Africanus Quotations Explaining the 2300 Day Prophecy of Daniel

“In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, Daniel 8:1 where he prophesies of the subversion of the Persian power by the Greeks, which empires are symbolized in the prophecy under the figures of the ram and the he goat respectively.”
“Daniel 8:13-14 the sacrifice, he says, shall be abolished, and the holy places shall he made desolate, so as to be trodden under foot; which things shall be determined within 2300 days.
For if we take the day as a month, just as elsewhere in prophecy days are taken as years, and in different places are used in different ways, reducing the period in the same way as has been done above to Hebrew months, we shall find the period fully made out to the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes, from the capture of Jerusalem. For there are given thus 185 years, and one-year falls to be added to these — the year in which Nehemiah built the wall of the city. In 186 years, therefore, we find 2300 Hebrew months.”
“The angel instructs us to take from the going forth of the commandment to answer and to build Jerusalem. And this happened in the twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. For Nehemyah (Nehemiah) his cup-bearer besought him and received the answer that Jerusalem should be built.”

Summarization of Africanus’ Explanation Regarding the 2300 Days:

• The “Ram” and the “He Goat” symbolized Persia and Greece.

• We take each of the 2300 days as a lunar month (2300 days of new moons) which converts to 186 solar years.

• The start of the 2300-days (186 years) was the start of the Hebrews captivity by the Babylonian’s in the Hebrew Year 4870 (630 BC).

• The end of the 2300-days (186 years) is when Nehemyah returned from Babylon to the destroyed city of Jerusalem to start the rebuild in Hebrew Year 5056 (444 BC).

• Starting at Hebrew Year 4870 plus 186 years puts us at Hebrew Year 5056 (444 BC) as the start date for the 70 weeks count.

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Convert 2300 Days of New Moons (Months) to Solar Years

The average duration of a new moon cycle is 29.53058917 days, so a year of 12 lunar moon cycles (months) would be 354.36707 days long; and the calendar year is a solar year, which is 365.242199 days long.

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The 70 Weeks

Africanus begins the 70 weeks Daniel 9 count in the 20th year of Artaxerxes, in Olympiad 83, Hebrew Year 5056, (444 BC) and ends the period in Olympiad 202, Hebrew Year 5531, (31 AD.) or 475 solar years inclusive, which would be equivalent to 490 uncorrected lunar years.

Africanus Quotations Explaining the 70 Weeks Prophecy of Daniel

“From Artaxerxes, moreover, 70 weeks are reckoned up to the time of the Messiah, according to the numeration of the Hebrews. For from Nehemiah, who was sent by Artaxerxes to Jerusalem, about the 120th year of the Persian empire, and in the 20th year of Artaxerxes himself, and the 4th year of the 83d Olympiad, up to this time, which was the 2nd year of the 202nd Olympiad, and the 16th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, there are given 475 years.”
“Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth — manifestly that one of which we speak. But what has an eclipse in common with an earthquake, the rending rocks, and the resurrection of the dead, and so great a perturbation throughout the universe? Surely no such event as this is recorded for a long period. But it was a darkness induced by Yahuah (God), because Yahusha (Jesus) happened then to suffer. And calculation makes out that the period of 70 weeks, as noted in Daniel, is completed at this time.”

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Summarization of Africanus’ Explanation Regarding the 70 Weeks:

• We take each of day of the 70 weeks as a lunar year, making it 70 weeks of lunar years, which equates to 490 lunar years, which is equivalent to 475 solar years

• The start of the 70 weeks (475 years) is when Nehemyah returned from Babylon to the destroyed city of Jerusalem to start the rebuild in Hebrew Year 5056 (444 BC).

• The end of the 70 weeks (475 years) marks the crucifixion of the Messiah in Hebrew Year 5531 (32 AD).

• From Hebrew Year 5056 plus 475 years puts us at Hebrew Year 5531 (32 AD) as the resurrection date.