5.2.2.2 Hattamid Linkage with Gadal

The vision (chazon) sets forth four major actors: 1) the ram, 2) the goat, 3) the horn from littleness (masculine phase) and 4) the horn from littleness (feminine phase), each with a similar dominant characteristic. Examination of the vision reveals that Daniel consistently introduces and characterizes each of the four major powers with the Hebrew word gadal with the root meaning of “to become great” or “make oneself great”.39 The ram became great in verse 4, the goat “grew very great” in verse 8 and “he came, a horn from littleness, which grew exceedingly great” in verse 9 and the horn from littleness (feminine phase) “became great” in verse 10. Finally in verse 11 the masculine phase of the horn (pagan Rome) “exalts” (becomes great) even to the Prince of host. Furthermore, this characteristic activity (gadal) is transferred or “lifted up” (rum) from him (pagan Rome) by papal Rome. The chart below summarizes the exalting characteristic of the 4 world powers in Dn 8 which culminates in the final step (v. 11) in which papal Rome lifts up the “daily”, which is characterized by “gadal”, from pagan Rome.

Paganism consistently magnifies itself against the Lord in the OT: In Jer. 48:26, 42 Moab magnifies itself (higdil; root is gadal) itself against the Lord; in Ps. 35:26; 38:16 & 55:12, all with Messianic implications, the rebellious magnify themselves (gadal) the Lord. Finally in Dn. 11:36-37, paganism (King of the South) “magnifies (gadal) himself above every god...nor regards any god for he shall magnify (gadal) himself above all.

The perpetual, continual activity or characteristic of paganism throughout history has been self-exaltation. This characteristic was personified by the four pagan world powers: Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome. Daniel purposely emphasizes this “continual” characteristic with the word “gadal” which is the essence of pagan worship or Baal self-worship. Daniel associates gadal with the cultic term “hattamid” meaning “the continual” which is a substantive rather than the usual adjective. Thus, verse 11 may be rendered: “...he exalted himself and from him the continual was lifted up...”.

It is suggested that the evidence strongly supports the view that the hattamid or “the continual” is represented and characterized by the Hebrew word, gadal, in the context of Daniel 8 meaning “to exalt oneself” in the hiphil form (higdil). This characteristic has manifested itself by the forms and practices of pagan worship or Baal worship which were first exhibited by Cain with the grain offering thereby avoiding the cross of Christ. The phenomena of self-exaltation whose author is Satan (Is. 14 & Eze. 28) has exhibited itself not only in every pagan culture but infiltrated Israel itself (Jer. 23:13; Hos. 2:16-17) as well as apostate Christianity personified by Rome.

5.2.2.3 Hattamid: The Daily Identified

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