborn to look, I humbly ask you to reconsider. The uncomfortable implications of this can no longer be ignored as too much is at stake.
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More Articles related to the prophecy of 70 Weeks and 2nd temple era chronology:
The “Artaxerxes” Assumption – The best kept secret of Old Testament chronology.
The Fifth Command – Why do prophecy teachers ignore it?
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I – Defining “Artaxerxes” in the context of Ezra.
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part II – Ezra, Darius even “Artaxerxes”.
Nehemiah: The Governor– Nehemiah’s place in the 2nd temple chronology
Queen of Persia – Part I – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
Queen of Persia – Part II – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
A New Testament Cipher – The key to unlocking the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Ezekiel’s 13th Month– Key to understanding Biblical “time” in the 2nd Temple era
6 milestones – Seventy Weeks – Defining the purpose of the Messiah within Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.
The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14 – Symbolism of the Messiah
The Messiah Factors (Part II): The Countdown – Proving Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah promised in Daniel 9.
During the 2nd temple period, few Old Testament characters hold a more prominent position than Ezra. The Bible identifies him as a Priest and Scribe. It is believed that he was the author of both the book of Ezra as well as Chronicles. Both of these accounts provide a vivid record of the triumphs and tragedies of the Judean captives’ efforts in rebuilding the 2nd temple and Jerusalem. After the completion of the temple in the 6th year of Darius, Ezra, who still resided in Persia, saw the need to return to Jerusalem and teach the people the law of YHWH.
Today, the chronology of Ezra is an important cornerstone for most of today’s teachings on Daniel 9, the greatest Messianic prophecy in the Bible. Daniel 9, also known as the prophecy of “seventy weeks,” is the only prophecy in the Bible that specifically links a dateable secular event with the coming of the Messiah. Daniel 9:25 states the following:
Daniel 9:25 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks,
Without the chronology of Ezra, there would be no way to determine the starting point for “the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.” (For more on the subject see my articles The Fifth Command and The “Artaxerxes Assumption”.) Considering the importance of Ezra’s writings to our understanding of the Seventy Weeks prophecy you might assume this Old Testament chronology would be well established upon a reasonable Biblical basis. For those who have taken the time to look, you will find instead it is one of the best kept secrets of Old Testament chronology.
Do you find that hard to believe? I encourage you to see for yourself. Choose any of today’s most respected teachers on the prophecy of Seventy Weeks and see what reasonable Biblical evidence they provide to show Ezra was a contemporary of “Artaxerxes” Longimanus. To be sure you will find their “Artaxerxes Assumption” but what you will not find is any reasonable Biblical evidence to support it.
So what does the Bible say about Ezra?
It may surprise you to learn there is substantial Biblical evidence to determine Ezra’s place in 2nd temple era chronology. Probably the best place to start is in the beginning.
Ezra 7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
In the verse above, it says that Ezra was the son of Seraiah. What’s fascinating about this statement is Seraiah, son of Azariah, was the last high priest of Solomon’s temple. 2 Kings 25:8-21 tells us that Seraiah was taken by Nebuzaradan to Riblah in the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar and there he was killed.
2 Kings 25:1-21 8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: 9 And he burnt the house of YHWH, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire. 10 And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. 11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away………..18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door…………. 20 And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah: 21 And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.
I think most everyone would agree, it is reasonable to assume that Ezra could not have been conceived after the death of his father, Seraiah. Let’s further assume, for the sake of argument, that Ezra was born the year his father was killed. (Not really a reasonable assumption considering the events that took place in Jerusalem but it’s the earliest he could have been born so let’s go with it) The 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar by many accounts was 584 BC.
Ezra 7:1-8 Now after these things……… This Ezra went up from Babylon;……. unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
In order to establish Ezra’s place in the chronology of the 2nd Temple era all we now need to do is determine the date for the 7th year of “Artaxerxes”. If you’ve read my articles The Fifth Command and The “Artaxerxes Assumption you know that the term “Artaxerxes” is simply a title which was applied to several Persian kings. For the sake of brevity, I will not list all the possible Persian Artaxerxes, only those whose reign lasted at least 32 years as required by Nehemiah 5:14. Those Persian kings are Darius “the Great” Artaxerxes, Artaxerxes Longimanus, and Artaxerxes Memnon. With the above information, it is a simple matter to calculate Ezra’s minimum age during the reign of “Artaxerxes”. In the table below you will see the youngest Ezra could have been in the 7th year of each “Artaxerxes”. Please keep in mind that Ezra was also alive 14 year later at the dedication of the wall in Jerusalem and took an active part in those ceremonies.
The question is simple: Which of the above Persian Kings most reasonably qualifies as a contemporary of Ezra? Keep in mind the words of king David:
Psalm 90:9-10 9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
In my next article, Ezra the Priest and Scribe – Part II we will look at the chronology of Ezra 6 &7. What does the Bible say about the 7th year of “Artaxerxes” and who does it identify as this “Artaxerxes”? Why is this relevant to the prophecy of Seventy Weeks?
More Articles related to the prophecy of 70 Weeks and 2nd temple era chronology:
The “Artaxerxes” Assumption – The best kept secret of Old Testament chronology.
The Fifth Command – Why do prophecy teachers ignore it?
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I – Defining “Artaxerxes” in the context of Ezra.
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part II – Ezra, Darius even “Artaxerxes”.
Nehemiah: The Governor– Nehemiah’s place in the 2nd temple chronology
Queen of Persia – Part I – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
Queen of Persia – Part II – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
A New Testament Cipher – The key to unlocking the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Ezekiel’s 13th Month– Key to understanding Biblical “time” in the 2nd Temple era
6 milestones – Seventy Weeks – Defining the purpose of the Messiah within Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.
The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14 – Symbolism of the Messiah
The Messiah Factors (Part II): The Countdown – Proving Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah promised in Daniel 9.
King of 127 Provinces
Most are familiar with the story of the Jewish Queen Esther and the events which resulted in the celebration of Purim. (For more on this see my article April Fools.) Since Purim is coming up, I thought I would explore the history of that era a little in the next couple of articles.
Purim is a wonderful story of sacrifice, courage, and duty. One woman’s courage changed the course of history regarding a race of people. She was so revered in Jewish history that the great Rabbi Maimonides said concerning her: “in Messiah’s days the prophets and hagiographa shall pass away, except ‘Esther’, which will remain with the Pentateuch.” What many may not realize is that there is more to this great story. A close inspection of Biblical and historical records reveals little known facts which offer valuable insights into this important time for the Jewish and Persian peoples.
At the height of the Persian power and influence, Darius the Great ruled over 127 provinces. He was the son of Hystaspes and the third king of the Achaemenid Empire. His revolutionary tribute system, which allowed goods in lieu of gold and silver, earned him the title of “huckster” from the historian Herodotus.
In the Old Testament, it was during the reign of Darius the Great that the second temple was completed. In his second year, he gave permission to the Jewish repatriates to build their holy temple. By Darius’s sixth year the 2nd temple was completed and in the spring of the following year it was dedicated. His generous support in the building efforts, as described in Ezra 6:8-9, confirms in part the estimation of Herodotus. Notice in the passage below, he commands the Jewish people be given, “of the tribute beyond the river……bullocks, and rams, and lambs,…wheat, salt, wine and oil.”
KJVEzra 6:8-9
8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
Historically, Darius son of Hystaspes is known by the titles of Ahasuerus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.
Josephus speaks of him as Darius:
Antiquities of the Jews 11:33
Now, in the first year of the king’s reign, Darius feasted those who were about him, and those born in his house, with the rulers of the Medes, and princes of the Persians, and the toparches of India and Ethiopia, and the generals of the armies, of his hundred and twenty-seven provinces.
The Apocryphal book of 1 Esdras 3:1 also acknowledges him as Darius:
1 Esdras 3:1
Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media and Persia, 2 And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.
The book of Esther calls the Persian king who ruled over 127 provinces by the name of Ahasuerus:
KJVEsther 1:1
Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
The LXE version of Esther calls him Artaxerxes as does the Greek version Ester 11:1-2 and 16:1
LXE Esther 1:1
In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great king, on the first day of Nisan, Mardochaeus the son of Jairus, the son of Semeias, the son of Chisaeus, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Jew dwelling in the city Susa, a grat great man, serving in the king’s palace, saw a vision. Now he was of the captivity which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried captive from Jerusalem, with Jechonias the king of Judea.
Ester (Greek) 11:1-2
In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemeus and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and Ptolemeus his son, brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said was the same, and that Lysimachus the son of Ptolemeus, that was in Jerusalem, had interpreted it. 2 In the second year of the reign of Artexerxes the great, in the first day of the month Nisan, Mardocheus the son of Jairus, the son of Semei, the son of Cisai, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream;
Ester (Greek) 16:1
The great king Artexerxes unto the princes and governors of an hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia, and unto all our faithful subjects, greeting.
The chronologist Ussher calls him Artaxerxes the Great, Ahasuerus or Darius.
Ussher, Anals of the World:
3484c AM, 4194 JP, 520 BC—
1015. “Mordecai, the Jew, in the Greek edition of Esther {Apc Est 11:1-12}, is said to have had a dream on the first day of the month of Nisan, in the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the Great (or Ahasuerus or Darius, the son of Hystaspes), concerning a river signifying Esther and two dragons portending himself and Haman. {Apc Est 10:4-13}”
Louis Ginzberg in his compilation of Talmudic tradition called the Persian king who ruled over 127 provinces by the title of Ahasuerus.
Legends of the Jews XXII. Esther
The first part of the celebration was given over to the hundred and twenty-seven rulers of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of his empire.
Last but not least, Ezra 6:14 identifies the Persian king who helped in building the temple as Darius – even – Artaxerxes king of Persia. (Please note the “waw” connected to Artaxerxes in Ezra 6:14 can be used as either a conjunction or a hendiadys. The context defines the usage. The context of Ezra 6 requires the “waw” be used as a hendiadys. i.e. two words with one meaning. For more on this see TWOT Hebrew lexicon 519.0)
KJVEzra 6:14-15
14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, [even] Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
In Part 2 of The Queen of Persia, I will look at the contemporaneous relationship between the Babylonians, Persians, Medians, and Judeans. This table is based upon an original work by Richard Edmund Tyrwhitt from his book “Esther and Ahasuerus” (1868). It provides additional context and insights into the intrigues and alliances of that era.
More Articles related to the prophecy of 70 Weeks and 2nd temple era chronology:
The “Artaxerxes” Assumption – The best kept secret of Old Testament chronology.
The Fifth Command – Why do prophecy teachers ignore it?
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I – Defining “Artaxerxes” in the context of Ezra.
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part II – Ezra, Darius even “Artaxerxes”.
Nehemiah: The Governor– Nehemiah’s place in the 2nd temple chronology
Queen of Persia – Part I – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
Queen of Persia – Part II – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
A New Testament Cipher – The key to unlocking the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Ezekiel’s 13th Month– Key to understanding Biblical “time” in the 2nd Temple era
6 milestones – Seventy Weeks – Defining the purpose of the Messiah within Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.
The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14 – Symbolism of the Messiah
The Messiah Factors (Part II): The Countdown – Proving Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah promised in Daniel 9.
Click on Image to enlarge.
In my article, A New Testament Cipher, I showed how the list of Matthew 1 was an intentional arrangement of Jesus’ lineage in order to convey additional information. Luke 3 also gives a lineage of Jesus and like Matthew 1, it also has a story to tell. Scholars have long questioned which lineage is through Mary and which is through Joseph. Intriguingly, when the lists are examined in a larger context, it is their arrangement that provides the best evidence to answer this question.
Let’s look at the crux of the debate:
Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
The New Testament claims that Mary conceived Jesus by the Spirit of YHWH. (See my article here for more on this); this obviously means he did not have an earthly father. As you can see in the two verses above, Joseph is listed as the father of Jesus. In one of these, Joseph is listed in place of Mary because even though one’s lineage passed through the mother, it was the husband or father who was normally listed.
One of the lists to the right is the physical line of Jesus through Mary, his mother. The other, by default, is the lineage of Joseph, the “legal”, adoptive father of Jesus. One of the most compelling arguments for Luke 3 being the physical lineage of Jesus is found in an Old Testament curse. If you’ve read my article Zerubbabel and the Promise you know the Old Testament king Jechonias (also Coniah) was cursed by YHWH and no man of his lineage would ever “prosper” on the throne of David.
Jeremiah 22:24-30 24 As I live, saith YHWH, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; 25 And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. 27 But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. 28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? 29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of YHWH. 30 Thus saith YHWH, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
Okay, so we have evidence which shows which list is not the lineage of Jesus, but is there any confirming evidence to show that Luke 3 was in fact the lineage of Jesus through Mary? I believe there is. Luke 3:23 states that Jesus was “the supposed” son of Joseph, the son of Heli. The phrase “the supposed” is from the Greek nomizo which means as was the custom in the sense of a legal custom. In other words, Joseph was the legal father of Jesus; not the literal father. As with the legal custom of that time, Mary’s name would not have been listed even though she was the person through whom the lineage passed. So in this case Joseph the “legal” father of Jesus represented his wife Mary in the lineage and Heli was in fact Mary’s father. Remarkably we have a historical source which confirm that Mary was the daughter of Heli.
This source, which is in some dispute, comes from the Jerusalem Talmud (Chag. 77,4). Do to the graphic and unflattering nature of the quote it is not appropriate to reproduce here. You can investigate and decide for yourself if in fact it refers to Mary the Daughter of Heli.
Authors Note: This article had originally stated that the Koran identified Mary as the Daughter of Heli. It seems the translation of these passages that I found were erroneous. The three passages below which I originally quoted should read daughter of Imran. I apologize for the error. (Quran 66:12) (Quran 3:35) (Al-Tirmidhi)
The list of Matthew 1 contains the lineage of David through Solomon. The lineage is marked by sin and rebellion. David’s sin with the Bathsheba (another man’s wife) resulted in Solomon, Coniah, and a long line of rebellions and sinful kings. (Please read my article Zerubbabel and the Promise to see how YHWH rectified this conundrum).
Mankind and sin is often marked symbolically in the Bible by the number 6. The list of Matthew 1 from YHWH to Yeshua/Jesus is marked by 66 names. It is further worth noting that the Bible in its modern form from YHWH in Genesis to Yeshua in Revelation is marked by 66 books.
The list of Luke 3 contains the lineage of Jesus through David and his son Nathan. This is likely the physical line of Jesus through Mary. It is unblemished by the sordid details associated with the lineage through Solomon. In the Bible the number 7 is a mark of divine perfection. The list of Luke 3 contains 77 names.
I have always enjoyed trying to solve the unexplained. No matter what you believe about the Bible it is full of puzzles, enigmas and the unexplained. Okay, I know some of you have it all figured out but this post is to the rest of us mere mortals. Throughout the Old Testament, sacrifice was connected to atonement for sin. This symbolism started in Eden when YHWH killed the first animals to clothe Adam and Eve after their sin and continued up to the New Testament symbolism of Jesus who was as the apostle John describe: “the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.”
For those familiar with the Old Testament sacrificial system it is obvious there is some symbolic importance to the number of sacrifices during the Biblical holy days. Even if you don’t believe the Bible is inspired you can’t deny the fact that there had to be symbolic importance connected to the number of sacrifices during these religious celebrations.
The Biblical festival of Succoth is illustrative of my point. In the table below I have laid out the sacrifices for the “burnt offering” during the 1st seven days of the feast. The pattern is obviously intentional and it is also unique. There is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the Scripture. So what is it’s purpose?
In the New Testament the apostle Paul when discussing the “law” and the sacrificial system as it related to Christ, indicated it was a “shadow of good things to come.” He went on to describe how Jesus fulfilled those Old Testament pictures. It seems more than coincidental that the Biblical festival most likely associated with the birth of Christ would also have in its ordinances an expression of the very same numerical symbolism as found in the list of Jesus’ lineage in Matthew 1(as discussed here) as well as the chronology associated with his birth and the course of Abijah in Luke 1(as discussed here). . The numerical symbolism expressed in all three places is but part of a large picture of which the 13th Enumeration is the key.
_________________________________________________
Below is the first and last usage of the term “Burnt Offering”. (Gen 22 & Heb. 10 respectively)
Genesis 22:1-2 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Genesis 22:11-13 11 And the angel of YHWH called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Hebrews 10:1-13 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Numbers 29:12-14 12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto YHWH seven days: 13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto YHWH; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: 14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,
