2 Samuel 22:38-48

38 "I pursued my enemies and 1destroyed them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
39 "And I have devoured them and shattered them, so that they did not rise; And 2they fell under my feet.
40 "For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me 3those who rose up against me.
41 "You have also 4made my enemies turn their backs to me, And I destroyed those who hated me.
42 "5They looked, but there was none to save; 6Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
43 "7Then I pulverized them as the dust of the earth; 8I crushed and stamped them as the mire of the streets.
44 "9You have also delivered me from the contentions of my people; 10You have kept me as head of the nations; 11A people whom I have not known serve me.
45 "12Foreigners * pretend obedience to me; As soon as they hear *, they obey me.
46 "Foreigners * lose heart, 13And come trembling out of their fortresses.
47 "The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be 14God, the rock of my salvation,
48 15The God who executes vengeance for me, 16And brings down peoples 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 16

  • 1. Exodus 15:9
  • 2. Malachi 4:3
  • 3. Psalms 44:5
  • 4. Exodus 23:27; Joshua 10:24
  • 5. Isaiah 17:7, 8
  • 6. 1 Samuel 28:6; Isaiah 1:15
  • 7. 2 Kings 13:7
  • 8. Isaiah 10:6; Micah 7:10
  • 9. 2 Samuel 3:1; 2 Samuel 19:9, 14
  • 10. 2 Samuel 8:1-14
  • 11. Isaiah 55:5
  • 12. Psalms 66:3; Psalms 81:15
  • 13. 1 Samuel 14:11; Micah 7:17
  • 14. 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 89:26
  • 15. 1 Samuel 24:12; 1 Samuel 25:39; 2 Samuel 4:8; Psalms 94:1
  • 16. Psalms 144:2

Footnotes 6

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