904. The Land and Her Sabbaths by George E. Butler

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 1, 1899

904. The Land and Her Sabbaths.

By George E. Butler

2 Chron. 36:21; Jer. 25:11, 12, and Dan. 9:2 speak of the land of Palestine enjoying its sabbaths seventy years. When did this time begin? Was the land occupied during this time? What connection has this with the great prophecy of Dan. 8:14? G. E. B.

The seventy years' captivity of Israel began B.C. 606 and ended B.C. 536. The land was not occupied by Israel during this time. Tribes of mixed people, as the Samaritans, were there; but as a general thing, the land was idle and a desolation. It was not occupied by those to whom God gave it. This period has naught to do with the 2,300 days of Dan. 8:14. Of course, when the captivity ended the steps toward the restoration of Jerusalem began; but the decree for its restoration did not fully go forth till B.C. 457, the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus.