18:21 ‘Surely such is the residence 1 of an evil man;
and this is the place of one who has not known God.’” 2
36:16 And surely, he drew you 3 from the mouth of distress,
to a wide place, unrestricted, 4
and to the comfort 5 of your table
filled with rich food. 6
1 tn The term is in the plural, “the tabernacles”; it should be taken as a plural of local extension (see GKC 397 §124.b).
2 tn The word “place” is in construct; the clause following it replaces the genitive: “this is the place of – he has not known God.”
3 tn The Hebrew verb means “to entice; to lure; to allure; to seduce,” but these have negative connotations. The English “to persuade; to draw” might work better. The verb is the Hiphil perfect of סוּת (sut). But the nuance of the verb is difficult. It can be equivalent to an English present expressing what God is doing (Peake). But the subject is contested as well. Since the verb usually has an evil connotation, there have been attempts to make the “plaza” the subject – “the wide place has led you astray” (Ewald).
4 tn Heb “a broad place where there is no cramping beneath [or under] it.”
5 tn The word נַחַת (nakhat) could be translated “set” if it is connected with the verb נוּחַ (nuakh, “to rest,” but then “to lay to rest, to set”). Kissane translates it “comfort.” Dhorme thinks it could come from נוּחַ (nuakh, “to rest”) or נָחַת (nakhat, “to descend”). But his conclusion is that it is a dittography after “under it” (p. 545).
6 tn Heb “filled with fat.”