Daniel 9:11 is part of a prayer of repentance by Daniel for the people of Israel. The timing of this prayer is during the first year of Darius the Mede and at the end of the seventy years prophesied by Jeremiah (9:1).

Daniel’s Kings

Daniel served several kings. Four are named in the Bible, some are not. The named kings (in order) are:

1. Nebuchadnezzar – Chapters 1-4
2. Belshazzar – Chapters 7 (first year),8 (third year), 5 This was the last thing he did as the city fell that night, verse 5:30
3. Darius – Chapters 9 (first year), 6 is early in his rule but some time had passed; 10:21 and 11:1 refer to his first year, which includes the angel Michael and the job he does.
4. Cyrus – Chapters 10 (third year), 11 +12 are part of this last vision. He is first mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah and is the king who sent Ezra to Jerusalem.

Daniel 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. (KJV)

To appreciate what Daniel was repenting of we should start in 9:2. He had STUDIED Scripture, especially Deuteronomy 27: 14 to 26 and 28: 15 to 68, and had accepted the words of the Prophet Jeremiah. So, he prayed and petitioned by fasting and by humbling himself (vs. 3). I view this as huge when you remember that Daniel had been ripped away from his family, forced from his country, and made a eunuch because Israel had done these things. I will add the two death threats (okay maybe three) that had happened by this time in his life.     

Jeremiah’s seventy years of desolation were due to Israel not giving the land its sabbath rest. They did not believe that God would supply for the off years or thought they would make more profit. Daniel 9:20 is where God introduces a new seventy. In the process, He announces the coming “Anointed One” or Jesus’ birth. Gabriel brings this message and is sent again in Luke to Zechariah and Mary. (I have never studied this seventy. There are plenty of thoughts about how it is to be accomplished.)

The Prophets Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were alive and ministering during the “eleventh hour” of Jerusalem and Judah. Ezekiel and Daniel had experiences of angelic visions and interactions that pointed to current assistance and future events. Gabriel is the angel who delivers the messages from God. Michael is introduced as the one who fights and defends God’s people. This is also the picture we get of him in Jude and Revelations. In Daniel 10:21 and 11:1 we get a glimpse of the conflicts in the spirit world, Michael is supporting Gabriel against the prince of Persia. This must be a “spiritual prince” because Darius is Persian, and he was an ally of Daniel.