2 Samuel 22:1 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"]?1<i class="footnote">I.e. Why is he being singled out? but he was his greatest enemy and pursuer. Similarly [we find], "Nineteen men and Asohel2<i class="footnote">Earlier 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."3<i class="footnote">Yehoshua 2:1. And similarly, "King Shlomo loved [many] foreign women and [he loved] the daughter of Pharoah."4<i class="footnote">Melochim I, 11:1.
2 Samuel 22:2 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 crossroads5<i class="footnote">Shmuel I, 23:28. and the fortresses of the forest.6<i class="footnote">Ibid, 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 alone7<i class="footnote">Rashi is explaining why Dovid in effect, says “me” twice. <span>מְפַלְטי</span> means “My Rescuer” and <span>לי</span> means “me”. for example [He saved me] from (the inhabitants of Nov)[“Yishbi-Benov”].
2 Samuel 22:3 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.
2 Samuel 22:4 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 <span>אֶקְרָא</span> and <span>אִוׇּשֵׁעַ</span> as being used in the present tense.
2 Samuel 22:5 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.8<i class="footnote">It’s name in hebrew is <span>מַשְׁבֵּר</span>.
The deluge. Soldiers pouring forth like a stream.
2 Samuel 22:6 The agony. As [Yonoson] translates, "Groups," as [we find], "Group of prophets."9<i class="footnote">Shmuel I, 10:5.
Were before me. Came before me.
2 Samuel 22:7 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.10<i class="footnote"><span>אֶקְרָא</span> is in past tense and <span>וַיִשְׁמַע</span> is in future tense.
2 Samuel 22:8 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 <span>כי</span> 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.
2 Samuel 22:9 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."11<i class="footnote">Yeshayohu 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.
2 Samuel 22:10 He bent heaven. To take revenge from His enemies, from Mitzrayim and from Pharoah.
2 Samuel 22:12 He put [a protective] darkness around. For [protective] cover as it says, "The pillar of cloud and the darkness separated between Mitzrayim and Yisroel."12<i class="footnote">See 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 <span>חַשְׁרַת</span> as denoting a binding, that the skies became bound up with clouds because of the water [in them] as [the word] "the spokes"13<i class="footnote">Melochim 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.
2 Samuel 22:13 From the brightness before Him. You should not conclude that He dwells in darkness14<i class="footnote">I.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.
2 Samuel 22:16 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.
2 Samuel 22:18 They were too powerful. When they were overpowering.
2 Samuel 22:21 For my rightesnous. When they [the people of Yisroel] followed God into the desert and had faith in His promise.
2 Samuel 22:26 To the Kind, Sincere, Pure. [These three nouns] represent the three Patriarchs. God paid the reward of their righteousness to their children.15<i class="footnote">Kind refers to Avrohom, sincere refers to Yitchok and pure refers to Yakov.
2 Samuel 22:27 And to those who are crooked. [This refers to] Paroh
You act perversely. [This is] language denoting jagged and crooked. In the book of Tehilim16<i class="footnote">Tehilim 18:27. Chapter 18 of Tehilim is a repetition of this song of Dovid almost verbatim. it is written, <span>תִּתְפַּתָּל</span>.17<i class="footnote">Rashi is proving that the root of this word is <span>פתל</span>. An alternative explanation,18<i class="footnote">Of the previous verses starting from verse 17. [when writing] "He delivers [salvation] from on high,"19<i class="footnote">Earlier in our chapter, verse 17. [Dovid] was refering to himself.20<i class="footnote">Not to the people of Yisroel in general. When he was rushing to escape Shaul [and had reached] the rock at the crossroads,21<i class="footnote">In 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.]"22<i class="footnote">Ibid 23:27. "He rewarded me…according to my righteousness."23<i class="footnote">Earlier 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.
2 Samuel 22:31 The word of Adonoy is clear. It is clear, He makes promises and keeps them.
2 Samuel 22:33 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.
2 Samuel 22:35 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 <span>חִתַּת</span>24<i class="footnote">In our verse it says <span>ונחת, חתת</span> is it’s root. and so [we find], "Your arrows have been shot into me".25<i class="footnote">Tehilim 38:3.
2 Samuel 22:36 You have been abundant for my sake with Your humility. You have been abundant for my sake, with Your humility.
2 Samuel 22:37 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."26<i class="footnote">Mishlei 4:12.
My ankles. My ankles.
2 Samuel 22:42 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"27<i class="footnote">The two words <span>ואין מושיע</span> 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",28<i class="footnote">Yeshayohu 17:7. as if to say "turn".29<i class="footnote">i.e., <span>ישעה</span> means “turn to.” Menachem connected [the word <span>יִשְׁעֶה</span>] with [the verse,] "Adonoy listened to Hevel",30<i class="footnote">Bereishis 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."31<i class="footnote">Bereishis 25:21. So too here "They will implore [God] and they will not be saved"32<i class="footnote">In our verse. is a case where the word <span>יִשְׁעוּ</span> is refering to the one praying and "Adonoy listened…"33<i class="footnote">By Hevel’s offering. is a case where the word is refering to the [Holy] One being prayed to.
2 Samuel 22:43 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"34<i class="footnote">Yechezkiel 6:11. [and] "You trampled with [your] foot."35<i class="footnote">Ibid, 25:6.
2 Samuel 22:44 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.
2 Samuel 22:45 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.
2 Samuel 22:46 Foreign people will wither. Will wither [Similar to] the language of "I will become withered".36<i class="footnote">Yirmiyahu 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.
2 Samuel 22:47 Adonoy lives. Who does all of this for me.