Dan 9:7-14 | JFB | STEP | 7. confusion of faces, as at this day-- Shame at our guilt, betrayed in our countenance, is what belongs to us; as our punishment "at this day" attests. near, and ... far off-- the chastisement, however varied, some Jews not being cast off so far from Jerusalem as others, all alike were sharers in the guilt.

‏ Daniel 9:7-14

7. confusion of faces, as at this day--Shame at our guilt, betrayed in our countenance, is what belongs to us; as our punishment "at this day" attests.

near, and ... far off--the chastisement, however varied, some Jews not being cast off so far from Jerusalem as others, all alike were sharers in the guilt.

9. mercies--The plural intensifies the force; mercy manifold and exhibited in countless ways. As it is humbling to recollect "righteousness belongeth unto God," so it is comforting, that "mercies belong to the Lord OUR God."

though we have rebelled--rather, "since," &c. [Vulgate], (Psa 25:11). Our punishment is not inconsistent with His "mercies," since we have rebelled against Him.

10. set before us--not ambiguously, but plainly, so that we were without excuse.

11. all--(Psa 14:3; Ro 3:12).

the curse ... and ... oath ... in ... law--the curse against Israel, if disobedient, which God ratified by oath (Le 26:14-39; De 27:15-26; 28:15-68; 29:1-29).

12. confirmed his words--showed by the punishments we suffer, that His words were no idle threats.

under ... heaven hath not been done as ... upon Jerusalem--(La 1:12).

13. yet made we not our prayer before--literally, "soothed not the face of." Not even our chastisement has taught us penitence (Is 9:13; Jr 5:3; Ho 7:10). Diseased, we spurn the healing medicine.

that we might turn, &c.--Prayer can only be accepted when joined with the desire to turn from sin to God (Psa 66:18; Pr 28:9).

understand thy truth--"attentively regard Thy faithfulness" in fulfilling Thy promises, and also Thy threats [Calvin]. Thy law (Da 8:12), [Maurer].

14. watched upon the evil--expressing ceaseless vigilance that His people's sins might not escape His judgment, as a watchman on guard night and day (Job 14:16; Jr 31:28; 44:27). God watching upon the Jews' punishment forms a striking contrast to the Jews' slumbering in their sins.

God is righteous--True penitents "justify" God, "ascribing righteousness to Him," instead of complaining of their punishment as too severe (Ne 9:33; Job 36:3; Psa 51:4; La 3:39-42).