Psalm 23/Notes/Phrasal.V. 5.596434

• The לְ in לְפָנַ֨י (in front of me >> before me) is a lamed of frontal location. In other words, "the most typical use of לִפְנֵי is the location of observable proximity, i.e., x is 'in the observable presence' of y."
• The article in בַ(הַ)שֶּׁמֶן (with the [anointing] oil >> with oil) is an article of identifiability - implication. The definite article could have been read in a generic sense (the generic use of the article is frequently used with "names of materials known everywhere," like "oil"). However, in the context of Ps 23, the oil is meant to be understood as a specific kind of oil; i.e., a fine, spiced oil that was applied to the head of a guest as an expression of courtesy and hospitality toward a guest. In other words, “the psalmist represents himself as an honored guest of the Lord, who prepares a table for him, hospitably anoints him [with the anointing oil >> with oil]."