2 Samuel 22:6-16

6 The ropes of death wrapped around me. The traps of death were before me.

7 In my trouble I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my call for help reached his ears.

8 "The earth trembled and shook. The foundations of heaven began to shake. They trembled because the Lord was angry.

9 Smoke came out of his nose, and burning fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals went before him.

10 He tore open the sky and came down with dark clouds under his feet.

11 He rode a creature with wings and flew. He raced on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness his shelter, surrounded by fog and clouds.

13 Out of the brightness of his presence came flashes of lightning.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven; the Most High raised his voice.

15 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies. His bolts of lightning confused them with fear.

16 The Lord spoke strongly. The wind blew from his nose. Then the valleys of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the earth were seen.

2 Samuel 22:6-16 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.