9:8 “But now briefly 4 we have received mercy from the Lord our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position 5 in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes 6 and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude.
1 sn This was a long, straight, metallic instrument used for signal calls, rather than the traditional ram’s horn (both instruments are typically translated “trumpet” by English versions).
2 tn Heb “according to the hands of.”
3 sn See Ps 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1. Cf. 2 Chr 5:13; 7:3; 20:21.
4 tn Heb “according to a little moment.”
5 tn Heb “a peg” or “tent peg.” The imagery behind this word is drawn from the experience of nomads who put down pegs as they pitched their tents and made camp after times of travel.
6 tn Heb “to cause our eyes to shine.” The expression is a figure of speech for “to revive.” See DCH 1:160 s.v. אור Hi.7.