2 Samuel 22:1

Translations

Modern

And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

Traditional

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:

Literal

And David spoke to YHWH the words of this song on the day when YHWH had snatched him up from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

Latin

Locutus est autem David Domino verba carminis hujus in die qua liberavit eum Dominus de manu omnium inimicorum suorum, et de manu Saul.

Original

Hebrew

English

And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

Notes

2 Samuel 22:1–51

This prayer of thanksgiving (also recorded in Psalm 18) appears near the end of David's story. But David likely prayed it much earlier in his life. This prayer and Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–10 together enclose the book of Samuel with an inclusio (literary bookends). Hannah was saved from being unable to have children, and David was saved from his enemies.

The hymn's placement also provides a parallel to Moses. Both Moses and David's stories end with a song praising God (see also Deuteronomy 31:30–32:43). Both emphasize God as a “Rock” (Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31; 2 Samuel 22:2, 3, 32, 47). Both are followed by second and shorter poetic pieces:

the final blessing of Moses to the Israelite tribes (Deuteronomy 33), and
David’s last words (2 Samuel 23:1–7).

2 Samuel 21:1–24:25

The final chapters of 2 Samuel form a coda (a concluding section). This section brings together and summarizes the main themes from earlier chapters.

These chapters are thematic, not chronological (arranged by topic, not by time). Because of this, not all the events happened at the end of David’s reign (for example, 2 Samuel 22:1).

The material is arranged using a common Hebrew literary pattern called a chiasm (a mirror-like structure). In a chiasm, the first and last sections match, and the middle section is the focus.

The structure of this chiasm is as follows:

A: Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 21:1–14)
- B: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 21:15–22)
  - C: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 22:1–51)
  - C′: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 23:1–7)
- B′: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 23:8–39)
A′: David’s sin involving the census and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 24:1–25)

A chiasm draws attention to the center section. Here, the center is David’s hymns. These hymns do not focus on David himself. Instead, they focus on David’s God.

Theme notes and profiles

David

Events

Reign of David

Related verses

Exodus 15:1
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
Judges 5:1
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
Isaiah 12:1–6
In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me.
Psalm 103:1–6
Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 116:1–19
I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy.
Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
Revelation 7:9–17
After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
2 Samuel 22:49
…who frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my foes; You rescue me from violent men.
Psalm 18:1–50
For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love You, O LORD, my strength.
1 Samuel 27:1
David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
1 Samuel 24:15
May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”

Parallels

Psalm 18:1–50

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Saul: First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel

Glossary

David Jude, Letter of Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

David: King of Israel: David As Poet Epic: David's War Song God: Glory of Praise of David: Celebrating his Deliverance from the Hand of Saul Psalms of David in Celebrating his Deliverance Song: War Victories: Celebrated in Song

2 Samuel 22:1

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