| When
the Jewish mind heard the word hattamid, he certainly associated it
with the sweet aroma to Jehovah resulting from a spirit of self-sacrifice,
full consecration, and constant dependence upon the atoning blood of
Christ, which is acceptable to God. The words “sweet aroma” express in
characteristic human language the thought that God was well pleased with
the offering and accepted the one presenting it.82
The substantive hattamid
used in the cultic setting of Numbers was principally associated with the
cultic burnt offering and corresponding sweet aroma (14 of 16
occurrences). The sweet aroma of the burnt offering which was ordained at
Sinai (Num. 28:6) was a continual reminder that Jehovah brought the
Israelites out of the land of Egypt to dwell among them (Ex. 29:46). As
they identified in heart and spirit with the purpose of the corporate
daily burnt offering, a humble and contrite response of thankfulness rang
through their hearts.
The counterfeit cultic symbolism
in Dn. 8 confirms a counterfeit cultic hattamid in 8:11 which is
linked with a counterfeit sweet aroma both of which are derived from the
cultic language of Leviticus and Numbers. The counterfeit “daily” (hattamid)
is characterized by a repugnant aroma, not a sweet aroma, resulting from
self-exalting rebellion against God which the Bible calls the “mystery
of iniquity” (2 Thes. 2:7). The contrasting characteristics of the
genuine and counterfeit hattamid are summarized in the following
table.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF HATTAMID |