Bible Commentary

The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 14. the most High ] The name of God as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. Cp. Gen 14:18-22; Deu 32:8. uttered his voice ] Thunder is the voice of God. See Job 37:2-5. The repetition of “hailstones and coals of fire” in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:14”

Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. 13. Through the brightness, &c.] Out of the brightness, &c. The lightning flashes which now burst through the dense cloud, are as it were rays of the “unapproachable light” in which He dwells. The text of Psa 18:12 is fuller and probably more correct: “Out … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:13”

And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, [and] thick clouds of the skies. 12. More fully in Psa 18:11: “He made darkness his secret place, his pavilion round about him; even darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.” The darkness of the clouds is the tent in which God shrouds His … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:12”

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 11. he rode upon a cherub ] As the Shechinah, or mystic Presence of God in the cloud of glory, rested over the Cherubim which were upon the “Mercy-seat” or covering of the Ark (ch. 2Sa … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:11”

He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness [was] under his feet. 10. He bowed the heavens ] The dark canopy of storm cloud, which is the pavement under His feet (Nah 1:3), lowers as He descends to judgment. God is said to come down when He manifests His power in the world … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:10”

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9. Smoke arose in his nostril, and fire from his mouth did devour: hot coals came burning from him. The startling boldness of the language will be intelligible if the distinctive character of Hebrew … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:9”

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. 8. shook and trembled ] The paronomasia of the original may be preserved by translating, and the earth did shake and quake. the foundations of heaven ] The mountains on which the vault of heaven seems to rest: … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:8”

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. 7. called cried ] This rendering represents a difference of words found in the Heb. of Psa 18:6, but not here. It is however … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:7”

The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 6. the sorrows of hell ] The word may no doubt mean pangs, as it is translated in the Sept. ( , cp. Act 2:24); but is better explained of the cords or nets of the hunter. Hell is Shel (Gr. Hades), … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:6”

When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 5. waves ] Psa 18:4 reads cords as in 2Sa 22:6; E. V sorrows. ungodly men ] Heb. Belial. See note on 1Sa 1:16. The parallelism points to the meaning destruction, physical mischief, instead of the ordinary meaning wickedness, moral … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 22:5”