2 Samuel 22:9-19

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 a 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; the Most High uttered his voice.

15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them —lightning, and routed them.

16 Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17 He reached from on high, he took me, he drew me out of mighty waters.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

19 They came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay.

2 Samuel 22:9-19 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.