. The 70 Weeks of Daniel. Jewish/Christian Dispute

The 70 Weeks Of Daniel. The Jewish/Christian Dispute

THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF YEARS PROPHECY

SECTION 1    A Traditional Jewish Translation, Interpretation & Calculation of DANIEL 9:24-27

24. "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish the transgression, to end sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in eternal righteousness, to seal vision and prophet and to anoint a Holy of Holies.

25. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem until [mashiach] an anointed one, a prince, will be 7 weeks; and for 62 weeks it will be rebuilt, street and moat, even in troublous times.

26. And after the 62 weeks will [mashiach] an anointed one be cut off and have nothing, and the people of a prince who will come will destroy the city and the Sanctuary, and its end will be with a flood. Until the end of a war desolations are decreed.

27. And he will make a covenant with many for 1 week, and in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering;..."

NOTE: Did Year One begin during the initial Five Days of Creation, on the Sixth Day when Adam was formed, or one year later? Thus, calendar dates & their corresponding secular years are accurate within two years.

To understand a passage one must always study it in context. At the beginning of Daniel 9 we find:

Daniel 9:2

"In the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood from the Sacred Books, according to the word of the L-rd to Jeremiah the Prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years."

This is referring to:

Jeremiah 29:10

"When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will remember you, and fulfill My good word to return you to this place."

These 70 years of desolation began when Jerusalem was destroyed, and Jews were deported to Babylon (2 Kings 25:8-12). It ended with the building of the Second Temple (Ezra 6:15).

In Daniel 9:3-20, Daniel prayed for the Jewish people, praised G-d, implored Him to end the exile, and to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem.
In answer to his prayers, the angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel that 420 years were being added to the 70 years. We were warned that this could happen:
Leviticus 26:18 "If after all this you will not obey Me, I will punish you seven times more for your sins."
7 x 70 years = 420 + 70 = 490 years. It was a complete 490 year punishment.

Daniel 9:24

Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city,

1 day = 1 year.......1 week = 7 years.......70 weeks = 490 years.
We learn this formula from the Torah:

Leviticus 25:8

"And you will number 7 Sabbaths of years, 7 x 7 years, and there will be to you the time of 7 Sabbaths of years, even 49 years."
Sabbath (Saturday) ends our week.......1 Sabbath = 1 week of 7 years.......7 Sabbaths = 49 years.

Daniel was told details of what would transpire during the 490 years starting from the first desolation of Jerusalem. That occurred in our Biblical calendar year 3338 or 3,338 years from Year One. (see Appendix)

The 490 years ended at the second desolation of Jerusalem.
Hence, the calculation for Daniel 9:24-27 is 3338 + 490 = 3828.
There were 3,828 years from Year One until the Roman war against Jerusalem ended.

Daniel 9:24

to finish the transgression, to end sin, to atone for iniquity, and to bring in eternal righteousness,

At the end of this full 490 year period the Messiah would appear, and these Messianic promises would be fulfilled. Or Jerusalem would again be destroyed, and we would be exiled (Daniel 9:26). Not both. Not earlier.

Daniel 9:24

and to seal vision and prophet,

During this 490 year period, vision and prophecy ceased with the Prophet Malachi.

Daniel 9:24

and to anoint a Holy of Holies [Kodesh Kodashim].

The rebuilt and functioning Second Temple (Ezekiel 45:3).

Daniel 9:25

from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem

This is referring to the word of Jeremiah at the first desolation of Jerusalem. Thus, from the view of Daniel, this command was a past declaration:

Jeremiah 30:18

"Thus says the L-rd: Behold, I will restore the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have compassion on his dwellings, and the city will be rebuilt upon its mound, and the Palace shall stand on its proper place."

The Hebrew debar which linked Daniel 9:2, 9:25 and Ezra 1:1 primarily means word.
The Hebrew for decree in the Book of Ezra is t'aim (Ezra 7:13).
Letters (iggerot) were issued authorizing Nehemiah's mission (Nehemiah 2:9).

To restore or To bring back (shuv). Its Hebrew root letters are shin vav veit.
Jeremiah 30:3 "...when I will restore from captivity My people Israel and Judah. I will bring them back to the land."

Daniel 9:25

until [mashiach] an anointed one, a prince, will be 7 weeks;

Seven weeks of years after the destruction of the First Temple, Cyrus the first [mashiach] "anointed one" appeared as Isaiah the Prophet had foretold some 200 years earlier:

Isaiah 45:1, 13

"Thus says the L-rd to His anointed, to Cyrus...He will build My city and set My exiles free, neither for price nor for reward, says the L-rd of hosts."

And so it was, Cyrus fulfilled the word of G-d through His Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah:

Ezra 1:1, 3

"Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the L-rd by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the L-rd stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia to make a proclamation...Whoever there is among all His people, his G-d be with him, let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the House of the L-rd, the G-d of Israel. He is the G-d Who is in Jerusalem."

Cyrus informed his governors, ruling in Syria, the details of his decree:
"I have given leave to as many of the Jews that dwell in my country as please to return to their own country, and to rebuild their city, and the Temple of G-d in Jerusalem. On the same place where it was before" (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 11, Chapter 1, Section 3).

NOTE: The Christian Schools of thought claim that the 490 years did not begin with the decree of Cyrus because Ezra 1:3 does not make reference to Jerusalem. But the declarations of Jeremiah, Isaiah and Cyrus himself confirmed that the city was included in the reconstruction project.

Daniel 9:25

and for 62 weeks it will be rebuilt, street and moat, even in troublous times.

Jerusalem was rebuilt, but it was a time of oppression under our Persian, Greek and Roman rulers. The opposition began when Zerubbabel, and the group of returnees started the construction work in Jerusalem (Ezra 4). That was in 536 B.C.E. two years after Cyrus' decree was issued (Ezra 3:8).

Daniel 9:26

And after the 62 weeks will [mashiach] an anointed one be cut off and have nothing,

This second [mashiach] "anointed one" was King Agrippa II of Judea. During the war in 66 C.E. the Jews dethroned, and expelled him from Jerusalem. Although, Agrippa was Jewish, he deserted to the Roman side, and did not regain his royal status (Agrippa II New World encyclopedia.org).

Daniel 9:26

and the people of a prince who will come will destroy the city and the Sanctuary,

The Roman army, led by Titus the crown prince, destroyed Jerusalem & the Second Temple (Titus Britannica.com).

Daniel 9:26

and its end will be with a flood. Until the end of a war desolations are decreed.

Complete destruction is so described elsewhere:

Nahum 1:8

"But with an overrunning flood, He will make a full end of its place."

Daniel 9:27

And he will make a covenant with many for 1 week; and in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering;

Vespasian made a peace agreement with the Jewish leaders. However, he broke this covenant after the first half week (3.5 years) and prohibited sacrifices (Jewish Tradition).

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SECTION 2

A Refutation of Christian Translation, Interpretations & Calculations of DANIEL 9:24-27

THEIR TRANSLATION

DANIEL  9:24-27

24. "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

25. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be 7 weeks, and 60 and 2 weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26. And after 60 and 2 weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for 1 week; and in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering;..."

a. The above is the present day Kings James Version. Remarkably, their original 1611 C.E. edition punctuated 9:25 significantly different:

"unto the Messiah the Prince, shall be 7 weeks; and 60 and 2 weeks, the street shall be built again,"

It correctly has a semicolon stop and separation after 7 weeks, indicating two mashiachs (9:25/26). It was changed to a comma in their 1769 edition. We were in agreement for 158 years.

b. This change enables Christians to say that the one mashiach (Jesus) came after 69 weeks, written as 7 and 62 (9:25).
But "weeks" after both 7 and 62 indicates two individuals.

c. In the Hebrew, "the" appears before the second 62 weeks: "And after the 62 weeks shall..." (9:26). They exclude it to make it less obvious that the 62 weeks are a distinct segment of time separating the two mashiachs.
Thus, 7 and 62 appear as an uninterrupted 69 weeks of 7 years: 69 x 7 = 483 years. This is the Christian timeframe from Artaxerxes' decree in Ezra 7:1 until Jesus' baptism. Or his decree in Nehemiah 2:1 until Palm Sunday.

d. The Christian narrative lacks clarity, such as:
unto the mashiach the Prince shall be 69 weeks (9:25).
And after the 69 weeks, the mashiach will die to atone for the sins of others (9:26).

e. Conversely, "the" before "mashiach" and before "Prince" do not exist (9:25). They were added to give the impression that the one and distinct Redeemer is being referred to.
Compare this verse with Leviticus 4:5 in Hebrew. There the letter hey (the) which is pronounced ha does appear twice: ha-kohen ha-mashiach. Literally: "The Priest, the anointed one."

f. The Hebrew root letters: mem-shin-yud-chet (mashiach) appear in the Hebrew Bible 39 times. Except in 9:25/26, the King James Bible correctly translates it as "anointed" or "anointed one."

g. "be cut off" "But the person who does anything defiantly...will be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the word of the L-rd, and has broken His command" (Numbers 15:30-31).
Equating being cut off with the crucifixion is wrong (Kareth en.Wikipedia.org).

h. "but not for himself" (ve ein) means - and have nothing.
Proverbs 13:7 "There is one who pretends to be rich and has nothing".

THE 165 YEAR DISPUTE
The First Temple Destruction   Until   The Second Temple Destruction
Rabbinic Chronology 421 B.C.E. - 70 C.E.      Secular Chronology 586 B.C.E. - 70 C.E.

The B.C.E. dates that correspond with our Rabbinic chronology were:
The First Temple was destroyed in 421,  The Persian period was from 369-317,  Cyrus' decree was in 369,  Zerubbabel went to Jerusalem in 369,  Darius reigned from 353-317,  The Second Temple was built from 351-347,  Artaxerxes' decree to Ezra was in 346,  Artaxerxes' decree to Nehemiah was in 333,  The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E.
421 - 369 B.C.E. ...... 52 years. First 7 weeks of years.
421 - 351 B.C.E. ...... 70 year Babylonian exile.
351 -- 70 C.E. ....... 420 years Second Temple stood.
421 -- 70 C.E. ....... 490 years of Daniel 9:24-27.

NOTE: In accordance with mainstream Christian understanding from here on:
A. Only the secular chronology is quoted.
B. Darius is Darius 1 son of Hystapses (522-486 B.C.E.).
C. Artaxerxes is Artaxerxes Longimanus (465-424 or 464-423 B.C.E.).
Why? The 490 years end in Jesus' lifetime only if they began from Artaxerxes Longimanus. Its not that simple. Artaxerxes means "Great King, the name or title of several kings of Persia" (ATS biblehub.com). They appear in Ezra 4:7, 6:14, 7:1 & Nehemiah 2:1. Scholars disagree who they were.

The Persian period, in which we were active participants, lasted for 52 years:
Daniel 11:2 "Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth..."
Contrary to this declaration, the secular chronology lists 10 Persian kings who allegedly reigned during 207 years (539-332 B.C.E.). Its timeline is flawed:

1. Artaxerxes in Ezra 4:21-24 stopped the rebuilding of the Temple & city "until the 2nd year of the reign of Darius king of Persia" (520 B.C.E.). That Artaxerxes was the king before 520 B.C.E. Thus, he was not Artaxerxes Longimanis whose reign began 55 years after 520 B.C.E.
Josephus, 1st century historian, wrote that Artaxerxes in Ezra 4 was Cambyses II, the son of Cyrus (Antiquities, Book 11, Chapter 2, Section 1-2). He reigned from 530-522 B.C.E. The Scotfield Reference Bible agrees with him.
The decree of Cyrus in 538 B.C.E. (Ezra 1:1-3) ordered the rebuilding. It was in fulfillment of Daniel 9:25.

2. If Artaxerxes Longimanus sent Ezra to Jerusalem in 458 B.C.E. (Ezra 7), then that was 58 years after the Temple was rebuilt in 516 B.C.E. It would contradict Ezra 7:1,6, which has a short time between these events:
"Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia,...Ezra went up from Babylon;" (Compare Esther 3:1)

However, if Darius was Artaxerxes in Ezra 7, then 13 months after he rebuilt the Temple (Ezra 6:15), Darius sent Ezra "to glorify the House of the L-rd in Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:27).
The Temple was rebuilt on Adar 3rd, the 12th month. The 6th year of Darius (Ezra 6:15).
Passover was observed on Nisan 14th, the 1st month. The 6th year of Darius (Ezra 6:19).
Ezra went to Jerusalem on Nisan 1st, the 1st month. The 7th year of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:8-9).
NOTE: Our New Year begins in Tishrei, the 7th month. The timeline was Adar 3rd, Nisan 14th, Tishrei 1st, Nisan 1st.

3. Ezra was the son of Seraiah (Ezra 7:1), the last High Priest, who was killed before the First Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C.E. (2 Kings 25:18-21). Therefore, Ezra was above 128 years old if Artaxerxes Longimanus sent him to Jerusalem in Ezra 7 (586-458 B.C.E.). Compare Ezra 7:1-2 with I Chronicles 6:11-14.

4. Ezra 6:14: The Jews rebuilt the Temple according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius and Artaxerxes.
The Hebrew letter vav primarily means and, but even can be more accurate:
Daniel 7:18 "and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever."
I Samuel 28:3 "in Ramah, even in his own city."

Cyrus decreed that the Temple be rebuilt in 538 B.C.E. (Ezra 1:3-4). Darius decreed that the work be restarted in 520 B.C.E. (Ezra 6:7). Between their decrees, the 1st Artaxerxes stopped its construction (Ezra 4:21-24). The 2nd (Ezra 7-10) and 3rd Artaxerxes (Nehemiah) ruled after it was completed.

5. Nehemiah 12:1-8 lists the Priests and Levites who left Babylon with Zerubbabel in 538 B.C.E. But, in the 20th year of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1), 17 of them, their names listed in the same order, signed a covenant with Nehemiah. If this king was Artaxerxes Longimanus, then it was 93 years later in 445 B.C.E. They were above 120 years old.
If this Artaxerxes was Darius, then they signed 36 years later in his 20th year (502 B.C.E.).
Those who signed were Seraiah,  Jeremiah,  Amariah,  Hattush,  Shebaniah,  Malluch,  Meremoth,  Ginnethon,  Abijah,  Mijamin,  Maaziah,  Biglai,  Shemaiah,  Jeshua,  Binnui,  Kadmiel,  & Sherebiah (Nehemiah 10:2-13).

Floyd Nolen Jones Th.D, Ph.D   The Chronology of the Old Testament p. 241, 23rd Edition:
"Not having noticed the problem inherent in comparing these two registers in relation to the dates they have assigned to them, nearly all scholars have failed to fathom the true extent and depth of the perplexity."
"Unless a solution is found, the time disparity between the Nehemiah 10 and 12 lists invalidates not only Sir Robert Anderson's solution...but all other accepted scenarios in use today as well."
Anderson founded a calculation for Artaxerxes' 20th year decree. (see below)

ARTAXERXES' DECREES

a. The calculation for Daniel 9:25-26 is not quoted in the New Testament. And it was not until 150 years after the crucifixion that the first authority to write a Christian interpretation on Daniel 9 was Irenaeus in 180 C.E. (Against Heresies). His followers failed to formulate a united belief system. They broke up into 4 rival factions.

The FIRST SCHOOL declares: "from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem" (Daniel 9:25) was referring to Artaxerxes' 7th year decree in 458/457 B.C.E. (Ezra 7), and that the 490 years began from then.
The SECOND SCHOOL starts it from Artaxerxes' 20th year decree in 445/444 B.C.E. (Nehemiah 2).

His decrees can not be dated because it is not known if his reign began in 465 or 464 B.C.E. There is confusion when Xerxes, the previous king was killed (Artaxerxes 1 Encyclopedia Iranicaonline. org).
An unknown start year invalidates their calculations.

b. Both Schools claim that Jerusalem was in rubble from 586 B.C.E. until their decree was issued.
1. That the Temple was rebuilt and remained operational in such surreal conditions is obsurd.
2. Cyrus informed his governors of his decree to rebuild the city. (see Section 1)
3. Zerubbabel's group were rebuilding "the rebellious and bad city" in 536 B.C.E. (Ezra 4:12).

ARTAXERXES' 7th YEAR DECREE.....EZRA 7

1st Month Nisan  (March / April) ****** 5th Month Av  (July / August) ****** 7th Month Tishrei  (September / October)
In the Hebrew Bible, the 1st month is always Nisan. Its the 1st month of the Jewish calendar:
Esther 3:7 "the 1st month which is the month Nisan."
Numbers 28:16 "The 14th day of the 1st month is the L-rd's Passover." That's Nisan.
Tishrei is the 7th month of our calendar. It begins the New Year (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1).

Ezra 7:1, 6 "Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia,...the king granted [Ezra] all he requested."
Ezra and his group left Babylon with the decree, on the 1st day of the 1st month & arrived in Jerusalem on the 1st day of the 5th month in the 7th year of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:8,9,11). The trip was from Nisan 1st to Av 1st.
Artaxerxes did not decree the city be rebuilt (Daniel 9:25). There was no construction for him to stop (Ezra 7-10).
The date that the decree was signed & issued is missing. An unknown begin date invalidates their calculations.

Inevitably, the FIRST SCHOOL posits different start dates:
Opinion A1: Nisan 458 B.C.E. - When Ezra left Babylon.
Opinion A2: Nisan 457 B.C.E. - When Ezra left Babylon.

Opinion B1: Tishrei 458 B.C.E. - Six months before Ezra left Babylon.
Opinion B2: Tishrei 457 B.C.E. - Two months after Ezra arrived in Jerusalem. The decree "went into effect" when he gave it to the Persian officials.
That the decree took effect from when a later event occurred is also conjectural.

Ezra completed his initial obligations to the king swiftly. After their arrival on Av 1st, they rested for three days. On the fourth day, they brought the silver, and gold to the Temple and sacrificed animals. "And they gave the king's orders to his satraps & governors beyond the River...." (Ezra 8:32-36).

The Persian officials received the decree on the 5th of Av, mid-summer. Because it was earlier than Opinion B2's 490 year begin date (Tishrei), they claim it was "late summer or early fall."

The decree was signed & issued before Nisan. This factor disqualifies Opinions A & B2.
1. The organizers planned and prepared for the trip before departure.
2. The volunteers for the journey were ready before departure (Ezra 7:7).
3. The silver and gold that the king "freely offered to the G-d of Israel" were prepared before departure (Ezra 7:15).
4. The silver and gold donated by the population were collected & prepared before departure (Ezra 7:16, 8:25).
The people donated their precious metals before Ezra & his group left, because the decree had begun. And "a decree or statute that the king issues can not be changed" (Daniel 6:16).

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Chronology of Jesus Wikipedia.org:
Jesus was born between 6 and 4 B.C.E.        He died between 30 and 36 C.E.
Jesus was baptized / ministry began between 26 and 29 C.E.        His ministry lasted 1 to 3 years.
The crucifixion occurred on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.        The 14th or 15th of Nisan.
Nothing in the Christian calculations can historically be verified.

Opinion A1: Nisan 458 B.C.E. - 483 years = Nisan 26 C.E. + 3.5 years = Tishrei 29 C.E. [+ 3.5 years].
Opinion A2: Nisan 457 B.C.E. - 483 years = Nisan 27 C.E. + 3.5 years = Tishrei 30 C.E. [+ 3.5 years].

Opinions A are disqualified because they have the crucifixion in Tishrei. All the gospels agree it was in Nisan.
Consequently, when they present these calculations in this format, the months are omitted, and/or the years are merged (26/27).

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Opinions B1 & B2:
Tishrei 458/457 B.C.E. - - The Decree.
-     483 years - - (69 weeks x 7 years).
--------------------
Tishrei 26/27 C.E. - - Jesus was baptized.
+     3.5 year ministry.
--------------------
Nisan 30/31 C.E. - - Jesus was crucified.
+     [3.5 years].

The FIRST SCHOOL ignores the war against Jerusalem which ended in 70 C.E. (Daniel 9:26). The 490 years continued until 33/34 C.E. Or
After the crucifixion, a time gap was put in place until their final 3.5 years resurfaced in 66 - 70 C.E.
Both are short 5 weeks of years.

A 3.5 year ministry for Jesus is too long. Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, and Luke 22-23 in detailing Jesus' public life after his baptism refer to only one Passover. And it was on the 1st day of this Passover, the 15th of Nisan that Jesus was crucified. Thus, his ministry lasted a maximum 1 year.
John 19 has Jesus dying on the 14th of Nisan, the day before Passover. He also has two earlier Passovers (John 2 and 6). So, according to him, Jesus' ministry lasted a maximum 3 years.

Luke 3:1-2 has John the Baptist beginning his ministry "In the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar." But scholars disagree from which year the count started:
a. When Tiberius began to co-reign with the emperor Augustus? That was in 11, 12 or 13 C.E. (Encyclopedias disagree).
b. When Tiberius became the sole emperor in 14 C.E.?

In their 458 B.C.E. calculations, John began his ministry in 26 C.E.
In their 457 B.C.E. calculations, John began in 27 C.E.
In their 445 B.C.E. calculation, John began in 28 C.E.
In their 444 B.C.E. calculation, John began in 29 C.E.

It is not known if Jesus was baptized & began his ministry in the same year John began his ministry.

ARTAXERXES' 20th YEAR DECREE......NEHEMIAH 2

Cyrus' decree was issued in 538 B.C.E. However, the 483 year intervening period (69 weeks x 7 years) ended before Jesus was born. Therefore, the SECOND SCHOOL chose Artaxerxes' 20th year decree in 445/444 B.C. It empowered Nehemiah via official letters to build the city walls (Nehemiah 2:5, 9).
They see a connection between the wall in Nehemiah 2:8, and the "wall" in Daniel 9:25. The Hebrew "chomat" in Nehemiah means wall. But "charuts" in Daniel means to cut in or dig. It is most frequently translated as moat.

They must begin their "day to day" calculations on Nisan 1st. But the decree is dated:
Nehemiah 2:1 "IN THE MONTH OF NISAN, IN THE 20th YEAR OF KING ARTAXERXES,"

The day is missing. Our Oral Tradition does not have it. Ancient histories also don't. So this School begins it on Nisan 1st because its the "Jewish New Year Day." Wrong, that's Tishrei 1st.
An unknown start day invalidates their calculations.

Their other huddle was that 483 years from 445/444 B.C.E. ended at 39/40 C.E.
Since that was after Jesus died, this School devised a stratagem to end 7 years earlier.
They invented a Biblical/Prophetic 360 day year. (see Appendix)
483 years x 360 days = 173,880 days.
Their intervening period was now calculated in days.

The 483 years were then reduced by dividing 173,880 days with numbers larger than the 360 day multiplier:
173,880 days divided by 365 days per year = 476 years & 140 days (Robert Anderson).
173,880 days divided by 365.24219879 days per year = 476 years & 25 days (Harold Hoehner).
Their intervening period was now calculated in years & days.

Their start & end days (Nisan 1st & 10th) were then changed to Julian calendar dates:
March 14, 445 B.C.E. ---- [476 years & 140 days] ---- April 06, 32 C.E.
March 05, 444 B.C.E. --- [476 years & 25 days] ----- March 30, 33 C.E.

1. Scripture has an intervening period of 483 years, not 476 years & days.
2. This decree supposedly was given on Nisan 1st. Since the prophecy consisted of full years (483 & 490), their end day is Nisan 1st. Not Nisan 10th, nor its English equivalent.
3. Their dates are from the Julian calendar, but its 365.25 days per year were not employed. Because they broke the calendar's rules, their calculations are null & void.
4. The U.S. Navy computer program has the intervening period for Anderson at 173,882 days. And for Hoehner at 173,884 days (usno.navy.mil Julian calendar).
A wrong end day invalidates their "exactly to the day" calculations.

Nevertheless, they still maintain that the 173,880th day ended the 69th week (Daniel 9:26). It was allegedly on Palm Sunday, Nisan 10th, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem.
This deception pushed the events which followed in 9:26 [including the crucifixion] into a non-existent time gap. It lies between the 69th and still future 70th week (9:27). Therefore, Jesus' death now outside the 490 years, can not be the stimulus "to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins" etc (9:24).
The singular verb "nechtack" (decreed) after the plural subject "shavuim" (weeks) in 9:24 shows that the latter is a continuous unit of time. It is grammatically wrong to divide it with a gap.

The year Palm Sunday, and the crucifixion occurred is not known. Jesus was only one of thousands of people who suffered the penalty of crucifixion. His crime was that he protrayed himself to be "The King of the Jews" (John 19:19). It was treason against the Roman emperor.
Josephus, 1st century historian, described how common crucifixion was: "So great was their multitude that space could not be found for the crosses, nor crosses for their bodies" (Wars, Book 5, Chapter 11, Section 1).

APPENDIX

That the destruction of the First Temple occurred in the year 3338 from Year One is derived from the Hebrew Bible. The year in which the following individuals died brings us to 2448, the year of the Exodus from Egypt:
Adam - 930,  Methusaleh - 1656,  Shem - 2158,  Jacob - 2255,  Amram - 2392.
Moses was born in 2368 + 80, his age at the Exodus = 2448 (Gen

The First Temple construction began 480 years thereafter = 2928 (1 Kings 6:1).
esis and Exodus).

King Solomon continued to reign for another 36 years = 2964 (1 Kings 11:42).
To this we add 374, the total of years that the remaining kings reigned = 3338 (2 Chronicles 12:13 - 36:11).

The flood waters rose for exactly 5 months. The 17th day of the 2nd month to the 17th day of the 7th month, 150 days (Genesis 7:11, 24; 8:4). Therefore, the SECOND SCHOOL claims that the entire Biblical period had a 30 day month
(5 x 30 = 150), and a 360 day year (12 x 30 = 360). They quote New Testament verses written 500 years after our Bible closed as "proof". This is their 69 x 7 x 360 = 173,880 days calculation.

But until we know more about the calendar used during the flood, everything is guesswork:
a. How many months were in the year?
b. How many days were in each of the 5 months?
c. How many days were in each of the other months?
d. Were days added at the end of the year?
e. In Scripture, numbers are not always exact (Numbers 1:21-43). Were the 150 days a rounded off number?

Nevertheless, our calendar during the Biblical period until today, was given to us in Egypt, 800 years after the flood:
Exodus 12:2 "This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the 1st month of the year to you."

Each month has 29 or 30 days. Thus, the Jewish year has 354 days. A month is added 7 times during every 19 years. Until the 3rd century C.E., the next month began when the New Moon was seen:
2 Kings 4:23 "It is not a New Moon nor Sabbath."
Isaiah 66:23 "From one New Moon to another,..."

TALMUD SANHEDRIN 97b

"Blasted be the bones of those who calculate the end. For people will say: since the awaited time has arrived, and yet the Messiah has not come, he will never come."
Some say that Jews are cursed if we even read Daniel 9. This interpretation is problematic:
1. It does not say Jews.
2. It does not say Daniel 9.
3. Nothing in our Rabbinic works forbid Daniel 9.
4. Our greatest commentators wrote extensively on Daniel 9.
5. After the Talmud closed, several leading Rabbis calculated the Messiah's arrival. They included: R' Saadiah Gaon, Rambam, Ramban, Rashi and R' Bachya.
6. The Talmud included Daniel 9 in its religious discourses:
Talmud Nazir 32b: While the destruction of the Second Temple was being discussed:
Abaye said: "And they didn't know when it would happen? Is it not written: 70 weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city."