| The
Hebrew verbal form huraym (hophal form) derives from the Hebrew
root rum meaning exalt, raise up, offer, lift up, pick up, take up,
serve, elevate, extol. Examination of Holladay’s Hebrew lexicon reveals
that all forms of the verb have this general “uplifting” sense of
meaning.30 In every
instance where the Hebrew root rum is used in Daniel it is
translated by its customary meaning of lift up or exalt. This applies to
the Aramaic sections of Daniel (5:19, 20, 23) and the Hebrew sections of
Daniel (11:12, 36; 12:7). Compared with these occurrences, Shea
acknowledges that the use he proposes for rum in 8:11 (“take away”)
appears to be exceptional.31
Shea then proceeds to argue that the “extended” meaning in Dn. 8:11 is
based on the use of rum in the first seven chapters of Leviticus
describing the sacrificial services (Lev. 2:9; 4:8, 10, 19; 6:10, 15). He
then suggests that out of the approximately 200 occurrences of rum
in the Hebrew text, where the meaning is lift up, that the 6 occurrences
in Lev. 1-7 should be translated in a uniquely equivalent manner with the
Hebrew root sur which has the primary root meaning of “to turn
aside” or “to go away;” other meanings include “to take away”,
“remove” or “depart” in its approximately 300 uses in the
Masoretic text including those in the first seven chapters of Leviticus
(1:16; 3:4, 9, 10, 15; 4:9, 31, 35; 7:4). Shea states that rum and sur
are not synonyms, but claims that there is unique overlap between them in
the special sacrificial altar applications of Lev. 1-7 approved of God.32
In summary, Shea argues for the specialized use of an extended meaning of
rum in Dn. 8:11 based on its “unique” use in 6 occurrences in Lev.
1-7.
The
cognitive quality of rum |