2 Samuel 22:5-15

5 "For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me;

6 the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me.

7 "In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.

8 "Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.

9 Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.

10 He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.

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

12 He made darkness around him his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water.

13 Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and 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.