The “he” here spoken of is the Messiah of the preceding verses. Interpreting the verse thus makes the entire 70 weeks, or 490 years, of prophecy a consistent, continuous unit. The statements made meet a unique fulfillment in the time of the Messiah. The confirming of the covenant may be considered to be the continuation of the Jewish nation as the chosen people of God through the period named. On the other hand the “confirming” may be that of the everlasting covenant (see on ch. 11:28).

 This week, the 70th, began in A.D. 27 with the opening of Christ’s public ministry at the time of His baptism. It extended beyond the crucifixion “in the midst of the week,” in the spring of A.D. 31, to the rejection of the Jews as the covenant people in the autumn of A.D. 34 (490 years after 457 B.C. is A.D. 34; see on v. 25 for the method of computation). The “vineyard” was then “let out ... unto other husbandmen” (Matt. 21:41; cf. Isa. 5:1-7; GC 328, 410). For about 31/2 years the authorities in Jerusalem tolerated the preaching of the apostles, but their spite was finally translated into decisive action in the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and the general persecution that then broke upon the church. Until this time the apostles and other Christian workers appear to have confined their efforts largely to the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem (see Acts 1:8; 8:1).

 Inasmuch as the 70 weeks, or 490 years, are part of the longer period of 2300 years, and inasmuch as the first 490 years of the period extend to the autumn of A.D. 34, it is possible to calculate the ending date of the 2300 years. Adding the remaining 1810 years of the 2300 years to A.D. 34 brings us to the autumn of 1844 as the time when the heavenly sanctuary would be “cleansed” (see on ch. 8:14).

 It is to be noted, also, that the fulfillment of the predictions of the prophecy concerning the 70 weeks was to “seal up the vision” (v. 24), that is, the vision of the longer period of 2300 days (see on v. 21). The accurate fulfillment of events foretold for the 70th week, having to do with the ministry and crucifixion of our Lord, provides incontestable evidence of the certainty of events at the close of the 2300 days.

 Heb. chaṣi, a word meaning either “half” (Ex. 24:6; 25:10, 17; etc.) or “middle” (Ex. 27:5; 38:4; etc.), the particular meaning to be assigned in any instance being determined by the context. A number of the more recent versions read “half.” This translation is based on the assumption that the context is speaking of Antiochus Epiphanes, who, for a period of about three years, suspended the services of the Temple at Jerusalem. But Antiochus does not fit into the prophetic chronology. He cannot be the subject of the present prediction. As has already been shown, the prophetic periods reach to the time of the Messiah, and the fulfillment must be found in His day.

 The midst of the week would be the Passover season of A.D. 31, 31/2 years after Christ’s baptism in the autumn of A.D. 27. For evidence as to the length of Christ’s public ministry, see on Matt. 4:12. For a discussion of “half” and “midst” see Problems in Bible Translation, pp. 184-187.

The sacrifices met their anti-typical fulfillment in the voluntary sacrifice of Christ. The rending of the Temple veil by an unseen hand at the instant of Christ’s death was heaven’s announcement that the sacrifices and oblations had lost their significance.

Literally, “wing.” Here the desolater is poetically pictured as being carried along upon the wing of abominations. This has reference in part at least to the horrors and atrocities that were perpetrated upon the Jewish nation by the Romans in A.D. 70.

That is, the end of that which was to come upon the Jewish nation. Sad was the fate of those who rejected their hope of salvation.

 Better, “desolater.” The desolater himself would eventually be destroyed (see on Matt. 23:38).