Daniel 9:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He conveys to us the words, ‘the disgrace of our faces, and to our monarchs, and to our leaders, and to our ancestors, who have transgressed against You.’ Each of these statements serves to humble ourselves before the mercy of even the most severe, not just the gentlest and most compassionate. The Prophet illustrates through these phrases that shame is not felt solely by the insignificant and uneducated among the people but also by the very monarchs, leaders, and spiritual guides; for he referred to them as ancestors. After demonstrating the righteousness of the punishment, he added, ‘who have sinned against You.’ Yet we have produced fruits deserving of iniquity.