2 Samuel 22:27-37

27 With the pure you will show yourself pure; With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.

28 The afflicted people you will save; But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, LORD; The LORD will lighten my darkness.

30 For by you I run on a troop; By my God do I leap over a wall.

31 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

32 For who is God, save the LORD? Who is a rock, save our God?

33 God is my strong fortress; He guides the perfect in his way.

34 He makes his feet like hinds' [feet], Sets me on my high places.

35 He teaches my hands to war, So that my arms do bend a bow of brass.

36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.

37 You have enlarged my steps under me; My feet have not slipped.

2 Samuel 22:27-37 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.