12:1 “At that time Michael,
the great prince who watches over your people, 5
will arise. 6
There will be a time of distress
unlike any other from the nation’s beginning 7
up to that time.
But at that time your own people,
all those whose names are 8 found written in the book,
will escape.
1 tn Heb “turn your ear.”
2 tn Heb “desolations.” The term refers here to the ruined condition of Judah’s towns.
3 tn Heb “over which your name is called.” Cf. v. 19. This expression implies that God is the owner of his city, Jerusalem. Note the use of the idiom in 2 Sam 12:28; Isa 4:1; Amos 9:12.
4 tn Heb “praying our supplications before you.”
5 tn Heb “stands over the sons of your people.”
6 tn Heb “will stand up.”
7 tn Or “from the beginning of a nation.”
8 tn The words “whose names are” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.