9. an Ancient One. Literally, “one advanced in days” (ʿattîq yômîn), i.e. an old man; the
Hebrew equivalent is bāʾ bayyāmîm
(Gen 24:1). Like Akkadian etēqu, the
basic meaning of the root ʿtq in
Aramaic is “to move forward, to advance”; however, the word yômîn could be dropped after ʿattîq, which then by itself came to
mean “old.” (Louis F. Hartmand and Alexander A. Di Lella, The
Book of Daniel: A New Translation with Notes and Commentary on Chapters 1-9 [AYB
23; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008], 206)
And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age (בָּא
בַּיָּמִים), and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. (Gen 24:1)
Now Joshua was old and stricken in years (בָּא בַּיָּמִים);
and the Lrod said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth
yet very much land to be possessed. (Josh 13:1)
And it came to pass a long time after that the
Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua
axed old and stricken in age (בָּא בַּיָּמִים). (Josh 23:1)
Now king David was old and stricken in years (בָּא
בַּיָּמִים); and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. (1 Kgs 1:1)
