Douggg wrote:
Would G-d thought it so important to send Gabriel to foretell of some messiah figure in verse 26 who proved out to be a total unknown, as in Judaism interpretation?     After all, for example, the horn on the goat as being foretold to be the king of Greece, in retrospect turned out to be Alexander the Great.    And the little horn in Judaism's view, Antiochus IV.   Both well known historical figures.

But in Daniel 9:26 - not a king at all, but some high priest, who is a total unknown to history.   That doesn't make sense to me.
And what difference did it impart anything that high priest died?

I just pointed out that Josephus, 2000 years ago, discussed Daniel 9:26 in Antiquities of the Jews, book 10.    There were a number of messiahs alive at the time of the destruction -- including a high priest, and a Roman Emperor.   We may not know for certain which one was Daniel's second messiah - but we have two actual messiahs to choose from (whereas Jesus was never a messiah -- an anointed one).

So what does Josephus have to say about the "goat" Douggg mentioned?  I need to quote a bit more of the passage:
"Daniel wrote that he saw these visions in the plain of Susa; and he hath informed us, that G-d interpreted the appearance of this vision after the following manner. “He said, that the ram signified the Kingdoms of the Medes and Persians; and the horns those Kings that were to reign in them: and that the last horn signified the last King; and that he should exceed all the Kings in riches and glory, that the he-goat signified, that one should come, and reign from the Greeks, who should twice fight with the Persian, and overcome him in battle; and should receive his entire dominion: that by the great horn, which sprang out of the forehead of the he-goat was meant the first King; and that the springing up of four horns upon its falling off, and the conversion of every one of them to the four quarters of the earth, signified the successors that should arise after the death of the first King; and the partition of the Kingdom among them; and that they should be neither his children, nor of his kindred that should reign over the habitable earth for many years: and that from among them there should arise a certain King that should overcome our nation, and their laws, and should take away their political government, and should spoil the temple, and forbid the sacrifices to be offered, for three years time.”

And indeed it so came to pass, that our nation suffered these things under Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel’s vision
; and what he wrote many years before they came to pass. In the very same manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government; and that our country should be made desolate by them. All these things did this man leave in writing, as God had shewed them to him. Insomuch that such as read his prophecies, and see how they have been fulfilled, would wonder at the honor wherewith God honored Daniel."
Josephus' version of the T'nach is not 100% accurate, but we can certainly see from his description of Daniel 9:26 that it fits the Jewish interpretation and not the Christian retrofit and mashing together of timelines.   Why would Daniel say 7 weeks and 62 weeks if he meant 70 weeks?   He separated them for a reason! 

The point not being who that second messiah might have been -- but the mere fact that Josephus recognizes a Roman anointed one (messiah) as the final king --  the fulfillment of Daniel 9:26-27.


סופי

And everything that Sarah tells you, listen to her voice. Bereshit (Genesis) 21:12
Last Edited By: Sophiee1 Fri, 4-Sep-15 06:26:32. Edited 2 times.