2 Samuel 22:38-48

38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but he did not answer.
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me,
45 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
46 They all lose heart; they come trembling[a] from their strongholds.
47 “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me,

2 Samuel 22:38-48 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 22

This chapter contains a song or psalm, the same with the eighteenth psalm, and which, according to Jarchi, was composed by David in his old age, and, as Kimchi says, at the end or close of his days; but Abarbinel is of opinion that it was written in his youthful time, in the midst of his troubles, and was sung by him as often as he had a deliverance from any; and which may account for the several variations in it from the eighteenth psalm, which, the same writer observes, are seventy four; and are not to be ascribed to the difference of copies, or neglect of copiers: and very probably, towards the close of his days, he revised it, and made it fit for general use, and sent it with the rest of his psalms to the chief musician; but the particular consideration of it, and of the differences in it from Ps 18:1-50 are referred to the exposition of that book in its course.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Psalms 44:5; Psalms 110:6; Malachi 4:3
  • 2. S Joshua 10:24; S 1 Kings 5:3; Psalms 44:5
  • 3. S Exodus 23:27
  • 4. Isaiah 1:15
  • 5. Psalms 50:22
  • 6. S 1 Samuel 14:37
  • 7. 1 Kings 20:10; 2 Kings 13:7; Isaiah 41:2; Amos 1:3
  • 8. Psalms 7:5; Isaiah 41:25; Micah 7:10; Zechariah 10:5
  • 9. Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 22:5; Micah 7:10
  • 10. S Exodus 11:3; S 2 Samuel 3:1
  • 11. Deuteronomy 28:13
  • 12. S 2 Samuel 8:1-14; Isaiah 55:3-5
  • 13. Psalms 66:3; Psalms 81:15
  • 14. S Deuteronomy 33:29
  • 15. Micah 7:17
  • 16. S Exodus 15:2
  • 17. Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalms 18:31; Psalms 89:26; Psalms 95:1
  • 18. S Numbers 31:3
  • 19. Psalms 94:1; Psalms 144:2; 1 Samuel 25:39

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:45); Masoretic Text "they arm themselves"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.