2 Samuel 22:41-51

41 Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
42 They looked, but [there was] none to save; [even] to the LORD, but he answered them not.
43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I stamped them as the mire of the street, [and] spread them abroad.
44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me [to be] head of the heathen: a people [which] I knew not shall serve me.
45 Strangers shall submit themselves to me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me.
46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall tremble from their close places.
47 The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
48 It [is] God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
49 And that bringeth me forth from my enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
50 Therefore I will give thanks to thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises to thy name.
51 [He is] the tower of salvation for his king: and [he] showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

2 Samuel 22:41-51 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.

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