Tag: religion

Theological Dodgeball

All theological positions are based on one’s philosophy of life, not the scriptures.

It’s like a game of Dodgeball. The team you’re on is determined by your philosophical presuppositions. The scriptures are just the balls being thrown around.

Chart of Events/Figures in Both Josephus and Acts

Event/FigureDescription in ActsDescription in JosephusApproximate Date
Herod Agrippa I’s DeathActs 12:20–23 describes Herod being struck down by God and eaten by worms after accepting divine worship.Antiquities 19.8.2 describes Agrippa’s death at Caesarea, struck by illness during a festival, possibly due to poisoning or divine punishment.44 AD
Gamaliel the PhariseeActs 5:34–39 mentions Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, advising the Sanhedrin to leave the apostles alone.Antiquities 20.9.4 and other references describe Gamaliel as a prominent Pharisee and teacher, respected in Jewish society.~30–50 AD
Theudas the InsurrectionistActs 5:36 references Theudas, a false prophet whose rebellion failed.Antiquities 20.5.1 describes Theudas leading a revolt, later executed by Roman authorities.~44–46 AD
Judas the GalileanActs 5:37 mentions Judas leading a revolt during the census, later killed.Antiquities 18.1.1 and Jewish War 2.8.1 describe Judas the Galilean’s revolt against the Roman census, founding the Zealot movement.~6 AD
Famine under ClaudiusActs 11:27–30 describes a great famine in Judea, prompting relief from Antioch Christians.Antiquities 20.2.5 and 20.5.2 mention a severe famine in Judea under Claudius, alleviated by Queen Helena of Adiabene.~46–48 AD
Herod Agrippa II and BerniceActs 25:13–26:32 describe Paul’s trial before Agrippa II and Bernice in Caesarea.Antiquities 20.7.2–3 and Jewish War 2.15.1 mention Agrippa II and his sister Bernice, their roles, and interactions with Roman governors.~59–62 AD
Felix, Roman GovernorActs 23:24–24:27 describes Paul’s imprisonment and trial under Felix.Antiquities 20.7.1–2 and Jewish War 2.13.2 describe Felix’s governorship and harsh rule in Judea.~52–60 AD
Festus, Roman GovernorActs 24:27–25:12 mentions Festus succeeding Felix and handling Paul’s case.Antiquities 20.8.9–10 describes Festus’s appointment and efforts to suppress unrest.~60–62 AD
Ananias, High PriestActs 23:2–5 describes Ananias ordering Paul struck during his trial.Antiquities 20.5.2 and 20.9.2 mention Ananias as high priest, later assassinated for corruption.~47–59 AD

Explanations and Notes

  1. Herod Agrippa I’s Death (44 AD):
    • Acts: Portrays Agrippa’s death as divine judgment for accepting worship as a god, with an angel striking him, leading to death by worms (Acts 12:20–23).
    • Josephus: Describes Agrippa falling ill at a festival in Caesarea, possibly due to poisoning or a medical condition, dying after five days (Antiquities 19.8.2). Both accounts align on the sudden and dramatic nature of his death.
    • Historical Context: Agrippa I, king of Judea, was a key figure under Emperor Claudius. His death created a power vacuum, leading to direct Roman rule.
  2. Gamaliel the Pharisee (~30–50 AD):
    • Acts: Gamaliel, a respected Sanhedrin member, advises caution regarding the apostles, citing past failed movements (Acts 5:34–39).
    • Josephus: Mentions Gamaliel as a leading Pharisee and teacher, influential in Jewish legal circles (Antiquities 20.9.4). He is likely the same figure, possibly Paul’s teacher (Acts 22:3).
    • Note: The timing of Gamaliel’s speech in Acts aligns with early Christian persecution (~30–35 AD), though Josephus’s references are less specific.
  3. Theudas the Insurrectionist (~44–46 AD):
    • Acts: Gamaliel references Theudas’s failed revolt as an example of movements that collapse (Acts 5:36).
    • Josephus: Describes Theudas leading followers to the Jordan River, claiming prophetic powers, but killed by Roman forces (Antiquities 20.5.1).
    • Issue: Acts places Theudas before Judas the Galilean (6 AD), creating a chronological discrepancy, as Josephus dates Theudas to ~44–46 AD. This may reflect a narrative anachronism in Acts or a different Theudas.
  4. Judas the Galilean (~6 AD):
    • Acts: Mentions Judas’s revolt during the census, which failed (Acts 5:37).
    • Josephus: Describes Judas leading a tax revolt against Rome during Quirinius’s census, founding the Zealot movement (Antiquities 18.1.1; Jewish War 2.8.1).
    • Context: The census (6 AD) sparked widespread unrest, and Judas’s movement influenced later Jewish rebellions.
  5. Famine under Claudius (~46–48 AD):
    • Acts: Describes a famine predicted by Agabus, leading to Christian relief efforts (Acts 11:27–30).
    • Josephus: Notes a severe famine in Judea, with Queen Helena of Adiabene providing aid (Antiquities 20.2.5).
    • Context: The famine under Emperor Claudius aligns with historical records of grain shortages in the eastern Mediterranean.
  6. Herod Agrippa II and Bernice (~59–62 AD):
    • Acts: Agrippa II and Bernice hear Paul’s defense in Caesarea, with Agrippa noting Paul could have been freed if not for his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:13–26:32).
    • Josephus: Details Agrippa II’s role as a Roman client king and Bernice’s controversial presence (Antiquities 20.7.2–3).
    • Context: Agrippa II ruled parts of Judea and advised Roman governors, while Bernice was a prominent figure, later linked to Titus.
  7. Felix, Roman Governor (~52–60 AD):
    • Acts: Felix oversees Paul’s trial, keeps him imprisoned, and hopes for a bribe (Acts 23:24–24:27).
    • Josephus: Describes Felix’s governorship, marked by harsh measures against Jewish rebels (Antiquities 20.7.1–2).
    • Context: Felix’s rule was turbulent, contributing to rising tensions in Judea.
  8. Festus, Roman Governor (~60–62 AD):
    • Acts: Festus succeeds Felix, hears Paul’s case, and sends him to Rome (Acts 24:27–25:12).
    • Josephus: Notes Festus’s efforts to manage Jewish-Roman conflicts (Antiquities 20.8.9–10).
    • Context: Festus’s brief governorship preceded the First Jewish-Roman War.
  9. Ananias, High Priest (~47–59 AD):
    • Acts: Ananias orders Paul struck during his trial, prompting Paul’s rebuke (Acts 23:2–5).
    • Josephus: Describes Ananias’s corrupt tenure and eventual assassination by Jewish rebels (Antiquities 20.9.2).
    • Context: Ananias was a polarizing figure, aligned with Roman interests.

Comparison: The Egyptian in Acts and Josephus

Event/FigureDescription in ActsDescription in JosephusApproximate Date
The Egyptian (False Prophet/Rebel)Acts 21:38 mentions a Roman tribune asking Paul if he is “the Egyptian” who led a revolt and took 4,000 “assassins” (Sicarii) into the wilderness.Jewish War 2.13.5 and Antiquities 20.8.6 describe the Egyptian as a false prophet who led a large following (30,000, per Josephus) to the Mount of Olives, promising to overthrow Roman rule, but was defeated by Felix’s forces.~52–58 AD

Detailed Comparison

  1. The Egyptian in Acts:
    • In Acts 21:38, during Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem, a Roman tribune (Claudius Lysias) mistakes Paul for “the Egyptian,” asking, “Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins (Sicarii) out into the wilderness?” (ESV). This implies the Egyptian was a known figure associated with a recent uprising.
    • The “Sicarii” were a radical Jewish group known for assassinations, often targeting Roman collaborators. Acts suggests the Egyptian led a significant number of them, though the scale (4,000) is smaller than Josephus’s account.
  2. The Egyptian in Josephus:
    • In Jewish War 2.13.5, Josephus describes the Egyptian as a false prophet who gathered a large following—around 30,000 people—and led them to the Mount of Olives, claiming he would cause the walls of Jerusalem to fall, signaling the overthrow of Roman rule. Roman governor Felix attacked, dispersing the group, and the Egyptian escaped.
    • In Antiquities 20.8.6, Josephus provides a similar account, noting the Egyptian’s messianic claims and Felix’s decisive response. He emphasizes the Roman crackdown on such movements, which were common during this period of unrest.
    • The discrepancy in numbers (4,000 in Acts vs. 30,000 in Josephus) may reflect exaggeration by Josephus, a common trait in ancient historiography, or a difference in sources.
  3. Historical Context and Overlap:
    • Date: Both accounts place the Egyptian’s revolt during Felix’s governorship (52–60 AD), likely around 55–58 AD, aligning with the turbulent period leading up to the First Jewish-Roman War (66–73 AD).
    • Nature of the Figure: Both sources depict the Egyptian as a messianic or prophetic figure leading a rebellious movement against Roman authority, fitting the pattern of 1st-century Jewish uprisings. Acts’ reference to the Sicarii connects him to violent resistance, while Josephus emphasizes his role as a false prophet with a large, albeit short-lived, following.
    • Location: Acts mentions the wilderness, while Josephus specifies the Mount of Olives as the staging ground for the Egyptian’s demonstration, which overlooks Jerusalem—a symbolically significant location for messianic expectations.
  4. Differences and Interpretation:
    • Acts provides a brief, secondhand reference, using the Egyptian as a point of mistaken identity to highlight the Roman perception of Paul as a potential revolutionary. Josephus, writing as a historian, gives a more detailed narrative, focusing on the event itself and its political implications.
    • The numerical difference (4,000 vs. 30,000) could stem from Acts relying on a Roman report (via the tribune) with a more conservative estimate, while Josephus, writing later, might inflate numbers to emphasize the scale of unrest under Roman rule.
    • Neither source names the Egyptian, and his fate remains unclear—Josephus notes he fled, while Acts offers no further details.

The Interpretive Method of New Testament Authors

  1. Typological Interpretation (or Typology):
  • Definition: Typology involves seeing OT events, figures, or institutions as “types” (patterns or foreshadowings) that prefigure or are fulfilled by Christ, the church, or other NT realities. The NT author interprets the OT text as pointing to a greater fulfillment in Jesus or the Christian community.
  • Example: In Matthew 2:15, Hosea 11:1 (“Out of Egypt I called my son”) originally refers to Israel’s exodus but is applied typologically to Jesus as the true Israel who recapitulates and fulfills the nation’s story.
  • Characteristics: Typology assumes historical correspondence and escalation, where the OT event is real but finds a deeper, often messianic, significance in the NT.

2. Pesher Interpretation:

  • Definition: Pesher (from Hebrew, meaning “interpretation”) is a method where OT texts are applied directly to contemporary events or figures, often with an eschatological (end-times) focus. This was common in Jewish exegesis, notably in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and is used by NT authors to show how OT prophecies are fulfilled in their time.
  • Example: Matthew 2:17–18 applies Jeremiah 31:15 (Rachel’s weeping) to the Bethlehem massacre, treating the OT text as prophetically fulfilled in Jesus’ era.
  • Characteristics: Pesher often reads OT texts as cryptic predictions that find their true meaning in the present, sometimes stretching the original context.

3. Midrashic Interpretation:

  • Definition: Midrash (from Hebrew, meaning “to search” or “expound”) is a Jewish interpretive method that creatively elaborates on OT texts to draw out moral, theological, or allegorical meanings. NT authors, especially Paul, use midrashic techniques to apply OT texts to new situations.
  • Example: In 1 Corinthians 9:9–10, Paul uses Deuteronomy 25:4 (“Do not muzzle an ox”) midrashically to argue for supporting Christian ministers, extending the law’s principle beyond its literal meaning.
  • Characteristics: Midrash often involves allegory, analogy, or recontextualization to make the text relevant to a new audience.

4. Allegorical Interpretation:

  • Definition: Allegory treats OT texts as having hidden or symbolic meanings that point to spiritual truths, often beyond the literal sense. While less common in the NT than typology, it appears in some instances, particularly in Paul’s writings.
  • Example: In Galatians 4:21–31, Paul allegorizes the story of Hagar and Sarah (Genesis 16–21) to represent the old and new covenants, respectively, a clear departure from the historical narrative.
  • Characteristics: Allegory seeks deeper, symbolic meanings, sometimes detaching from the original context.

5. Fulfillment Citation:

  • Definition: This term is used specifically for NT quotations introduced with phrases like “this was to fulfill” (common in Matthew) or “as it is written.” It reflects the NT authors’ belief that OT texts find their ultimate purpose or completion in Christ and the church, even if the original context was not explicitly prophetic.
  • Example: Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14 (“the virgin shall conceive”) as fulfilled in Jesus’ virgin birth, despite its original context as a sign for King Ahaz.
  • Characteristics: The focus is on Christological fulfillment, often reinterpreting non-prophetic texts as messianic.

Chart of Some NT Reinterpretations of OT Passages

NT ReferenceOT SourceOT ContextNT UsageShift in MeaningMethod
Matthew 2:15Hosea 11:1God’s historical deliverance of Israel from Egypt, called His “son.”Jesus’ return from Egypt, fulfilling Israel’s role.Historical event becomes a typological prophecy about Jesus.Typology/Fulfillment Citation
Matthew 1:23Isaiah 7:14Sign for King Ahaz about a child named Immanuel, born to a young woman.Jesus’ virgin birth, using Septuagint’s “virgin.”Historical sign becomes a messianic prophecy.Pesher/Fulfillment Citation
Matthew 2:17–18Jeremiah 31:15Rachel’s mourning for Israel’s exile, with hope for restoration.Bethlehem infants’ massacre.Historical lament reframed as a fulfilled tragedy.Pesher/Fulfillment Citation
Matthew 3:3Isaiah 40:3Preparing a way for God’s deliverance of Israel from exile.John the Baptist preparing for Jesus.Exile restoration prophecy fulfilled in John’s ministry.Pesher
John 19:36Psalm 34:20 (possibly Exodus 12:46)God’s protection of the righteous or Passover lamb regulations.Jesus’ unbroken bones at crucifixion.General protection or ritual rule becomes a specific prophecy.Typology/Fulfillment Citation
Acts 15:16–18Amos 9:11–12Restoration of Israel’s kingdom, dominance over Edom.Gentile inclusion in the church, using Septuagint’s “mankind.”National restoration becomes universal salvation.Pesher
Romans 9:25–26Hosea 2:23, 1:10Restoration of Israel after judgment, called “my people.”Gentiles becoming God’s people through faith.Israel’s restoration extended to Gentiles.Midrash/Typology
Romans 10:6–8Deuteronomy 30:12–14Accessibility of the Torah for obedience.“Word of faith” in Christ, accessible through faith.Torah’s accessibility becomes salvation through Christ.Midrash
1 Corinthians 9:9–10 / 1 Timothy 5:18Deuteronomy 25:4Law against muzzling an ox while treading grain.Material support for Christian ministers.Agricultural law reinterpreted for human laborers in ministry.Midrash/Allegory
2 Corinthians 6:16–18Leviticus 26:12, Ezekiel 37:27, 2 Samuel 7:14God’s covenant presence with Israel or Davidic king.Church as God’s temple and people, including Gentiles.Israel/Davidic promises applied to the church.Pesher/Midrash
Galatians 3:16Genesis 12:7Promise of land to Abraham’s descendants (plural).“Offspring” as Christ, the singular heir.Collective promise narrowed to Jesus.Midrash/Typology
Galatians 4:21–31Genesis 16–21Historical narrative of Hagar and Sarah, Abraham’s sons.Allegory of old (law) and new (faith) covenants.Family story becomes allegory for law vs. faith.Midrash/Allegory
Hebrews 1:5Psalm 2:7God’s adoption of the Davidic king at coronation.Jesus’ eternal divine sonship.Royal coronation becomes Christ’s divinity.Typology/Fulfillment Citation
Hebrews 10:5–7Psalm 40:6–8Obedience over sacrifice in personal worship.Jesus’ incarnation and sacrificial death.General worship statement becomes messianic prophecy.Midrash/Typology
1 Corinthians 15:54–55Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14God’s future defeat of death or taunt against death.Christ’s resurrection defeating death.General/judgmental texts become resurrection triumph.Pesher

Notes on the Chart

  • Columns:
    • NT Reference: The NT passage where the OT is quoted or alluded to.
    • OT Source: The specific OT verse(s) or passage(s) referenced.
    • OT Context: The original meaning or historical setting of the OT text.
    • NT Usage: How the NT author applies the OT text.
    • Shift in Meaning: How the NT usage differs from or expands the original OT meaning.
    • Interpretive Method: The primary method(s) used (typology, pesher, midrash, allegory), based on the definitions provided earlier.
  • Interpretive Methods:
    • Typology: OT events/figures as patterns fulfilled in Christ or the church.
    • Pesher: OT texts as prophecies fulfilled in the NT era.
    • Midrash: Creative elaboration to draw out new theological meanings.
    • Allegory: Symbolic reinterpretation, often detaching from the literal sense.
    • Fulfillment Citation: OT texts seen as completed in Christ, often with “this was to fulfill” phrasing.

Eschatological Drift

Theology often adapts to historical events, which helps explain the different views on the end times (eschatology) even among early Christians. For instance, in letters written before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70, Paul never links Christ’s return (the Parousia), the resurrection, or judgment to that event. Instead, he focuses on a general, future hope for all believers (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16), without mentioning the temple, which was still standing at the time.

In contrast, the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke), likely written after the temple was destroyed, directly connect its fall to the Parousia. They portray the temple’s destruction as a sign of coming judgment and a lead-up to Christ’s return (Mark 13:2, 24–27; Matthew 24:2, 29–31; Luke 21:6, 20–28). Even so, they still view the resurrection as a future event, hinted at through symbols like the trumpet (Matthew 24:31) and affirmed in other teachings (Mark 12:25; Matthew 22:30; Luke 20:36).

Later still, the Gospel of John (written around AD 90–100) does not mention the temple’s destruction in relation to the Parousia or resurrection. Instead, it emphasizes a more spiritual or “realized” view of Christ’s presence now, while still affirming a future bodily resurrection (John 5:24–29). This reflects a shift toward a more universal theological perspective, no longer centered on the events of AD 70.

This development—from Paul’s silence on the temple, to the Synoptics’ focus on it, to John’s move beyond it—shows how early Christian beliefs about the end times evolved in response to historical changes.

Daniel 9:25 Confusion

Below is a comparison of different translations rendering Daniel 9:25 (emphasis mine)…

There are some things to notice:

  1. The NKJV uses the word “command,” while the other translations use “word.”
  2. The NKJV capitalizes “Messiah the Prince,” while the others do not.
  3. Artscroll does not use the term “messiah” or “anointed one.”
  4. The NKJV writes “seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” consecutively, without a break, while the other translations do include a break–a period for the ESV, a semi colon for the NRSV, and a comma for Artscroll.

Firstly, the decision whether to the use “command” or “word” may depend on the translator’s bias. Do they want a decree from a king? Or a prophesy from a seer?

Secondly, the NKJV apparently wants the reader to believe this messiah is Jesus.

Third, I’ll include a possible explanation from AI as to why the Artscroll translation omits “messiah” below.

Fourth, the NKJV seems to want the reader to see the seven weeks and sixty-two weeks as occurring one right after the other, a straight sixty-nine week time period. However, the Hebrew may not allow for that. Consider the text below in Hebrew…

I asked AI (Grok and ChatGPT) if there was any mark with the word “seven” which would indicate a break after that word. This was the response…

Grok
ChatGPT

So, there should be a break after the seven weeks*, which means that, according to the prophesy, the messiah mentioned in the verse likely should have appeared in history directly after the first seven weeks, or forty-nine years. If that’s correct, this messiah is not Jesus (although it can be seen as a type of Christ). The commentary in my Artscroll bible suggests it was Cyrus, and the commentary in my NRSV suggests it was the high priest Joshua (see Haggai 1:12; Ezra 2:2, 3:2; Zechariah 4:14, 6:10-12). Therefore, according to these commentaries, the “word” going out was not a kingly decree, but rather a prophesy–possibly spoken by Jeremiah (the NRSV suggests Jeremiah 25:11). Also notice how the NRSV refers to the “word” in the past tense, meaning that for Daniel it would have already been past tense and thus not a future decree of Cyrus. Daniel 9 begins with Darius the Mede still in power, which was before Cyrus.

Carol A. Newsom, in her commentary, suggests the author of Daniel 9 was not trying to pin down precise dates, but rather “to connect important events in history by means of a symbolic heptadonal system of time.”** We must take note of the seven weeks as being a time of jubilee (see Leviticus 25:8ff), and also the 490 years as being ten jubilee periods. It doesn’t necessarily matter when the 70 weeks began as long as we can connect the right events together, and since the theme of jubilee (freedom) is being focused on we can assume the events have to do with Jews regaining their autonomy and purpose as God’s people.

James B. Jordan, in his commentary, reads the 70 weeks as consecutive.*** He makes no mention of the apparent pause in the text after the first seven weeks. He also insists that the 70 weeks began with the decree of Cyrus in 537 BC. But, if the 70 weeks are read literally and consecutively, the prophesy takes us only to the year 47 BC. Jordan’s solution to this is to say that the first seven weeks were literal (from Cyrus’s decree to Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem). The following sixty-two weeks were symbolic, resulting in the last week being postponed. And the last week, or 70th week, was again literal, which started with the ministry of Jesus and ended with the death of Stephen in Acts 7. Jordan takes a few paragraphs to explain why the sixty-two weeks were symbolic, but basically he argues that God postpones judgement throughout scripture to be merciful, and also to harden the rebellious ones.

* There is no cantillation mark in the Hebrew which indicates there is any pause or break after the “sixty-two weeks” as the NKJV has it. There should be no period, semi colon, or comma after “sixty-two weeks.”

** Newsom, Carol A. Daniel: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press, 2014, p. 619.

*** Jordan, James B. The Handwriting on the Wall: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel. American Vision, 2007, p. 469ff. I am quite certain Jordan’s translation of choice is the NASB, which renders Daniel 9:25 as: “So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.” (emphasis mine)

***

Below is an explanation from AI as to why the Artscroll translation omits “messiah.”

1. The Hebrew Text and Translation Choices

The Hebrew of Daniel 9:25 reads:
וְתֵדַע וְתַשְׂכֵּל מִן-מֹצָא דָבָר לְהָשִׁיב וְלִבְנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם עַד-מָשִׁיחַ נָגִיד שִׁבְעָה שָׁבֻעִים וְשִׁבְעִים וּשְׁנַיִם שָׁבֻעִים תָּשׁוּב וְנִבְנְתָה רְחוֹב וְחָרוּץ וּבְצוֹק הָעִתִּים
Translated literally, this is:
“Know and understand: From the going forth of the word to restore and build Jerusalem until an anointed one, a leader/prince (mashiach nagid), seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks, it will be rebuilt, street and moat, but in troubled times.”

The key phrase here is mashiach nagid. The ArtScroll translation you cited appears to focus on nagid (“leader” or “prince”) and omits or reinterprets mashiach (“anointed one”). This could stem from the following considerations:

  • Emphasis on Nagid: The term nagid means “leader,” “ruler,” or “prince” and is often used in the Hebrew Bible to denote a person of authority, such as a king or governor (e.g., Saul in 1 Samuel 9:16). In Daniel 9:25, nagid modifies mashiach, suggesting the “anointed one” is a leader or ruler. ArtScroll may have chosen to translate mashiach nagid as “the prince” to emphasize the leadership role and avoid the potentially loaded term mashiach.
  • Omission of Mashiach: By rendering mashiach nagid as “the prince,” ArtScroll may be simplifying the phrase to focus on the functional role (nagid) rather than the ritual status (mashiach, i.e., one anointed with oil). This could reflect a desire to avoid any messianic connotations associated with mashiach, especially given Christian interpretations that link this verse to Jesus as “the Messiah.”

2. Jewish Interpretive Tradition

Jewish exegesis of Daniel 9:25 varies widely, and ArtScroll, as an Orthodox Jewish translation, likely draws on traditional commentators like Rashi, Ibn Ezra, or Saadia Gaon. These scholars often interpret the mashiach nagid as a historical figure rather than an eschatological Messiah:

  • Rashi: Suggests the mashiach nagid could be Cyrus, King of Persia, who is called God’s “anointed” (mashiach) in Isaiah 45:1 and who issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-3). Rashi emphasizes Cyrus as a nagid (leader) who facilitated the return from exile.
  • Ibn Ezra: Proposes the mashiach nagid might refer to Zerubbabel, a Davidic prince who led the rebuilding efforts, or Joshua, the high priest (Zechariah 6:11-12).
  • Saadia Gaon: Views the mashiach as a high priest or leader during the Second Temple period.

By translating mashiach nagid as “the prince,” ArtScroll aligns with interpretations that identify the figure as a historical leader (e.g., Cyrus, Zerubbabel, or a high priest) rather than an eschatological “Messiah.” The term “prince” captures the leadership aspect (nagid) while sidestepping the theological weight of mashiach.

3. Avoiding Messianic Connotations

As noted in my previous response, the term mashiach is sensitive due to Christian interpretations of Daniel 9:25 as a prophecy about Jesus. ArtScroll’s choice of “prince” instead of “anointed one” may be a deliberate move to:

  • Distance from Christian Readings: Christian translations, like the King James Version, render mashiach as “Messiah” to support the idea that the verse predicts Jesus’ arrival. By using “prince,” ArtScroll avoids any implication that this figure is the eschatological Messiah, aligning with Jewish theology that the Messiah has not yet come.
  • Neutralize Eschatological Implications: In Jewish thought, the ultimate Messiah (Messiah ben David) is associated with redemption, peace, and rebuilding the Temple, not with being “cut off” or the destruction of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:26). Translating mashiach nagid as “the prince” keeps the focus on a historical or temporal leader, avoiding confusion with Jewish messianic expectations.

4. ArtScroll’s Translation Philosophy

ArtScroll’s Tanach (Stone Edition) aims to provide a translation that is both accessible to modern readers and faithful to traditional Jewish exegesis. This involves:

  • Simplification for Clarity: The phrase mashiach nagid is complex, combining two terms with overlapping but distinct meanings. Rendering it as “the prince” simplifies the text for readers while conveying the idea of an authoritative figure, which nagid emphasizes.
  • Reliance on Rabbinic Commentary: ArtScroll often incorporates interpretations from classical Jewish sources (e.g., Rashi, Talmud) into its translation. By choosing “prince,” ArtScroll may be reflecting a specific rabbinic interpretation that prioritizes the historical context of Daniel 9:25 over a literal rendering of mashiach.
  • Consistency with Other Verses: In Daniel 9:26, the same mashiach is mentioned as being “cut off.” ArtScroll may avoid “anointed one” in 9:25 to maintain consistency with 9:26, where the term is similarly interpreted as a leader or prince, not the Messiah.

5. Textual and Grammatical Nuances

The ArtScroll translation you cited—”until the appointment of the prince”—suggests an interpretive addition. The Hebrew ad mashiach nagid (“until an anointed one, a leader”) does not explicitly include “appointment,” but this may reflect:

  • Masoretic Punctuation: The athnach (a disjunctive accent) in the Masoretic Text separates the “seven weeks” from the “sixty-two weeks,” implying the mashiach nagid appears after the seven weeks (49 years), possibly Cyrus or another early figure. ArtScroll’s “appointment” may interpret this as the moment the leader is designated or rises to prominence.
  • Dynamic Equivalence: ArtScroll sometimes opts for dynamic equivalence (conveying meaning over word-for-word translation) to make the text clearer. “Appointment of the prince” may be an attempt to clarify that the mashiach nagid is a divinely ordained leader, consistent with Jewish readings of the verse.

Conclusion

The ArtScroll Bible’s translation of Daniel 9:25 as “until the appointment of the prince” instead of “anointed one” reflects a combination of factors:

  1. A focus on nagid (“leader/prince”) over mashiach (“anointed one”) to emphasize the figure’s role as a historical leader (e.g., Cyrus, Zerubbabel, or a high priest).
  2. Alignment with Jewish interpretive traditions that reject eschatological or Christian messianic readings of the verse.
  3. A translation philosophy that prioritizes clarity and rabbinic exegesis over literal rendering, avoiding the theologically charged term mashiach.
  4. Sensitivity to Jewish theology, which reserves the term “Messiah” for the future redeemer, not a figure associated with destruction (Daniel 9:26).

This choice underscores ArtScroll’s commitment to presenting the text through the lens of Orthodox Jewish scholarship, avoiding interpretations that could be misconstrued as supporting Christian claims about Jesus.