Discovery Box1 Samuel 2:1-3
Context“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
my horn 2 is exalted high because of the Lord.
I loudly denounce 3 my enemies,
for I am happy that you delivered me. 4
2:2 No one is holy 5 like the Lord!
There is no one other than you!
There is no rock 6 like our God!
2:3 Don’t keep speaking so arrogantly, 7
letting proud talk come out of your mouth!
For the Lord is a God who knows;
he 8 evaluates what people do.
[2:1] 1 tn Heb “prayed and said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.
[2:1] 2 sn Horns of animals have always functioned as both offensive and defensive weapons for them. As a figure of speech the horn is therefore often used in the Bible as a symbol of human strength (see also in v. 10). The allusion in v. 1 to the horn being lifted high suggests a picture of an animal elevating its head in a display of strength or virility.
[2:1] 3 tn Heb “my mouth opens wide against.”
[2:1] 4 tn Heb “for I rejoice in your deliverance.”
[2:2] 5 sn In this context God’s holiness refers primarily to his sovereignty and incomparability. He is unique and distinct from all other so-called gods.
[2:2] 6 tn The LXX has “and there is none righteous like our God.” The Hebrew term translated “rock” refers to a rocky cliff where one can seek refuge from enemies. Here the metaphor depicts God as a protector of his people. Cf. TEV “no protector like our God”; CEV “We’re safer with you than on a high mountain.”
[2:3] 7 tn Heb “proudly, proudly.” If MT is original, the repetition of the word is for emphasis, stressing the arrogance of those addressed. However, a few medieval Hebrew manuscripts and some other textual witnesses do not reflect the repetition, suggesting that the Hebrew text may be dittographic.
[2:3] 8 tc The MT (Qere) reads “and by him actions are weighed.” The translation assumes that reading of the Qere וְלוֹ (vÿlo, “and by him”), which is supported by many medieval Hebrew
