2 Samuel 22

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2 Samuel 22

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:

2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 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.

4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

7 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.

8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

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

11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16 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.

17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

25 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.

30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

31 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.

32 For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?

33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

43 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.

44 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.

45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.

49 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.

50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

Notes

Cross Reference

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 1

<html>On the day Adonoy saved him. In his old age after all his troubles had passed and he had survived all of them. And from the hands of Shaul. Shaul was part of the general grouping [of “his enemies”]?¹I.e. Why is he being singled out? but he was his greatest enemy and pursuer. Similarly [we find], “Nineteen men and Asohel²Earlier in 2:30. where Asohel is singled out because he was equal to all of them as Rashi points out there. Similarly, “Go spy out the land and Yericho.”³Yehoshua 2:1. And similarly, “King Shlomo loved [many] foreign women and [he loved] the daughter of Pharoah.”⁴Melochim I, 11:1.</html>

Verse 2

<html>My Rock, my Fortress. They are words denoting strength. Rock is obvious in its connotation [of strengh]. Fortress is [a reference to] a fortress amongst the forests that is called flassant in O.F. It is [also] a reference to the miracle that occurred by the rock at the crossroads⁵Shmuel I, 23:28. and the fortresses of the forest.⁶Ibid, 23:19. Dovid’s location was betrayed to Shaul but eventually when Shaul reached the crossroads, he chose not to chase after Dovid. My Rescuer. He saved me when I was with Yisroel's army at war and other times He saved me when I was alone⁷Rashi is explaining why Dovid in effect, says “me” twice. מְפַלְטי means “My Rescuer” and לי means “me”. for example [He saved me] from (the inhabitants of Nov)[“Yishbi-Benov”].</html>

Verse 3

<html>My Rock. Language denoting a rock because a rock protects passerby from the rain and from the winds. Abriments in O.F. I take refuge. Language denoting a covering that I was able to be protectively covered. My Stronghold. He supported me. My Refuge. I would run to him for protection.</html>

Verse 4

<html>I call to Adonoy in praise. As it is translated, when I called Him, I praised Him (with my mouth) because I trusted that I would be saved from my enemies. And it is possible to interpret the words אֶקְרָא and אִוׇּשֵׁעַ as being used in the present tense.</html>

Verse 5

<html>Surrounded me. Surrounded me. Death's destruction. As [Yonoson] translates, “Like a woman sitting on the birthing chair,” that is the name of the stone seat where women give birth.⁸It’s name in hebrew is מַשְׁבֵּר. The deluge. Soldiers pouring forth like a stream.</html>

Verse 6

<html>The agony. As [Yonoson] translates, “Groups,” as [we find], “Group of prophets.”⁹Shmuel I, 10:5. Were before me. Came before me.</html>

Verse 7

<html>In my distress I called to God… He hears. This is typical of the present tense it uses both past and future at the same time.¹⁰אֶקְרָא is in past tense and וַיִשְׁמַע is in future tense.</html>

Verse 8

<html>Shook and shuddered. This is not referring to the miracles that happened to him but to the miracles that happened to Yisroel and the beginning of the verse is connected to the end. When God became angry. The word כי is being used here to mean “when,” and this is its interpretation, when God became angry on account of his antagonists the world shook and shuddered and the pillars of heaven trembled and shook.</html>

Verse 9

<html>Smoke rose from His Nostrils. Such is the manner of an angry person, smoke comes out of his nostrils and so [we find], “Smoke has risen from My nostrils.”¹¹Yeshayohu 65:5. This is always the meaning of the words “Anger of the nose,” the nose flares and lets out air. Fire from His Mouth consumed [the wicked]. Through the decree utterred from His Mouth fire [came forth] and consumed the wicked.</html>

Verse 10

<html>He bent heaven. To take revenge from His enemies, from Mitzrayim and from Pharoah.</html>

Verse 12

<html>He put [a protective] darkness around. For [protective] cover as it says, “The pillar of cloud and the darkness separated between Mitzrayim and Yisroel.”¹²See Shemos 14:20. Abundant waters, thick clouds of the sky. From where did the darkness come? They came from thick clouds that sprinkle water on the earth. Sprinkled. [This is] language that denotes a sieve, [the water] falls to the earth in small droplets. This [same language] is used in many places in Aggadah, “They dice it in a sieve,” Some interpret חַשְׁרַת as denoting a binding, that the skies became bound up with clouds because of the water [in them] as [the word] “the spokes”¹³Melochim I, 7:33. used [in connection with] the wheels of a wagon. They are wooden spokes that bond and bind the wheel's perimeter together.</html>

Verse 13

<html>From the brightness before Him. You should not conclude that He dwells in darkness¹⁴I.e., because the previous verse mentioned darkness in connection with God. Furthermore, the verse here is describing punishment meted out to Yisroel’s enemies. The verse is telling us that the punishment’s source is light. but rather it is light that is within the boundary and it is from that light that is before Him that the burning coals of fire [came forth]. [It is from there] that the arrows were shot at Mitzrayim.</html>

Verse 16

<html>The foundations of the earth were revealed. The deep seas split open. When the Reed Sea split all the world's waters split [as well]. By the wind. From the force of wind blowing from His Nostrils.</html>

Verse 18

<html>They were too powerful. When they were overpowering.</html>

Verse 21

<html>For my rightesnous. When they [the people of Yisroel] followed God into the desert and had faith in His promise.</html>

Verse 26

<html>To the Kind, Sincere, Pure. [These three nouns] represent the three Patriarchs. God paid the reward of their righteousness to their children.¹⁵Kind refers to Avrohom, sincere refers to Yitchok and pure refers to Yakov.</html>

Verse 27

<html>And to those who are crooked. [This refers to] Paroh You act perversely. [This is] language denoting jagged and crooked. In the book of Tehilim¹⁶Tehilim 18:27. Chapter 18 of Tehilim is a repetition of this song of Dovid almost verbatim. it is written, תִּתְפַּתָּל.¹⁷Rashi is proving that the root of this word is פתל. An alternative explanation,¹⁸Of the previous verses starting from verse 17. [when writing] “He delivers [salvation] from on high,”¹⁹Earlier in our chapter, verse 17. [Dovid] was refering to himself.²⁰Not to the people of Yisroel in general. When he was rushing to escape Shaul [and had reached] the rock at the crossroads,²¹In Shmuel I, 23:26. and was close to being captured an angel came to Shaul saying, “Go quickly because the Pelishtim have spread out [in battle formation over the terrain.]”²²Ibid 23:27. “He rewarded me…according to my righteousness.”²³Earlier in our chapter, verse 25. [Refering to the fact] that I did not kill him [Shaul] when I [instead just] cut off the corner of his coat.</html>

Verse 31

<html>The word of Adonoy is clear. It is clear, He makes promises and keeps them.</html>

Verse 33

<html>He cleared my path to perfection. From any obstacle, from any sin and from any danger until there was peace and [the land was] conquered.</html>

Verse 35

<html>My arms to bend a copper bow. So that a copper bow can be bent by my arms because I have the strength to bend them. Dovid had bows hanging in his palace, and kings of other nations would come and see them and ask each other, Do you think that he can bend them? This is only to scare us. Dovid would hear them and would take them [the bows] and bend them in front of them [the kings]. The binding of a bow is denoted by the word חִתַּת²⁴In our verse it says ונחת, חתת is it’s root. and so [we find], “Your arrows have been shot into me”.²⁵Tehilim 38:3.</html>

Verse 36

<html>You have been abundant for my sake with Your humility. You have been abundant for my sake, with Your humility.</html>

Verse 37

<html>You have expanded my stride. When a man keeps his legs together, it is easier for him to fall, and so it says, “When you travel, do not narrow your stride.”²⁶Mishlei 4:12. My ankles. My ankles.</html>

Verse 42

<html>They cried out there was no one to deliver them. The words of verse are not written in order [the proper order should be] “They will cry out to Adonoy but He will not answer them and no one will deliver them”²⁷The two words ואין מושיע need to be removed from their position at the beginning of the verse and placed instead at the end of the verse as its last two words. as [we find], “Man will turn to his Maker”,²⁸Yeshayohu 17:7. as if to say “turn”.²⁹i.e., ישעה means “turn to.” Menachem connected [the word יִשְׁעֶה] with [the verse,] “Adonoy listened to Hevel”,³⁰Bereishis 4:4. and he [Menachem] interpreted it as “listening.” This word can be used to denote both the listener and the listened to as [we find], “Yitzchok implored Adonoy… and Adonoy listened to him.”³¹Bereishis 25:21. So too here “They will implore [God] and they will not be saved”³²In our verse. is a case where the word יִשְׁעוּ is refering to the one praying and “Adonoy listened…”³³By Hevel’s offering. is a case where the word is refering to the [Holy] One being prayed to.</html>

Verse 43

<html>I will trample them. I will trample them. There are many cases like this in the book of Yechezkiel, [such as] “You will trample with your feet”³⁴Yechezkiel 6:11. [and] “You trampled with [your] foot.”³⁵Ibid, 25:6.</html>

Verse 44

<html>Antagonists. From Doeg, Achitophel, Shaul and the Ziffites. You preserved me to be a leader of nations. He kept me hidden for this purpose. The Midrash Aggadah [interprets our verse], “Dovid said, “Master of the universe, spare me from [potential] judgement concerning [the people of] Yisroel for if I shall cause [Yisroel] to turn away [from You] or I rule them harshly during the course of my service I will be punished [by You]. Rather, make me the leader of the Pelishtim and let them serve me [because] I will not be punished on their account.</html>

Verse 45

<html>Lied to me. Out of fear they told me lies. [As soon] as their ears hear [my wish] they listen to [and obey] me. Even when they are not in my presence they are fearful of me [to the point that as soon] as their ears hear [my wish], they move [to obey] my command.</html>

Verse 46

<html>Foreign people will wither. Will wither [Similar to] the language of “I will become withered”.³⁶Yirmiyahu 8:11. Pagisterant in O.F. They will become lame. Lame people. From [the agony of] their imprisonment. From the tortures of imprisonment that I will inflict upon them.</html>

Verse 47

<html>Adonoy lives. Who does all of this for me.</html>

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Table of Contents

2 Samuel 22

2 Samuel 22

Notes

Cross Reference

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 1

Verse 2

Verse 3

Verse 4

Verse 5

Verse 6

Verse 7

Verse 8

Verse 9

Verse 10

Verse 12

Verse 13

Verse 16

Verse 18

Verse 21

Verse 26

Verse 27

Verse 31

Verse 33

Verse 35

Verse 36

Verse 37

Verse 42

Verse 43

Verse 44

Verse 45

Verse 46

Verse 47