David J. A. Clines on שָׂעִיר (śāʿîr) as a Reference to "Goat-Demons" (cf. Leviticus 17:7)

  

שָׂעִיר I _54.0.21 n.m. male goat—cstr. שְׂעִיר; pl. שְׂעִירִם; cstr. שְׂעִירֵי—male goat, buck, as hairy (שָׂעִר), usu. as sacrificial animal; in vision, as representing absolute ruler (Dn 8:21 [unless from שָׂעִר hairy]), <subj> קרא cry out Is 34:14 (unless שָׂעִיר II goat-demon), עשׂה ni. be made as an offering Nm 28:15; 11QT 14₁₀ ([שעיר]), שׂרף pu. be burnt Lv 10:16, עמד ho. be presented Lv 16:10, נשׂא carry iniquities Lv 16:22; 11QT 26₁₃. (The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew, ed. David J. A. Clines, 8 vols. [Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2011], 8:172)

 

 

שָׂעִיר II _4.0.3 n.m. goat-demon—pl. שְׂעִירִים—goat-demon, satyr, rather than rain deities,* living in desolate places (Is 13:21; 34:14), object of worship (Lv 17:7; 2 K 23:8 [if em.; see Cstr.] 2 C 11:15 perh. 2QapProph 1₇; 4QapJerC^a 3₇), <subj> רקד pi. dance Is 13:21, קרא cry out Is 34:14 (unless שָׂעִיר I goat). <obj> לחם attach oneself to Jg 5:8 (if em. אָז לָחֶם שְׁעָרִים perh. was then a warrior (at) the gates to אָז לָחַם שְׂעִירִים then did it [Israel] attach itself to demons). <cstr> בָּמַת הַשְּׂעִירִים high place of the goat-demons 2 K 23:8 (if em. בָּמוֹת הַשְּׁעָרִים high places of, i.e. at, the gates). <prep> לְ of direction, to, + זבח sacrifice Lv 17:7; 4QapJerC^a 3₇ ([ל]); of benefit, for, + עמד hi. appoint priests 2 C 11:15. (The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew, ed. David J. A. Clines, 8 vols. [Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2011], 8:173)