Psalms 31:20

31:20 You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks ¹  of men; ² 

you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks. ³ 

Psalms 91:1-2

Psalm 91 ⁴ 

91:1 As for you, the one who lives ⁵  in the shelter of the sovereign One, ⁶ 

and resides in the protective shadow ⁷  of the mighty king ⁸  –

91:2 I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold,

my God in whom I trust –

Psalms 22:12

22:12 Many bulls ⁹  surround me;

powerful bulls of Bashan ¹⁰  hem me in.

Nehemiah 6:10-11

6:10 Then I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. He was confined to his home. ¹¹  He said, “Let’s set up a time to meet in the house of God, within the temple. Let’s close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. It will surely be at night that they will come to kill you.”

6:11 But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Would someone like me flee to the temple in order to save his life? ¹²  I will not go!”

[31:20]  ¹ tn The noun רֹכֶס (rokhes) occurs only here. Its meaning is debated; some suggest “snare,” while others propose “slander” or “conspiracy.”

[31:20]  ² tn Heb “you hide them in the hiding place of your face from the attacks of man.” The imperfect verbal forms in this verse draw attention to God’s typical treatment of the faithful.

[31:20]  ³ tn Heb “you conceal them in a shelter from the strife of tongues.”

[91:1]  ⁴ sn Psalm 91. In this psalm an individual (perhaps a priest) addresses one who has sought shelter in the Lord and assures him that God will protect him from danger (vv. 1-13). In vv. 14-16 God himself promises to keep his loyal follower safe.

[91:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “[O] one who lives.”

[91:1]  ⁶ tn Traditionally “the Most High.”

[91:1]  ⁷ sn The Lord is compared here to a bird who protects its young under the shadow of its wings (see v. 4).

[91:1]  ⁸ sn The divine name used here is “Shaddai” (שַׁדַּי, shadday; see also Ps 68:14). Shaddai (or El Shaddai) is the mighty king (sovereign judge) of the world who grants life/blesses and kills/judges. In Genesis he blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants. Outside Genesis he both blesses/protects and takes away life/happiness.

[22:12]  ⁹ sn The psalmist figuratively compares his enemies to dangerous bulls.

[22:12]  ¹⁰ sn Bashan, located east of the Jordan River, was well-known for its cattle. See Ezek 39:18; Amos 4:1.

[6:10]  ¹¹ tn Heb “shut in.” The reason for his confinement is not stated. BDB 783 s.v. עָצַר suggests that it had to do with the fulfillment of a vow or was related to an issue of ceremonial uncleanness.

[6:11]  ¹² tn Heb “go into the temple and live.”