Bilangan 24:21

24:21 Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle:

“Your dwelling place seems strong,

and your nest ¹  is set on a rocky cliff.

Ulangan 33:28

33:28 Israel lives in safety,

the fountain of Jacob is quite secure, ² 

in a land of grain and new wine;

indeed, its heavens ³  rain down dew. ⁴ 

Amsal 3:23

3:23 Then you will walk on your way ⁵  with security,

and you ⁶  will not stumble. ⁷ 

[24:21]  ¹ sn A pun is made on the name Kenite by using the word “your nest” (קִנֶּךָ, qinnekha); the location may be the rocky cliffs overlooking Petra.

[33:28]  ² tn Heb “all alone.” The idea is that such vital resources as water will some day no longer need protection because God will provide security.

[33:28]  ³ tn Or “skies.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.

[33:28]  ⁴ tn Or perhaps “drizzle, showers.” See note at Deut 32:2.

[3:23]  ⁵ tn The noun דַּרְכֶּךָ (darkekha, “your way”) functions as an adverbial accusative of location: “on your way.”

[3:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “your foot.” The term רַגְלְךָ (raglÿkha, “your foot”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= foot) for the whole person (= you).

[3:23]  ⁷ sn The verb נָגַף (ragaf, “to strike; to smite”) sometimes means “to stumble” against a stone (e.g., Ps 91:12). Here the object (“stone”) is implied (BDB 619 s.v.). This is a figure (hypocatastasis) comparing stumbling on a stone in the path to making serious mistakes in life that bring harm.