Psalm 16/Notes/Phrasal.v. 10.198980

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  • The lamed preposition in the phrase לִשְׁאוֹל could indicate Sheol as the recipient of the psalmist's life; YHWH "hand's over" the psalmist to Sheol, releasing him to the power of Sheol. For the use of lamed with other verbs of "giving" (e.g., נתן) or "handing over" (e.g., סגר) see Jenni 2000, Rubrik 31. According to this interpretation, "Sheol" is personified (cf. Isa 5:14; 28:15, 18; Hab 2:5; Prov 1:12).
  • Alternatively, the lamed preposition could indicate "Sheol" as the place in which YHWH "leaves" the psalmist. A good example of this usage is in Job 39: "[The ostrich] leaves (תַעֲזֹב) its eggs to the earth (לָאָרֶץ) and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them and that a wild animal may trample them" (Job 39:14–15, NRSVue). See, for example, NKJV: "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol" (cf. NLT).