about four years before the destruction of the temple: as was alfo his fon: which is shewn by the words " and not to him, i.e. there fhall be no more of him: for fince his death, there has been no more kingly power in the Jewish mation to this day. And why? because the city and fanctuary fhall be deftroyed (by) the people of the prince that fhall come: and the end thereaf fhall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war defolations are determined. All which, was fully accomplished under Titus, who commanded them to demolish the walls, the houses, &c.

And, after having mentioned the particulars of the fixty-nine weeks, viz. the first seven, and the fixty-two, he proceeds

" CENTURY." And, a little farther he obferves, "That the book was known to Saadias, one of the Ex<cellents of the TENTH CENTURY." [Bafnage's Hiftory of the Jews, page 610, 611.] After fuch a grofs mistake as this, I think very little credit ought to be given to the accounts of Chriftian Hiftorians concerning this book; efpecially, as learned men (and you alfo) allow that a fpurious paffage has been fostered into what you are pleased to call the true Jofephus.

to

7

to the last week of the feventy; a

And he fhall STRENGTHEN לָרַבִּים שָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד

the covenant with many one week. This is
spoken of the prince, mentioned in the
preceding verfe, who coming at the
beginning of the laft week, was continually
offering peace to the Jews, according to
the emperor's defire; and therefore, the
angel made ufe of the verb "
shall strengthen: i. e. he shall endeavour to
ftrengthen the covenant, that was between
them: and for that reason, he did not fay
that he should make a covenant with
them, but only ftrengthen the former

one.

and he

As to the expreffion, And in the midft (or half) of the week (i. e. the feventieth) he fhall caufe the facrifice and the oblation to cease. The prediction was fully verified; for on account of the great troubles of the fiege, the facrifice, and the offering, ceased from the temple, three years and a half before its deftruction. And he farther obferves, that all this was to come upon

K 2

upon them, for the overspreading of the abominations, it should be made defolate: i, e. the abominations which they had committed, during both the first and fecond temples. Hence the answer to Daniel's doubt was complete; which was to inform him, that the vifitation of the Baby lonian captivity was not prolonged, but rather haftened; but that, if they should not repent and mend their ways, they would after the period allowed them, go into a long captivity, to expiate their former transgreffions, &c.

This, is what appears to me; and I doubt not, to every impartial, and candid perfon alfo, when duly confidered, as perfectly conformable to the whole context, beginning from the fecond verfe of the chapter. In the first year of his reign, I Daniel underfood by books the number of years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Feremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish SEVENTY YEARS in the defolation of Jeru falem. Hence, according to the explanation

here

here given, it is manifeft, that the answer was perfectly calculated to remove his doubt, which was all that was intended by it. But if you, or any other Chriftian, fhould think proper to difpute the fenfe here given, I mean then, to take a review of all the explanations given by the Chriftian commentators: and I pledge myself to produce fuch infurmountable objections to their different fyftems, as will clearly point out the fallacy of them, and firmly fix the truth of mine.

As to what you object against Rabbi Ifaac," that from the deftruction of the "temple, by Nebuchadnezzar, to that

by Titus, was a period of more than "650 years," is, I prefume, not accord ing to fcripture; but, on the contrary, is founded on the opinion embraced by Christian writers, from profane authors; who hold, that from Cyrus, King of Perfia, to Darius, who was conquered by Alexander, there were fourteen Kings. But, this is directly contrary to fcripture; for

in the vifion which he faw, (chap. x. xi.) the angel informed him, that there were to be three kings more in Perfia, besides Cyrus; in the third year of whose reign, he faw the vifion; which plainly fhews, that there were to be but four kings in all, viz. Cyrus, his fon Cambyfes, Ahasuerus, the husband of Efther, and Darius, called in fcripture Artaxerxes.

I am, &c.

LETTER II.

Of the divine Miffion of CHRIST, compared with that of MOSES.

DEAR SIR,

YOU are pleafed to tell us, (page 18, of your letters) That our ancestors rejected thofe who came from God," (I fuppofe you mean Chrift and the apoftles)