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2 Samuel Chapter 22

Old Testament Historical 51 Verses

What is 2 Samuel 22 about?

David's reign as king of all Israel — his triumphs, his great sin with Bathsheba, and its lasting consequences. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And David spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2and he said, Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
3God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence.
4I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.
5For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid:
6The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.
7In my distress I called upon Jehovah; Yea, I called unto my God: And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry [came] into his ears.
8Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.
9There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.
10He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.
11And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
13At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled.
14Jehovah thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice.
15And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them.
16Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters;
18He delivered me from my strong enemy, From them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
19They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.
20He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
22For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
23For all his ordinances were before me; And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity.
25Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
26With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect;
27With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.
28And the afflicted people thou wilt save; But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
29For thou art my lamp, O Jehovah; And Jehovah will lighten my darkness.
30For by thee I run upon a troop; By my God do I leap over a wall.
31As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him.
32For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, save our God?
33God is my strong fortress; And he guideth the perfect in his way.
34He maketh his feet like hinds` [feet], And setteth me upon my high places.
35He teacheth my hands to war, So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
36Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath made me great.
37Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; And my feet have not slipped.
38I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; Neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
39And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, so that they cannot arise: Yea, they are fallen under my feet.
40For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
41Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.
42They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.
43Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad.
44Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people; Thou hast kept me to be the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
45The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.
46The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.
47Jehovah liveth; And blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
48Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And that bringeth down peoples under me,
49And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.
50Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name.
51Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“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 “<191801>Psalm 18:1”).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“DAVID PROFESSES HIS FAITH IN GOD'S PROMISES. (Sa2 23:1-7) Now these be the last words of David--Various opinions are entertained as to the precise meaning of this statement, which, it is obvious, proceeded from the compiler or collector of the sacred canon. Some think that, as there is no division of chapters in the Hebrew Scriptures, this introduction was intended to show that what follows is no part of the preceding song. Others regard this as the last of the king's poetical compositions; while still others consider it the last of his utterances as an inspired writer. raised up on high--from an obscure family…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“This song, which is found with scarcely any material variation as Psalms 18:0, and with the words of this first verse for its title, belongs to the early part of David’s reign when he was recently established upon the throne of all Israel, and when his final triumph over the house of Saul, and over the pagan nations 2 Samuel 22:44-46, Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Ammonites, and Edomites, was still fresh 2 Samuel 21:0. For a commentary on the separate verses the reader is referred to the commentary on Psalms 18:0. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain.…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“22:1-51 Although this prayer of thanksgiving (also recorded in Ps 18) is placed near the end of David’s story, David probably offered it to God much earlier in his life. This prayer and Hannah’s (1 Sam 2:1-10) together enclose the book of Samuel with an inclusio (literary bookends). Hannah was saved from barrenness; David was saved from his enemies. The placement of this hymn also provides a parallel to Moses. The stories of both Moses and David end with a song or hymn giving lavish praise to God (see also Deut 31:30–32:43). Both highlight God as a “Rock” (Deut 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31; 2 Sam 22:2, 3, 32, 47). Both…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“David: Psa 50:14, Psa 103:1-6, 116:1-19 words: Exo 15:1; Jdg 5:1 in: Sa2 22:49; Psa 18:1 \*title Psa 34:19; Isa 12:1-6; Co2 1:10; Ti2 4:18; Rev 7:9-17 and out: Sa1 23:14, Sa1 24:15, Sa1 25:29, Sa1 26:24, Sa1 27:1 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 22:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The heading is formed precisely according to the introductory formula of the song of Moses in Deu 31:30, and was no doubt taken from the larger historical work employed by the author of our books. It was probably also adopted from this into the canonical collection of the Psalter, and simply brought into conformity with the headings of the other psalms by the alteration of דּוד וידבּר (and David said) into דּבּר עשׁר לדוד יהוה לעבד ("Of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake:" Eng. ver.), and the insertion of למנצּח ("to the chief musician:" Eng. ver.) at the head (see Delitzsch on the Psalms). "In the day,"…”
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