2 Samuel 22:5-15

5 "For death's breakers were closing over me, the floods of B'liya'al terrified me,

6 the ropes of Sh'ol were wrapped around me, the snares of death lay there before me.

7 In my distress I called to ADONAI; yes, I called to my God. Out of his temple he heard my voice, and my cry entered his ears.

8 "Then the earth quaked and shook, the foundations of heaven trembled. They were shaken because he was angry.

9 Smoke arose in his nostrils; and from his mouth, devouring fire, with coals blazing from it.

10 He lowered heaven and came down with thick darkness under his feet.

11 He rode on a keruv and flew, he was seen on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness his canopy around him, thick clouds in the skies dense with water.

13 From the brightness before him, fiery coals flamed out.

14 "ADONAI thundered from heaven, Ha'Elyon sounded his voice.

15 He sent out arrows and scattered them; with lightning he routed them.

2 Samuel 22:5-15 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.