2 Samuel 22:31-51

31 “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
33 It is God who arms me with strength[a] and keeps my way secure.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You make your saving help my shield; your help has made[b] me great.
37 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but he did not answer.
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me,
45 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
46 They all lose heart; they come trembling[c] from their strongholds.
47 “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me,
49 who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.
50 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
51 “He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

2 Samuel 22:31-51 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.

Cross References 38

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 32:4; Matthew 5:48
  • 2. Psalms 12:6; Psalms 119:140; Proverbs 30:5-6
  • 3. S Genesis 15:1
  • 4. S 1 Samuel 2:2
  • 5. S 2 Samuel 7:22
  • 6. Isaiah 35:6; Habakkuk 3:19
  • 7. S Deuteronomy 32:13
  • 8. Psalms 144:1
  • 9. Psalms 7:12; Psalms 11:2; Zechariah 9:13
  • 10. Ephesians 6:16
  • 11. Proverbs 4:11
  • 12. Psalms 44:5; Psalms 110:6; Malachi 4:3
  • 13. S Joshua 10:24; S 1 Kings 5:3; Psalms 44:5
  • 14. S Exodus 23:27
  • 15. Isaiah 1:15
  • 16. Psalms 50:22
  • 17. S 1 Samuel 14:37
  • 18. 1 Kings 20:10; 2 Kings 13:7; Isaiah 41:2; Amos 1:3
  • 19. Psalms 7:5; Isaiah 41:25; Micah 7:10; Zechariah 10:5
  • 20. Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 22:5; Micah 7:10
  • 21. S Exodus 11:3; S 2 Samuel 3:1
  • 22. Deuteronomy 28:13
  • 23. S 2 Samuel 8:1-14; Isaiah 55:3-5
  • 24. Psalms 66:3; Psalms 81:15
  • 25. S Deuteronomy 33:29
  • 26. Micah 7:17
  • 27. S Exodus 15:2
  • 28. Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalms 18:31; Psalms 89:26; Psalms 95:1
  • 29. S Numbers 31:3
  • 30. Psalms 94:1; Psalms 144:2; 1 Samuel 25:39
  • 31. Psalms 140:1,4
  • 32. Psalms 27:6
  • 33. Psalms 9:11; Psalms 47:6; Psalms 68:4
  • 34. Romans 15:9*
  • 35. Psalms 21:1; Psalms 144:9-10
  • 36. 1 Samuel 16:13; Psalms 89:20; Acts 13:23
  • 37. S 2 Samuel 7:13
  • 38. Psalms 89:24,29

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Dead Sea Scrolls, some Septuagint manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:32); Masoretic Text "who is my strong refuge"
  • [b]. Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text "shield;" / "you stoop down to make"
  • [c]. Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:45); Masoretic Text "they arm themselves"
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