| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

 

2 Samuel Chapter Twenty-two

 

2 Samuel 22 Outlines

Praise for God’s Deliverance (v.1~51)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

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 Psalm 18:1 are referred to the exposition of that book in its course.

 

2 Samuel 22:1   Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.

   YLT  1And David speaketh to Jehovah the words of this song in the day Jehovah hath delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul,

And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul. See Gill on Psalm 18:1.

 

2 Samuel 22:2   2 And he said:[a] “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

   YLT  2and he saith: `Jehovah [is] my rock, And my bulwark, and a deliverer to me,

And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. See Gill on Psalm 18:2.

 

2 Samuel 22:3   3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.
   YLT 
3My God [is] my rock -- I take refuge in Him; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, My high tower, and my refuge! My Saviour, from violence Thou savest me!

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. See Gill on Psalm 18:2.

 

2 Samuel 22:4   4 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

   YLT  4The Praised One, I call Jehovah: And from mine enemies I am saved.

I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. See Gill on Psalm 18:3.

 

2 Samuel 22:5   5 “When the waves of death surrounded me, The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

   YLT  5When the breakers of death compassed me, The streams of the worthless terrify me,

When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. See Gill on Psalm 18:4.

 

2 Samuel 22:6   6 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.

   YLT  6The cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been the snares of death.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me. See Gill on Psalm 18:5.

 

2 Samuel 22:7   7 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears.

   YLT  7In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I call, And He heareth from His temple my voice, And my cry [is] in His ears,

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God:

and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. See Gill on Psalm 18:6.

 

2 Samuel 22:8   8 “Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven[b] quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.

  YLT  8And shake and tremble doth the earth, Foundations of the heavens are troubled, And are shaken, for He hath wrath!

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. See Gill on Psalm 18:7.

 

2 Samuel 22:9   9 Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.

   YLT  9Gone up hath smoke by His nostrils. And fire from His mouth devoureth, Brands have been kindled by it.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. See Gill on Psalm 18:8.

 

2 Samuel 22:10   10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet.

   YLT  10And He inclineth heaven, and cometh down, And thick darkness [is] under His feet.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. See Gill on Psalm 18:9.

 

2 Samuel 22:11   11 He rode upon a cherub, and flew; And He was seen[c] upon the wings of the wind.

   YLT  11And He rideth on a cherub, and doth fly, And is seen on the wings of the wind.

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. See Gill on Psalm 18:10.

 

2 Samuel 22:12   12 He made darkness canopies around Him, Dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

   YLT  12And He setteth darkness Round about Him -- tabernacles, Darkness of waters -- thick clouds of the skies.

And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. See Gill on Psalm 18:11.

 

2 Samuel 22:13   13 From the brightness before Him Coals of fire were kindled.

   YLT  13From the brightness before Him Were brands of fire kindled!

Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. See Gill on Psalm 18:12.

 

2 Samuel 22:14   14 “The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice.

   YLT  14Thunder from the heavens doth Jehovah, And the Most High giveth forth His voice.

The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. See Gill on Psalm 18:13.

 

2 Samuel 22:15   15 He sent out arrows and scattered them; Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.

   YLT  15And He sendeth forth arrows, And scattereth them; Lightning, and troubleth them;

And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. See Gill on Psalm 18:14.

 

2 Samuel 22:16   16 Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered, At the rebuke of the Lord, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

   YLT  16And seen are the streams of the sea, Revealed are foundations of the world, By the rebuke of Jehovah, From the breath of the spirit of His anger.

And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. See Gill on Psalm 18:15.

 

2 Samuel 22:17   17 “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters.

   YLT  17He sendeth from above -- He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters.

He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. See Gill on Psalm 18:16.

 

2 Samuel 22:18   18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; For they were too strong for me.

   YLT  18He delivereth me from my strong enemy, From those hating me, For they were stronger than I.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. See Gill on Psalm 18:17.

 

2 Samuel 22:19   19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support.

   YLT  19They are before me in a day of my calamity, And Jehovah is my support,

They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. See Gill on Psalm 18:18.

 

2 Samuel 22:20   20 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

   YLT  20And He bringeth me out to a large place, He draweth me out for He delighted in me.

He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. See Gill on Psalm 18:19.

 

2 Samuel 22:21   21 “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.

   YLT  21Jehovah recompenseth me, According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. See Gill on Psalm 18:20.

 

2 Samuel 22:22   22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

   YLT  22For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. See Gill on Psalm 18:21.

 

2 Samuel 22:23   23 For all His judgments were before me; And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

   YLT  23For all His judgments [are] before me, As to His statutes, I turn not from them.

For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. See Gill on Psalm 18:22.

 

2 Samuel 22:24   24 I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity.

   YLT  24And I am perfect before Him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity.

I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. See Gill on Psalm 18:23.

 

2 Samuel 22:25   25 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in His eyes.[d]

   YLT  25And Jehovah returneth to me, According to my righteousness, According to my cleanness before His eyes.

Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. See Gill on Psalm 18:24.

 

2 Samuel 22:26   26 “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;

   YLT  26With the kind Thou shewest Thyself kind, With the perfect man Thou shewest Thyself perfect,

With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. See Gill on Psalm 18:25.

 

2 Samuel 22:27   27 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.

   YLT  27With the pure Thou shewest Thyself pure, And with the perverse Thou shewest Thyself a wrestler.

With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury. See Gill on Psalm 18:26.

 

2 Samuel 22:28   28 You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.

   YLT  28And the poor people Thou dost save, And Thine eyes on the high causest to fall.

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. See Gill on Psalm 18:27.

 

2 Samuel 22:29   29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

   YLT  29For Thou [art] my lamp, O Jehovah, And Jehovah doth lighten my darkness.

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. See Gill on Psalm 18:28.

 

2 Samuel 22:30   30 For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.

   YLT  30For by Thee I run -- a troop, By my God I leap a wall.

For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. See Gill on Psalm 18:29.

 

2 Samuel 22:31   31 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

   YLT  31God! Perfect [is] His way, The saying of Jehovah is tried, A shield He [is] to all those trusting in Him.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. See Gill on Psalm 18:30.

 

2 Samuel 22:32   32 “For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?

   YLT  32For who is God save Jehovah? And who a Rock save our God?

For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? See Gill on Psalm 18:31.

 

2 Samuel 22:33   33 God is my strength and power,[e] And He makes my[f] way perfect.

   YLT  33God -- my bulwark, [my] strength, And He maketh perfect my way;

God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. See Gill on Psalm 18:32.

 

2 Samuel 22:34   34 He makes my[g] feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.

   YLT  34Making my feet like hinds, And on my high places causeth me to stand,

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. See Gill on Psalm 18:33.

 

2 Samuel 22:35   35 He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

   YLT  35Teaching my hands for battle, And brought down was a bow of brass by mine arms,

He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. See Gill on Psalm 18:34.

 

2 Samuel 22:36   36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.

   YLT  36And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy lowliness maketh me great.

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. See Gill on Psalm 18:35.

 

2 Samuel 22:37   37 You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip.

   YLT  37Thou enlargest my step under me, And mine ankles have not slidden.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. See Gill on Psalm 18:36.

 

2 Samuel 22:38   38 “I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.

   YLT  38I pursue mine enemies and destroy them, And I turn not till they are consumed.

I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. See Gill on Psalm 18:37.

 

2 Samuel 22:39   39 And I have destroyed them and wounded them, So that they could not rise; They have fallen under my feet.

   YLT  39And I consume them, and smite them, And they rise not, and fall under my feet.

And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. See Gill on Psalm 18:38.

 

2 Samuel 22:40   40 For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose against me.

   YLT  40And Thou girdest me [with] strength for battle, Thou causest my withstanders to bow under me.

For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. See Gill on Psalm 18:39.

 

2 Samuel 22:41   41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me.

   YLT  41And mine enemies -- Thou givest to me the neck, Those hating me -- and I cut them off.

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. See Gill on Psalm 18:40.

 

2 Samuel 22:42   42 They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.

   YLT  42They look, and there is no saviour; Unto Jehovah, and He hath not answered them.

They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. See Gill on Psalm 18:41.

 

2 Samuel 22:43   43 Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I trod them like dirt in the streets, And I spread them out.

   YLT  43And I beat them as dust of the earth, As mire of the streets I beat them small -- I spread them out!

Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. See Gill on Psalm 18:42.

 

2 Samuel 22:44   44 “You have also delivered me from the strivings of my people; You have kept me as the head of the nations. A people I have not known shall serve me.

   YLT  44And -- Thou dost deliver me From the strivings of my people, Thou placest me for a head of nations; A people I have not known do serve me.

Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. See Gill on Psalm 18:43.

 

2 Samuel 22:45   45 The foreigners submit to me; As soon as they hear, they obey me.

   YLT  45Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me, At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me.

Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. See Gill on Psalm 18:44.

 

2 Samuel 22:46   46 The foreigners fade away, And come frightened[h] from their hideouts.

   YLT  46Sons of a stranger fade away, And gird themselves by their close places.

Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. See Gill on Psalm 18:45.

 

2 Samuel 22:47   47 “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation!

   YLT  47Jehovah liveth, and blessed [is] my Rock, And exalted is my God -- The Rock of my salvation.

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. See Gill on Psalm 18:46.

 

2 Samuel 22:48   48 It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me;

   YLT  48God -- who is giving vengeance to me, And bringing down peoples under me,

It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me. See Gill on Psalm 18:47.

 

2 Samuel 22:49   49 He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man.

   YLT  49And bringing me forth from mine enemies, Yea, above my withstanders Thou raisest me up. From a man of violence Thou deliverest me.

And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. See Gill on Psalm 18:48.

 

2 Samuel 22:50   50 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

   YLT  50Therefore I confess Thee, O Jehovah, among nations. And to Thy name I sing praise.

Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. See Gill on Psalm 18:49.

 

2 Samuel 22:51   51 He is the tower of salvation to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.”

   YLT  51Magnifying the salvations of His king, And doing loving-kindness to His anointed, To David, and to his seed -- unto the age!'

He is the tower of salvation for his king: and showeth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore. See Gill on Psalm 18:50.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Samuel 22:2 Compare Psalm 18
  2. 2 Samuel 22:8 Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Targum; Syriac and Vulgate read hills (compare Psalm 18:7).
  3. 2 Samuel 22:11 Following Masoretic Text and Septuagint; many Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Vulgate read He flew (compare Psalm 18:10); Targum reads He spoke with power.
  4. 2 Samuel 22:25 Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read the cleanness of my hands in His sight (compare Psalm 18:24); Targum reads my cleanness before His word.
  5. 2 Samuel 22:33 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read It is God who arms me with strength (compare Psalm 18:32); Targum reads It is God who sustains me with strength.
  6. 2 Samuel 22:33 Following Qere, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate (compare Psalm 18:32); Kethib reads His.
  7. 2 Samuel 22:34 Following Qere, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate (compare Psalm 18:33); Kethib reads His.
  8. 2 Samuel 22:46 Following Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate (compare Psalm 18:45); Masoretic Text reads gird themselves.