Tanakh Prophecy
"About the time of the evening offering."
Fulfillment
"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out… and yielded up His spirit."
Rabbinic Sources
"The daily tamid sacrifice was offered at the 9th hour — Messiah dies at the same time."
Deep Dive: Suffered at the 9th hour
Historical Context
The prophecy related to the "ninth hour" is found in Daniel 9:21, which references the evening sacrifice, a vital component of the ancient Jewish Temple service. Daniel, a prophet and statesman in the Babylonian exile, penned this book during the 6th century BCE, specifically during the reign of King Darius. The historical context of this prophecy underscores the Jewish people's longing for redemption and the restoration of their covenant relationship with God, particularly after the destruction of the First Temple.
Daniel's writings are part of the Ketuvim, the Writings, of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). This prophetic text not only reflects the immediate context of the Jewish exiles but also points to a future hope of deliverance. Archaeologically, the remnants of the Second Temple and numerous scrolls found among the Dead Sea Scrolls affirm the significance of sacrificial practices during this period, particularly the daily offerings that were integral to Jewish worship.
The evening sacrifice, offered at the ninth hour, was a time of prayer and devotion, further enhancing the prophetic implications of this period. This practice can be substantiated through historical accounts, such as those by Josephus, who described the Temple rituals in detail, emphasizing their importance to Jewish identity and religious life.
Textual Analysis
In examining Daniel 9:21, the Hebrew phrase "בְּעֵת מִנְחַת הָעַרְבַּיִם" (be'et minchat ha'arbayim), translates to "about the time of the evening offering." This phrase is pivotal as it connects to the sacrificial system that was an essential aspect of worship in ancient Israel. The term "מִנְחַת" (minchat) denotes a grain offering, but in this context, it refers to the evening sacrifice, which involved the offering of a lamb, symbolizing atonement.
The Septuagint (LXX), the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, renders this as "ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῆς προσφορᾶς" (en tō kairō tēs prosforas), which emphasizes the specified time of the offering. This translation is significant as it informs the understanding of the timing of Yeshua's crucifixion, aligning it with the sacrificial rituals.
In Matthew 27:46-50, the narrative of Yeshua's crucifixion states, "About the ninth hour Yeshua cried out…" This alignment of the prophetic timing with the New Testament accounts not only highlights the fulfillment of the prophecy but also emphasizes the theological significance of Yeshua as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, whose death resonates with the sacrificial practices established in the Tanakh.
Fulfillment Evidence
Yeshua's death at the ninth hour, as recorded in Matthew 27:46-50, marks a profound fulfillment of the prophecy originating in Daniel 9:21. The synchronization of Yeshua's final moments with the offering of the Tamid (the daily sacrifice) underscores a direct connection between His suffering and the sacrificial system that was central to Jewish worship.
Historical evidence supporting this claim includes the timing of the crucifixion as corroborated by the Gospel accounts, which indicate that Yeshua was crucified around noon and yielded up His spirit at the ninth hour (approximately 3 PM). This timing coincides with the sacrificial practices during the Second Temple period, as confirmed by Josephus and corroborated in rabbinic literature.
Common objections to the messianic interpretation often revolve around the notion that Yeshua's death cannot serve as a sufficient atonement. However, this perspective overlooks the theological implications of Yeshua fulfilling the role of the Paschal lamb, a concept rooted deeply in the Jewish understanding of redemption and sacrifice.
Rabbinic Perspectives
Traditional rabbinic sources, including the Talmud and Midrash, provide insights that align with the understanding of the ninth hour as a significant time of sacrifice and atonement. For instance, in Pesachim 5:1, it is noted that the daily Tamid sacrifice was offered at the ninth hour, which leads to the interpretation that the Messiah's death would occur at this pivotal moment.
Additionally, the concept of the "ninth hour" in rabbinic literature often signifies a time of divine mercy and intervention, further supporting the notion that Yeshua's death was not merely an end but a crucial part of the redemptive plan. The Talmudic discussions surrounding the significance of sacrificial offerings and the timing of the evening prayers reinforce the prophetic implications of Yeshua's crucifixion in relation to the sacrificial system.
Significance for Today
The prophecy concerning Yeshua’s suffering at the ninth hour holds profound significance for modern believers and seekers. It serves as a reminder of the continuity between the Tanakh and the New Testament, showcasing the divine orchestration of events that culminate in redemption through Yeshua. This prophecy invites a deeper understanding of the sacrificial system, emphasizing that Yeshua embodies the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s sins.
For Messianic believers, this fulfillment represents not only a historical event but also a theological cornerstone that affirms faith in Yeshua as the Messiah. It encourages reflection on the nature of suffering and sacrifice, inviting believers to recognize the depth of Yeshua’s love and the hope of redemption that transcends time. This understanding fosters a richer engagement with both the Tanakh and the New Testament, encouraging a holistic view of God’s redemptive plan throughout history.
Two Millennia of Adversary Positions
8 eras of objections to this prophecy, with primary sources and Messianic corrections.
Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki)
Daniel 9:21 Describes Daniel's Vision, Not a Future Messiah's Death
"came flying and touched me about the time of the evening offering."
Rashi, the foundational medieval Jewish commentator, interprets Daniel 9:21 in its plain and immediate context. He explains the phrase 'about the time of the evening offering' as simply the time of day when the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel during his prayer. In this view, the verse is biographical and descriptive of Daniel's experience, not a forward-looking prophecy about the timing of the Messiah's death.
The Quran
The Crucifixion of Jesus Is a Falsehood
"And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them."
Islamic theology asserts that Jesus was never crucified or killed. The event of the crucifixion was an illusion created by God, and Jesus was instead raised bodily to heaven. Therefore, any discussion of the timing of his death is moot, as the event itself did not occur as described in the Gospels.
The Quran (as interpreted by IslamQA.info)
The Crucifixion of Jesus (Isa) Never Occurred
"And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them."
Islamic theology fundamentally rejects the historical basis of the crucifixion. The Quran asserts that Jesus was not killed or crucified, but rather that it was made to appear so to his enemies, and that God raised him up to Himself. Therefore, any claim of a prophecy being fulfilled at the 'ninth hour' of his death is invalid because the event itself is considered a historical falsehood.
Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki)
Daniel 9 Prophesies a King's Death, Not the Messiah's
"an anointed one will be cut off: That is Agrippa, the king of Judea, who was the last king of the second Temple, will be killed."
Rashi interprets the 'anointed one' who is 'cut off' in Daniel 9:26 not as the Messiah, but as a historical Jewish king, specifically King Agrippa. The entire prophecy concerns the period leading to the destruction of the Second Temple. The reference to the 'evening offering' in 9:21 is merely a narrative detail about when Daniel prayed, not a prophecy about the timing of a future event.
Bart Ehrman
The 'Ninth Hour' is Theological Symbolism, Not Verifiable History
"The Gospels are not modern biographies, and they are not filled with the kinds of details that modern biographies are. They are ancient biographies. And ancient biographies were a different genre from their modern counterparts. Ancient biographies were meant to tell about the person's life in a way that revealed his or her essential character and significance."
New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman argues that the Gospel authors were writing theological narratives, not objective historical reports. The detail of Jesus dying at the 'ninth hour' is likely a literary device to create a symbolic parallel with the evening sacrifice in the Jerusalem Temple. From this perspective, the timing was crafted by the author of Mark (and copied by Matthew and Luke) to portray Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, rather than being a historically precise detail of his death.
Bart Ehrman
Gospels Contradict Each Other on the Crucifixion Timeline
"For example, in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is crucified at nine o’clock in the morning (Mark 15:25), whereas in John’s Gospel he has not yet been crucified at noon (John 19:14)."
Critical scholars like Bart Ehrman argue that the Gospels are not inerrant historical records and contain irreconcilable contradictions. A key example is the timeline of the crucifixion. Mark's Gospel states Jesus was crucified at the 'third hour' (9 a.m.), while John's Gospel reports that his trial before Pilate was not even over by the 'sixth hour' (noon). This discrepancy undermines the claim that Jesus's death fulfilled a precise prophetic timeline.
Tovia Singer
Christians Eisegetically Force Jesus into a Text About Daniel
Rabbi Tovia Singer contends that connecting Daniel 9:21 to the crucifixion is a classic example of Christian eisegesis—reading a preconceived idea into the text. He argues the verse is merely a time-stamp for Gabriel's visitation to Daniel and has no prophetic content regarding a future event. Singer asserts that the entire prophecy of Daniel 9, when read in its proper Jewish context, concerns the Second Temple period and has been twisted by missionaries to fit Jesus.
Tovia Singer
Daniel 9 Is About the Second Temple's Destruction, Not Jesus
Rabbi Tovia Singer argues that Christian interpretation divorces Daniel 9 from its explicit context. The prophecy of 70 'weeks' (sevens of years) is a countdown to the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. The 'anointed one' who is 'cut off' is a Jewish high priest, and the 'prince who is to come' is the Roman general Titus. The mention of the 'evening offering' is simply the setting for Daniel's prayer, not a prophecy about the Messiah's death. The entire chapter is a prophecy about Jewish history, not a prediction of Jesus's death.