This is a context notes page for “At The Hour Of Closing” by Rabbi Moshe Ibn Ezra. The notes will provide more detailed explanation that would have been too long to include as a footnote to the original poetry page. The notes will refer to either an footnote from the original poetry page, or to an entire strophe. The notes for this poem largely focuses on strophe 4, but also highlights other strophe’s content.
Strophe 4.
Orthographically related word pairs are highlighted on this page, where words at the midpoint and endpoint of each strophe line are isolated together. These word pairs typically capture the strophe’s overall philosophical or religious meaning. The words pairs (translated to English) for strophe 4 is: Refuge, Dreadful Plight, Joy, Closing. This sequence of midpoint and endpoint words illustrate the biblical narrative of national suffering to redemption through the mercy and miracles of God the strophe 4 attempts to convey — the Jewish people often endure some sort of national suffering, from which they seek refuge from G-d, inciting G-d to uplift them.
Indeed, the biblical narrative national suffering and redemption of strophe 4 is important to the poem’s overall message. National suffering is described in the plural possessive (grant us pardon (strophe 1).. fearful in our prayer (strophe 2, Sefaria)… our refuge (strophe 4, Sefaria).. rescue us from dreadful plight (strophe 4, Sefaria).
The closing lines of strophe 3 leading into the opening lines of strophe 4 capture the redemption aspect of this narrative powerfully: “Shall be one pardoned of sin, as thy gates are closed this night” (strophe 3, Sefaria). These two lines of strophe 3 captures the miracle that the entire poem centers around — that of Yom Kippur, where God wipes the soul of all transgressions and re-fortifies the Jew’s connection to God. And then, going into strophe 4, this promise is affirmed:
“God, our refuge strong and sure, Rescue us from dreadful plight;” (Strophe 4, Sefaria).
The Hebrew word used for rescue/refuge “לְסִתְרָה” connects this line to Psalm 91, which writes “בְּסֵ֣תֶר” during its reflection on the contrast of God protecting the righteous from demons and spirits while allowing the wicked to perish.
An analysis of the psalm by Professor Matthias Henze states that Psalm 91 is understood by some metaphorically, “as an expression of trust in God’s protection anywhere.[3]” The contrast between the protection of the righteous and the forsaking of the wicked is described as “miraculous” in its dramatic picture of faithful people escaping terror unscathed:
“91:7 Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand,
you it will not reach” (Henze)1
The drama of the miracle of protection is also conveyed through the plasm’s description of evil existing both day and night, from both supernatural and mundane sources. Therefore, God must provide refuge for the righteous at all times.
Indeed, the imagery of “God as shelter” is connects to miracle of sukkot, where, after the Hebrew nation was liberated from Egypt, they were protected from harm day and night by a pillar of fire and cloud, i.e., “the seven clouds of glory” (Exodus 13:21.)2