I’ve been working on a literal translation and grammatical analysis of Daniel 9:24–27, and I believe the prophecy is intentionally structured with two 70-week cycles:
1. First 70 weeks — Ancient fulfillment (457 BC decree → Messiah → 70 AD destruction)
2. Second 70 weeks — Modern fulfillment (1542 Suleiman’s wall rebuilding → 1967 Jerusalem return → final 7-year week)
I’m particularly focused on Daniel 9:25, where the Hebrew reads:
> שִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם (shishim u-shenayim) — literally “sixty and two”
Traditional translations render this simply as “sixty-two weeks,” but I interpret it as “second sixty”, marking the first 60 weeks of the second 70-week cycle. My reasoning:
Inversion/wordplay: Verse 25 inverts the normal order compared to verse 26, highlighting a purposeful sequence rather than a simple count.
Cardinal-as-ordinal usage: Hebrew routinely uses cardinal numbers to indicate sequence. Examples include:
Exodus 40:2 — “in the second month” uses the cardinal word for two to indicate sequence.
Daniel 7:25 — “years” (cardinal) used sequentially for prophetic timing.
Contextual necessity: This block must be distinguished from the first 70-week cycle to align with historical events (Suleiman 1542 → Jerusalem 1967).
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My Interlinear Translation (simplified)
HebrewEnglish
עַל־ נֶחְתַּךְ שִׁבְעִים שָׁבֻעִיםThere are divided out 70 weeks
לְכַלֵּא חַטָּאתfor the restraining of lawlessness
וּלְחָתֵםwhich is marked for the coming punishment
חָזוֹן וּלְחָתֵם עֹלָמִים צֶדֶקfor the sealing of the vision and the age of righteousness
נָגִיד וּמָשִׁיחַ לִירוּשָׁלִם שָׁבוּעִים שִׁבְעָהfor a ruler and an anointed one for Jerusalem; it shall take seven weeks to build
וְתָשׁוּב בַּשְּׁנַיִם שִׁשִּׁיםand it shall be returned at the second sixty
(Remaining verses continue with the first 70 and second 70-week timeline, including v.26–27.)
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Dual 70-Week Timeline
CycleWeekEvents / Fulfillment
First 70 7 weeks (49 yrs)457 BC decree → completion of Jerusalem wall (Nehemiah)
First 70 62 weeks408 BC → Messiah arrival (~26–33 AD)
First 70 1 weekMessiah ministry, covenant people cut off → Temple destroyed 70 AD
Second 70 60 weeks1542 Suleiman rebuilds Jerusalem walls → 1967 Israel returns Jerusalem
Second 70 1 week + ½~2025–2032 final tribulation / Day of the Lord
Second 70 remaining ½ weekAbomination removed, age of righteousness begins
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Argument for “Second Sixty”
1. Hebrew שְׁנַיִם (“two”) functions as ordinal in context — sequence rather than pure quantity.
2. Chiastic structure (v.25 inverted vs. v.26 normal) highlights the dual-cycle reading.
3. Historical alignment supports a second prophetic block distinct from the first.
4. Restraining of lawlessness (v.24) corresponds with the final week revelation in 2 Thessalonians.
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Question for Scholars / Linguists
Given the Hebrew construction, the chiastic inversion, and historical alignment:
1. Is translating שְׁנַיִם as “second sixty” contextually and grammatically defensible?
2. Are there other examples in Scripture where cardinal numbers function as ordinals in prophecy?
3. Does this dual-70-week chiastic reading hold up under textual and grammatical scrutiny, or are there constraints I may be overlooking?
I’ve tried to base this entirely on Hebrew grammar, syntax, and historical alignment rather than prior interpretive traditions. I’d appreciate insights from those familiar with biblical Hebrew, Danielic prophecy, or prophetic numerology.
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1. First 70 weeks — Ancient fulfillment (457 BC decree → Messiah → 70 AD destruction)
2. Second 70 weeks — Modern fulfillment (1542 Suleiman’s wall rebuilding → 1967 Jerusalem return → final 7-year week)
I’m particularly focused on Daniel 9:25, where the Hebrew reads:
> שִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם (shishim u-shenayim) — literally “sixty and two”
Traditional translations render this simply as “sixty-two weeks,” but I interpret it as “second sixty”, marking the first 60 weeks of the second 70-week cycle. My reasoning:
Inversion/wordplay: Verse 25 inverts the normal order compared to verse 26, highlighting a purposeful sequence rather than a simple count.
Cardinal-as-ordinal usage: Hebrew routinely uses cardinal numbers to indicate sequence. Examples include:
Exodus 40:2 — “in the second month” uses the cardinal word for two to indicate sequence.
Daniel 7:25 — “years” (cardinal) used sequentially for prophetic timing.
Contextual necessity: This block must be distinguished from the first 70-week cycle to align with historical events (Suleiman 1542 → Jerusalem 1967).
---
My Interlinear Translation (simplified)
HebrewEnglish
עַל־ נֶחְתַּךְ שִׁבְעִים שָׁבֻעִיםThere are divided out 70 weeks
לְכַלֵּא חַטָּאתfor the restraining of lawlessness
וּלְחָתֵםwhich is marked for the coming punishment
חָזוֹן וּלְחָתֵם עֹלָמִים צֶדֶקfor the sealing of the vision and the age of righteousness
נָגִיד וּמָשִׁיחַ לִירוּשָׁלִם שָׁבוּעִים שִׁבְעָהfor a ruler and an anointed one for Jerusalem; it shall take seven weeks to build
וְתָשׁוּב בַּשְּׁנַיִם שִׁשִּׁיםand it shall be returned at the second sixty
(Remaining verses continue with the first 70 and second 70-week timeline, including v.26–27.)
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Dual 70-Week Timeline
CycleWeekEvents / Fulfillment
First 70 7 weeks (49 yrs)457 BC decree → completion of Jerusalem wall (Nehemiah)
First 70 62 weeks408 BC → Messiah arrival (~26–33 AD)
First 70 1 weekMessiah ministry, covenant people cut off → Temple destroyed 70 AD
Second 70 60 weeks1542 Suleiman rebuilds Jerusalem walls → 1967 Israel returns Jerusalem
Second 70 1 week + ½~2025–2032 final tribulation / Day of the Lord
Second 70 remaining ½ weekAbomination removed, age of righteousness begins
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Argument for “Second Sixty”
1. Hebrew שְׁנַיִם (“two”) functions as ordinal in context — sequence rather than pure quantity.
2. Chiastic structure (v.25 inverted vs. v.26 normal) highlights the dual-cycle reading.
3. Historical alignment supports a second prophetic block distinct from the first.
4. Restraining of lawlessness (v.24) corresponds with the final week revelation in 2 Thessalonians.
---
Question for Scholars / Linguists
Given the Hebrew construction, the chiastic inversion, and historical alignment:
1. Is translating שְׁנַיִם as “second sixty” contextually and grammatically defensible?
2. Are there other examples in Scripture where cardinal numbers function as ordinals in prophecy?
3. Does this dual-70-week chiastic reading hold up under textual and grammatical scrutiny, or are there constraints I may be overlooking?
I’ve tried to base this entirely on Hebrew grammar, syntax, and historical alignment rather than prior interpretive traditions. I’d appreciate insights from those familiar with biblical Hebrew, Danielic prophecy, or prophetic numerology.
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