2 Samuel 22:38-48

38 “I chased my enemies and destroyed them; I did not stop until they were conquered.
39 I consumed them; I struck them down so they did not get up; they fell beneath my feet.
40 You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
41 You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.
42 They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer.
43 I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth; I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.
44 “You gave me victory over my accusers. You preserved me as the ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me.
45 Foreign nations cringe before me; as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
46 They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.
47 “The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
48 He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he brings down the nations under me

2 Samuel 22:38-48 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.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. As in Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Ps 18:42 ); Masoretic Text reads I crushed and trampled them.
  • [b]. As in parallel text at Ps 18:45 ; Hebrew reads come girding themselves.
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