2 Samuel 22:44-51

44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of peoples; thou hast kept me to be head of the Gentiles; peoples whom I did not know have served me.
45 The strangers trembled before my command; as soon as they heard, they obeyed me.
46 The strangers withered away and trembled in their close places.
47 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God who is the rock of my salvation.
48 The God who has given me revenge and who subjects the peoples under me,
49 who brings me forth from among my enemies; thou hast lifted me up on high from among those that rose up against me; thou hast delivered me from the man of violence.
50 Therefore, I will confess thee among the Gentiles, O LORD, and I will sing unto thy name.
51 He who makes great the saving health of his king and shows mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for ever.

2 Samuel 22:44-51 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.

The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010