Psalm 28/Notes/Lexical.v. 1.641618

• See our discussion of לְדָוִד.
• The metaphor my rock describes God as the one who gives shelter, refuge, and protection to his people. In his distress, the psalmist cries out to YHWH addressing him as his rock. This word usually indicates trust. The image of a "rock" or "cliff" (צוּר) “is employed metaphorically in contexts describing the action of Yahweh, and the personal experience of deliverance from adversity, where the deity is seen to be a refuge in which one may trust.” “The rocky terrain of Canaan provides the background for this rich imagery found in the Bible. Because of its hardness, [rock] צור conveys the idea of stability and immovability. It provides a solid foundation, protection and security. Its literal use of providing shade from an overhanging ‘rock’/’cliff’ in the desert sun (Isa. 33:2) was extended to the figurative use of God providing refuge for his people.” Hence, the use of rock (צור) articulates the psalmist’s trust in God’s ability to protect him.
• The Hebrew words translated be deaf (תֶּחֱרַשׁ) and be silent (תֶּֽחֱשֶׁה) present similar sounds. The first verb, which usually occurs in poetry, does not refer literally to the inability to hear, but to a willful inattentiveness on the part of God. Stated positively, the psalmist pleads that God would hear him and answer him instead of choosing to ignore him. Nevertheless, instead of using the typical verbal pairing "hear!" (שְׁמַע, cf. Pss 17:6; 27:7; 30:11; 54:4; 64:2; 143:1) and "answer me!" (וַעֲנֵנִי cf. Pss 27:7; 34:5; 55:3), the psalmist may have chosen to use the words אַל־תֶּחֱרַשׁ (do not be deaf) and תֶּֽחֱשֶׁה (be silent) because of the soundplay formed by these words. The soundplay could be contributing to the psalmist’s intense desire for God’s attention.
• The verb be like (משׁל) describes a "state in which humans are similar in shape, behavior or experience to others" (SDBH). According to Ross, "this word is used mainly when the two objects compared form a contrast that is unacceptable." The psalmist does not want to be like those going down to the Pit, namely, the dead.

Illustration of a Pit by Keel 1997, 71.

• The word for Pit (בֹּור) is synonymous with Sheol (cf. Ps 30:3-4, Prov 1:12), and it refers to the world of the dead. "In Hebrew the precise meaning of [בֹּור] is 'cistern.' Its similarity to the grave explains the application of the term to the realm of the dead. In individual psalms, dying can be described by analogy to sinking into a cistern (cf. Pss 28:1; 30:3; 88:4)." Although a cistern was similar in appearance to a grave, they also had some differences. For instance, "the cistern, distinct from the cave-tomb, has no lateral access; rather it drops precipitously from above, like a shaft-tomb. No one could extricate himself from such a cistern." Considering that it was impossible to escape from a cistern without outside help, in Ps 28:1, we see the psalmist crying out to God. The psalmist recognizes that without God's help it will be impossible for him to escape from בֹּור (cistern, Pit>>death). Craigie noted, "The psalmist’s fear is this: if God were silent, then he would be one of the dead, for the realm of death was a realm of silence."
• "The state of death is a going down to the pit (Ps 28:1). Hence the dead are those who go down to the pit (Ps 88:4 [H 5], 6 [H 7]; 143:7)." To go down to the Pit (ירד בוֹר) refers to the "process by which humans die and descend into the world of the dead." Hence, the dead are those who go down to the Pit. The phrase "and I become like those who go down to the Pit" (וְנִמְשַׁלְתִּי עִם־יוֹרְדֵי בוֹר) also occurs word-for-word in Ps 143:7. However, the phrase "and I become like those who go down to the Pit" (וְנִמְשַׁלְתִּי עִם־יוֹרְדֵי בוֹר) is paired with different metaphors in Ps 28:1 and in Ps 143:7. In Ps 28:1, the phrase is paired with the metaphor "do not be deaf to me" (אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַ֪שׁ מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי). In Ps 143:7, the phrase is paired with the metaphor "do not hide your face from me" (אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֣ר פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּ֑נִּי) perhaps focusing on the need to be seen by God. In contrast, the metaphor for deafness (אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַ֪שׁ מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי - do not be deaf to me) in Ps 28:1 may serve to underscore the psalmist's need to be heard by YHWH.