ENES
Chart

Daniel's Seventy Weeks — Traditional Jewish (Rabbinic) View

Biblical Prophecy
Book of DanielProphecyEschatology
Traditional Jewish rabbinic timeline of Daniel's Seventy Weeks: from the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC, through the Babylonian Exile, Cyrus' decree (537 BC), the period of the Second Temple under Persian, Greek, and Roman rule, the cessation of sacrifices during the Jewish revolt (AD 66–67), to the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70.
Traditional Jewish rabbinic timeline of Daniel's Seventy Weeks: from the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC, through the Babylonian Exile, Cyrus' decree (537 BC), the period of the Second Temple under Persian, Greek, and Roman rule, the cessation of sacrifices during the Jewish revolt (AD 66–67), to the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70.

This chart illustrates the Traditional Jewish (Rabbinic) interpretation of Daniel's Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:24–27), as held by Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Abarbanel, Malbim, Maimonides, Rabbi Tovia Singer, and the Seder Olam Rabbah tradition.

In this view, the term mashiach ("anointed") does not refer to the Christian eschatological Messiah, but to any king or high priest anointed with oil. The 490 years cover the era of the two Temples. The Christological application to Jesus of Nazareth is entirely rejected.

The starting point is the destruction of the First Temple — 586 BC in secular chronology, or 422 BC in the rabbinic chronology of the Seder Olam (which shortens the Persian period by ~165 years). The 7 weeks (49 years) cover the Babylonian Exile until the return under Cyrus. The 62 weeks span the period of the Second Temple. The "anointed one cut off" is identified as King Agrippa II or the high priest at the time of the Temple's destruction. The 70th week encompasses the final years of the Second Temple (~AD 63–70), ending with its destruction by Titus/Vespasian.

For a full comparison of all eight views, see The Eight Views of Daniel's Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks.

Text equivalent of the chart (for accessibility)

SegmentApproximate spanNotes
Start586 BC — Destruction of the First TempleSecular chronology (422 BC in the Seder Olam).
7 weeks (49 years)586–537 BCBabylonian Exile until the return under Cyrus.
"Anointed prince" (v.25)Cyrus the Persian (Isa 45:1)Decreed the return of the Jews.
62 weeks~537 BC–AD 70Period of the Second Temple (~18 years to inauguration + 420 years standing per Talmud).
"Anointed one cut off" (v.26)King Agrippa II / high priestNOT Jesus — a contextual anointed figure.
70th week~AD 63–70Final years of the Second Temple.
Midpoint~AD 66–67Cessation of sacrifices during the Jewish revolt.
EndAD 70 — Destruction of the Second TempleJerusalem destroyed by Titus/Vespasian.
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