2 Samuel 22:41-51

41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, so that I could destroy those who hate me.

42 "They looked, but there was no one to help, even to ADONAI, but he didn't answer.

43 I pulverized them like dust on the ground, pounded and stamped on them like mud in the streets.

44 "You also freed me from the quarrels of my people. You kept me to be the head of the nations; a people I did not know now serve me.

45 Foreigners come cringing to me; the moment they hear of me, they obey me.

46 Foreigners lose heart as they stagger from their fortresses.

47 "ADONAI is alive! Blessed is my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation,

48 the God who gives me vengeance and makes peoples submit to me.

49 He brings me out from my enemies. You raise me over those who rebel against me, you rescue me from violent men.

50 "So I give thanks to you, ADONAI, among the nations; I sing praises to your name.

51 He is a tower of salvation for his king; he displays grace to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever."

2 Samuel 22:41-51 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.