The Desolations of Jerusalem

Daniel 9:1-3 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; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes

‘First year’ the vision was seen about a year after the one in Daniel 8:1-27 (cp. 5:30-31 with 8:1). ‘Darius the son of Ahasuerus’ this was no doubt Astyages or Xerxes, the son of Ahasuerus or Cyaxares. Ahasuerus is an appellative and used of four kings of Medo-Persia. The Greek form is Xerxes. Both Cyaxares and Astyages was called Ahasuerus, the appellative…