Bible Strands
Daniel 9:1
In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Daniel writes to himself and subsequent readers, dating his prophetic vision to the first year of Darius, a Mede installed as ruler over the Chaldean kingdom.
The words — The phrase בִּשְׁנַת אַחַת (bi-shnat achat) literally means "in one year," establishing a precise chronological anchor. The designation בֶּן־אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ מִזֶּרַע מָדַי (ben-Achashverosh mi-zera Madai) identifies the ruler as "son of Ahasuerus" and "descendant of Media."
The thread — This regnal dating framework recurs in Daniel 11:1 and aligns with the chronological markers in Daniel 1:21 and Daniel 5:31.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to fix the revelation within a specific historical moment before examining the seventy-year desolation timeline in Daniel 9:2.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
Cross-references
- Daniel 11:1 “And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to strengthen and protect him.
- Daniel 1:21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
- Daniel 5:31 and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
- Daniel 6:28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.