2 Samuel 22:3-13

3 God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My savior, you save me from violence.

4 I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies.

5 For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid:

6 The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came on me.

7 In my distress I called on Yahweh; Yes, I called to my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, My cry [came] into his ears.

8 Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked Were shaken, because he was angry.

9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, Fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; Thick darkness was under his feet.

11 He rode on a cherub, and did fly; Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

13 At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled.

2 Samuel 22:3-13 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.