Hebrew word study – negotiating table – shulchan  שלחן Shin Lamed Cheth Nun

Psalms 23:5: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

So here we are talking about sheep laying in a pasture beside still waters, then we are going through a dark valley and now God is preparing a table for us before our enemies. Yet, tradition teaches us this is a poem with a shepherding motif. As a child I followed Psalms 23 as the shepherd led his sheep beside still waters and green pastures.  I followed the rod and staff business of offering comfort and I could grasp maybe that you walk through dark valleys of the shadow of death when you are leading your sheep.  I can understand meeting up with wolves and bandits.  But what does God preparing a table before your enemies have to do with sheep?  

Generally, commentators agree that the Psalmist has left the valley of the shadow of death and is now in a place of security where God allows him to eat a good meal in the presence of his enemies as the enemies look on baffled over his sense of security.  Some say the Psalmist is transitioning out of the shepherding motif and now is a king who is feeling secure even though a king is often surrounded by enemies and threats to his power. 

I find it very hard to believe that the Psalmist is sitting in front of his enemies thumbing his nose at them and leaving them absolutely baffled over his audacity to calmly ignoring them and enjoying a good meal. I believe there is a very strong cultural expression here that exists even in this modern age in the Middle East.

First, we need to examine the word prepare.  It is God who is preparing this table. This makes God sound like a servant setting the table for the Psalmist. The word prepare in Hebrew is ‘arak which means to set in order or arrange.  Yet it is a military word in the Persian for preparing for battle.  In the Phoenician which is the closest word to the Hebrew arakat it is a merchant’s term for negotiating a business deal. 

The word table in Hebrew is shulchan which your lexicons tell you means a table. In its root form, it means to send out or to reach out.  It is used for forming a diplomatic commission. In other words ‘arak and shulchan, preparing a table is to prepare a table for negotiations. To have this table set before his enemies would suggest that God is preparing negotiations for the Psalmist with his enemies. 

In the ancient Middle East, as today for many nomadic people, they never ate at a table. They eat sitting or reclining on the ground. Even the wealthy and kings did not normally eat at a table. I doubt very much that a shepherd is going to set up a table out in the wilderness surrounded by his sheep and eat.  Not even my grandfather, when he was a shepherd in Montana ate his meals at a table. 

A table was used when there was business to conduct and you needed something solid to write on or you had to be in a good sitting position able to look your adversary in the eyes.  The word enemy in Hebrew is sarar which means to be restricted, narrow or to bind up.  In the Akkadian it is the word fararu which means a foe or adversary. It is an adversary that is binding you or restricting you from accomplishing your purpose. 

How does one respond when someone stands in their way of accomplishing a task or goal?  They usually apply some force, intimidation, or conflict to get this adversary out of the way. 

Here is the great lesson in Psalms 23.  Up to now, God’s only intervention is to create a sense of peace for the Psalmist. It starts off that God provides such that he has no wanted.  God restores his soul, leads him to green pastures and still waters. He carries a rod and staff to comfort him and now he prepares a negotiating table with him before his enemies. 

This is almost the ultimate in bringing peace when you can have a peaceful relationship with others.  The body needs rest, the soul needs restoration, but none of this can happen until the mind finds understanding and relief.  Someone slights you, treats you poorly, seems bent on making your life miserable.  You call out to God to remove this person from your life. You might even pray for some accident to befall them.  You could probably think of many ways God can remove this adversary from you.  You may imagine some affliction coming upon him or maybe he will get fired or any number of adverse ways to remove this enemy.  Yet, God has the real solution.  He sets up negotiations with your enemies.  

In ancient times and even today in the Middle East negotiations for peace or to come to a business agreement are often made while sharing a meal.  In ancient times they would share a meal as a sign of trust, trust that neither party poisons the food. In fact, that is where the idea of a toast originated. It is said that the two parties raised their cups of wine together then drink from each other’s cup just to be sure the other didn’t sneak poison into the other’s drink.  If they were really serious about coming to an agreement, they would tap their cups and drink from their own cup to show their complete trust in the good faith of the other party. 

Note that it is God who prepares the table.  He is the one who brings the two parties together.  He is the mediator, the arbitrator. He is the impartial judge who brings bother parties together to come to an understanding.  

In most disputes, both parties have good and understandable points that cause the conflict. God wants you to talk it out, to try to understand the other’s point of view. Once you do it is much easier to forgive and reconcile. 

I do not believe God is setting up the table so the Psalmist can peacefully eat his meal in defiance against his enemy.  God is setting up a table to negotiate and reconcile with his enemy.

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