2 Samuel 22:18-28

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

19 They came on me in the day of my calamity; But Yahweh was my stay.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21 Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.

22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his ordinances were before me; As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 I was also perfect toward him; I kept myself from my iniquity.

25 Therefore has Yahweh recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.

26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful; With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect;

27 With the pure you will show yourself pure; With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.

28 The afflicted people you will save; But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.

2 Samuel 22:18-28 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.