Daniel 9:2 (WEB)

Passage

in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.

Nearby Context

Daniel 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,

Daniel 9:2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.

Daniel 9:3 I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel 9:4 I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, “Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "first", "year", "reign", "daniel", "understood", "books", "number", and "years". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "first" and "year", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 1's "In the first year of Darius the..." into verse 3's "I set my face to the Lord...", so "first" and "year" belong inside that flow. In Daniel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "first" and "year" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.