77:18 Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;
the lightning bolts lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook. 1
81:7 In your distress you called out and I rescued you.
I answered you from a dark thundercloud. 2
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. 3 (Selah)
1 tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.
2 tn Heb “I answered you in the hidden place of thunder.” This may allude to God’s self-revelation at Mount Sinai, where he appeared in a dark cloud accompanied by thunder (see Exod 19:16).
3 sn The name Meribah means “strife.” Two separate but similar incidents at the place called Meribah are recorded in the Pentateuch (Exod 17:1-7; Num 20:1-13). In both cases the Israelites complained about lack of water and the Lord miraculously provided for them.