Daniel 9 starts with Daniel's prayer of repentance and then goes into a very significant prophecy of the seventy weeks. It was during the first year's reign of King Darius that Daniel was studying the writings of Jeremiah and realized that the 70 years exile was nearing its end so he seeks God in intense prayer and fasting. He remembers God's keeping of his covenant and confesses "we have sinned... we haven't listened to the prophets... we are covered with shame and have sinned against you... all Israel has transgressed your law... that's why you judged us... the Lord brought the disaster upon us rightly... please turn away your anger and wrath from us... give ear O God and hear... forgive!" Then comes the second part of the chapter with the arrival of the angel Gabriel who tells Daniel that "seventy sevens (weeks) are decreed for people and city to finish transgression, end sin, atone, bring everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy to anoint the most holy". The prophecy divides the 70 weeks as follows: 7 weeks (49 years) when Jerusalem will be rebuilt albeit in times of trouble + 62 weeks (434 years) building up to the coming of "the Anointed One, the ruler (the Messiah)" + 1 final week (7 years) when "he will confirm a covenant and put an end to sacrifice and offering... and he will be cut off (on the cross)".
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