18:15 The depths 1 of the sea 2 were exposed;
the inner regions 3 of the world were uncovered
by 4 your battle cry, 5 Lord,
by the powerful breath from your nose. 6
46:2 For this reason we do not fear 7 when the earth shakes, 8
and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, 9
77:16 The waters 10 saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and trembled. 11
Yes, the depths of the sea 12 shook with fear. 13
106:9 He shouted at 14 the Red Sea and it dried up;
he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert.
139:9 If I were to fly away 15 on the wings of the dawn, 16
and settle down on the other side 17 of the sea,
1 tn Or “channels.”
2 tc Ps 18:15 reads “water” (cf. Ps 42:1); “sea” is the reading of 2 Sam 22:16.
3 tn Or “foundations.”
4 tn Heb “from.” The preposition has a causal sense here.
5 tn The noun is derived from the verb גָּעַר (ga’ar), which is often understood to mean “rebuke.” In some cases it is apparent that scolding or threatening is in view (see Gen 37:10; Ruth 2:16; Zech 3:2). However, in militaristic contexts this translation is inadequate, for the verb refers in this setting to the warrior’s battle cry, which terrifies and paralyzes the enemy. See A. Caquot, TDOT 3:53, and note the use of the verb in Pss 68:30; 106:9; and Nah 1:4, as well as the related noun in Job 26:11; Pss 9:5; 76:6; 104:7; Isa 50:2; 51:20; 66:15.
6 tn 2 Sam 22:16 reads “by the battle cry of the
7 tn The imperfect is taken in a generalizing sense (cf. NEB) because the situation described in vv. 2-3 is understood as symbolizing typical world conditions. In this case the imperfect draws attention to the typical nature of the response. The covenant community characteristically responds with confidence, not fear. Another option is to take the situation described as purely hypothetical. In this case one might translate, “We will not fear, even though the earth should shake” (cf. NIV, NRSV).
8 tn The Hiphil infinitival form is normally taken to mean “when [the earth] is altered,” being derived from מוּר (mur, “to change”). In this case the Hiphil would be intransitive, as in Ps 15:4. HALOT 560 s.v. II מור emends the form to a Niphal and derives it from a homonymic root מוּר attested in Arabic with the meaning “shake.”
9 tn Heb “heart of the seas.” The plural may be used for emphasis, pointing to the deepest sea. Note that the next verse uses a singular pronoun (“its waters,” “its swelling”) in referring back to the plural noun.
10 tn The waters of the Red Sea are here personified; they are portrayed as seeing God and fearing him.
11 tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.
12 tn The words “of the sea” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
13 tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.
14 tn Or “rebuked.”
15 tn Heb “rise up.”
16 sn On the wings of the dawn. This personification of the “dawn” may find its roots in mythological traditions about the god Shachar, whose birth is described in an Ugaritic myth (see G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, 126) and who is mentioned in Isa 14:12 as the father of Helel.
17 tn Heb “at the end.”