19:5 Like a bridegroom it emerges 1 from its chamber; 2
like a strong man it enjoys 3 running its course. 4
24:8 Who is this majestic king? 5
The Lord who is strong and mighty!
The Lord who is mighty in battle!
55:8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe
from the strong wind 6 and the gale.”
132:17 There I will make David strong; 7
I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue. 8
1 tn The participle expresses the repeated or regular nature of the action.
2 tn The Hebrew noun חֻפָּה (khufah, “chamber”) occurs elsewhere only in Isa 4:5 and Joel 2:16 (where it refers to the bedroom of a bride and groom).
sn Like a bridegroom. The metaphor likens the sun to a bridegroom who rejoices on his wedding night.
3 tn The imperfect verbal form draws attention to the regularity of the action.
4 tn Heb “[on] a path.”
sn Like a strong man. The metaphorical language reflects the brilliance of the sunrise, which attests to the sun’s vigor.
5 sn Who is this majestic king? Perhaps the personified gates/doors ask this question, in response to the command given in v. 7.
6 tn Heb “[the] wind [that] sweeps away.” The verb סָעָה (sa’ah, “sweep away”) occurs only here in the OT (see H. R. Cohen, Biblical Hapax Legomena [SBLDS], 120).
7 tn Heb “there I will cause a horn to sprout for David.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (cf. Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Pss 18:2; 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). In the ancient Near East powerful warrior-kings would sometimes compare themselves to a goring bull that used its horns to kill its enemies. For examples, see P. Miller, “El the Warrior,” HTR 60 (1967): 422-25, and R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 135-36.
8 tn Heb “I have arranged a lamp for my anointed one.” Here the “lamp” is a metaphor for the Davidic dynasty (see 1 Kgs 11:36).