2 Samuel 22:1-9

David's Psalm of Deliverance

1 1And David spoke 2the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2 He said, "3The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 4My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My 5shield and 6the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and 7my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.
4 "I call upon the LORD, 8who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.
5 "For 9the waves of death encompassed me; 10The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me;
6 11The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
7 "12In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears.
8 "Then 13the earth shook and quaked, 14The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry.
9 "Smoke went up out of His nostrils, 15Fire from His mouth devoured; 16Coals were kindled by it.

Images for 2 Samuel 22:1-9

2 Samuel 22:1-9 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 16

  • 1. Psalms 18:2-50
  • 2. Exodus 15:1; Deuteronomy 31:30
  • 3. 1 Samuel 23:25; 1 Samuel 24:2; Psalms 31:3; Psalms 71:3
  • 4. Deuteronomy 32:4, 37; 1 Samuel 2:2
  • 5. Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29
  • 6. Luke 1:69
  • 7. Psalms 9:9
  • 8. Psalms 48:1; Psalms 96:4
  • 9. Psalms 93:4; Jonah 2:3
  • 10. Psalms 69:14, 15
  • 11. Psalms 116:3
  • 12. Psalms 116:4; Psalms 120:1
  • 13. Judges 5:4; Psalms 97:4
  • 14. Job 26:11
  • 15. Psalms 97:3; Hebrews 12:29
  • 16. 2 Samuel 22:13

Footnotes 9

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.