2 Samuel 22:37-47

37 You cleared the ground under me so my footing was firm.
38 When I chased my enemies I caught them; I didn't let go till they were dead men.
39 I nailed them; they were down for good; then I walked all over them.
40 You armed me well for this fight; you smashed the upstarts.
41 You made my enemies turn tail, and I wiped out the haters.
42 They cried "uncle" but Uncle didn't come; They yelled for God and got no for an answer.
43 I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind. I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.
44 You rescued me from a squabbling people; you made me a leader of nations. People I'd never heard of served me;
45 the moment they got wind of me they submitted.
46 They gave up; they came trembling from their hideouts.
47 Live, God! Blessing to my Rock, my towering Salvation-God!

2 Samuel 22:37-47 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.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.