Psalm 89/Notes/Phrasal.v. 4.983719

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  • The lamed prepositions (לִבְחִירִי...לְדָוִד) in v. 4 indicate, respectively, the person with (or for) whom the covenant is made ("dative lamed") and the person to whom the oath is sworn (lamed of communication) (Jenni 2000, rubrics 32, 64). See e.g., ESV: "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant." Cf. Josh 9:15: "And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them (וַיִּכְרֹת לָהֶם בְּרִית), to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them (וַיִּשָּׁבְעוּ לָהֶם)" (ESV).