2 Samuel 22:32-42

32 For who is God, except the Lord; and who is strong, except our God?

33 God, that hath girded me with strength, and hath made plane my perfect way; (Yea, God, who hath girded me with strength, and hath made my way perfect, or without blame;)

34 and he hath made even my feet with harts? (feet), and hath set me upon mine high things; (and he hath made my feet like the feet of a hart, or of a deer, and hath set me on high places, that is, on the mountains;)

35 and he taught mine hands to battle, and a brasen bow was granted to mine arm(s). (and he taught my hands in battle, and now my arms can break a bronze bow.)

36 Thou hast given to me the shield of thine health; and thy mildness hath multiplied me. (Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation; and thy gentleness hath made me great.)

37 Thou shalt alarge my steps under me; and mine heels shall not fail. (Thou hast broadened my steps under me; and my feet have not slipped.)

38 I shall pursue mine enemies, and I shall all-brake them; and I shall not turn again, till I waste them (and I shall not return, until I destroy them).

39 I shall waste them, and I shall break them, that they rise not; they shall fall under my feet. (I shall break them, and I shall destroy them, so that they shall not rise again; they shall all fall under my feet.)

40 Thou hast girded me with strength to battle; thou hast bowed under me them that stood against me. (Thou hast girded me with strength for the battle; thou hast put those who stood against me under me.)

41 Thou hast given mine enemies? aback to me, men hating me; and I shall destroy them. (Thou hast given me the backs of my enemies; and I destroy those who hate me.)

42 They shall cry, that is, to idols either to men's help, and none shall be that shall save them; they shall cry to the Lord, and he shall not hear them. (They cry to their idols, or to men, for help, but no one can save them; they cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them.)

2 Samuel 22:32-42 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.