2 Samuel 22:40-50

40 And thou girdedst me with strength to battle: Thou didst subdue under me those that rose up against me.
41 And mine enemies didst thou make to turn their backs unto me, And those that hated me I destroyed.
42 They looked, and there was none to save -- Unto Jehovah, and he answered them not.
43 And I did beat them small as the dust of the earth, I trod them as the mire of the streets; I stamped upon them.
44 And thou hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, Thou hast kept me to be head of the nations: A people I knew not doth serve me:
45 Strangers come cringing unto me: At the hearing of the ear, they obey me.
46 Strangers have faded away, And they come trembling forth from their close places.
47 Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God, the rock of my salvation,
48 The God who hath avenged me, And hath brought the peoples under me.
49 He brought me forth from mine enemies: Yea, thou hast lifted me up above them that rose up against me; From the man of violence hast thou delivered me.
50 Therefore will I give thanks to thee, Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing psalms to thy name.

2 Samuel 22:40-50 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.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. See Note to Deut. 33.29.
  • [b]. Or 'fortified.'
  • [c]. Or 'tremble in their strong castles.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.