דניאל, פרק י״ב, פסוק י״ב

The final visions of Daniel lay out a mysterious timeline, promising ultimate joy to anyone who holds on and reaches a specific, sealed moment in the future. The act of waiting for this time is defined by a profound sense of hope and eager expectation [מצודת ציון]. The goal of this anticipation is to reach a milestone of 1,335 days or years, a number that adds forty-five days or years to a calculation mentioned earlier in the prophecy [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators is that the exact meaning of these dates, including when they begin and end, is a mystery we cannot solve. If Daniel himself testified that he heard the timeline but could not understand it, and the angel informed him that the details were closed and sealed, it is certainly beyond human ability to pinpoint their exact meaning today [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Even so, some offer ideas regarding the purpose of this additional period. One approach explains that the extra forty-five years represent a time when the Messiah, after having already been revealed, will temporarily disappear from the sight of the people before being revealed a second time [רש״י].

A different, much broader cosmic perspective connects these 1,335 years to earlier historical eras. According to this calculation, adding the total years from the creation of the world until Daniel's time together with the periods mentioned in the prophecy leads roughly to the year six thousand. At this point, the physical world is meant to end, allowing pure souls to separate from the physical realm and attach themselves directly to the Creator. This deep connection to God is the absolute and final happiness that every whole person longs for, serving as the true meaning behind the promise of ultimate joy [יוסף אבן יחיא].