| The
primary verb in verse 9 is yatza (to come out) in a Qal perfect, masculine
form. However, the nearest subject noun, “a horn of littleness” is
feminine which grammatically precludes a subject-verbal linkage. Hasel
attempts to explain the anomaly based on Hebrew syntax of a verb preceding
as animal subject requiring a masculine form.16
Although this may be a viable solution based on Hebrew syntax, it is
suggested that a more substantive and realistic solution revolves around
Daniel’s intentional use of Hebrew syntax to a create a distinction by
gender between the 2 phases of the horn from littleness and their
independent and unique activities delineated in verses 9-12. In verse 9
the evident solution to the gender anomaly is that Daniel intended the
masculine verbal subject (he came out) to be accompanied by an explanatory
appositional phrase, “a horn from littleness”. Thus verse 9 reads; “out
of one of them he came, a horn from littleness, which became great toward
the south...”). The net effect is that the horizontal activity of the
horn described by Shea earlier17
in verse 9 is correlated with the masculine gender which in turn
corresponds to pagan Rome’s expansion of power. Daniel’s intentional
use of Hebrew syntax to distinguish between the two phases of the horn by
means of gender distinction will become evident as the discussion on
gender in verses 10-11 proceeds.
5.1.3
Gender Identification in Verse 10 |