Psalms 73:23

73:23 But I am continually with you;

you hold my right hand.

Psalms 78:61

78:61 He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured; ¹ 

he gave the symbol of his splendor ²  into the hand of the enemy. ³ 

Psalms 106:41

106:41 He handed them over to ⁴  the nations,

and those who hated them ruled over them.

Psalms 127:4

127:4 Sons born during one’s youth

are like arrows in a warrior’s hand. ⁵ 

[78:61]  ¹ tn Heb “and he gave to captivity his strength.” The expression “his strength” refers metonymically to the ark of the covenant, which was housed in the tabernacle at Shiloh.

[78:61]  ² tn Heb “and his splendor into the hand of an enemy.” The expression “his splendor” also refers metonymically to the ark of the covenant.

[78:61]  ³ sn Verses 60-61 refer to the Philistines’ capture of the ark in the days of Eli (1 Sam 4:1-11).

[106:41]  ¹ tn Heb “gave them into the hand of.”

[127:4]  ¹ tn Heb “like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so [are] sons of youth.” Arrows are used in combat to defend oneself against enemies; sons are viewed here as providing social security and protection (see v. 5). The phrase “sons of youth” is elliptical, meaning “sons [born during the father’s] youth.” Such sons will have grown up to be mature adults and will have children of their own by the time the father reaches old age and becomes vulnerable to enemies. Contrast the phrase “son of old age” in Gen 37:3 (see also 44:20), which refers to Jacob’s age when Joseph was born.