2 Samuel 22

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.

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).

• Hannah said, there is no Rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2). David also called the Lord his rock, remembering how God saved him from Saul at the Rock of Escape (1 Samuel 23:28). The Hebrew word for “rock” in 2 Samuel 22:3 (different from 22:2) is used in 1 Samuel 24:2 to describe the Rocks of the Wild Goats, where Saul thought David was hiding.

• fortress: This word also referred to David’s physical stronghold (1 Samuel 22:4), where he and his men hid from Saul.

The phrase the horn of my salvation is similar to Hannah’s words the LORD in whom my horn is exalted (1 Samuel 2:1).

Sanctuary sometimes refers to the tabernacle or the temple. However, in this context, His temple means God's heavenly home. The tabernacle and temple did not exist at this time.

David clearly explains how God listened to him (2 Samuel 22:7). He describes God's rescue as a theophany (a visible sign of God's presence; see study notes on Exodus 19:16–25; Deuteronomy 1:33), which reminds us of God's appearance at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16–20; compare Judges 5:4–5).

The LORD thundered from heaven: See 1 Samuel 2:10.

David's rescue and success were linked to his obedience to God. God rewards those who live in a way that pleases him (see also Leviticus 26:1–13; Deuteronomy 28:1–14; Psalm 1).

David wrote these words long before his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 22:1). His statement about being blameless does not mean he was perfect. He was just saying he had kept the covenant and followed its law.

David praises God for saving him in the past and for promising blessings to his family in the future (see 2 Samuel 7:8–16).

See Isaiah 43:11; 44:6, 8; 45:5, 21.

David likely saw deer while he hid in the hills and caves for many days (1 Samuel 19:11–27:12).

Before David became king, he achieved impressive military victories (see 1 Samuel 17:12–58; 18:17–30; 23:1–5; 30:1–31). Instead of boasting, David praised God and credited him for the success.

Compare 2 Samuel 7:5–29; 1 Samuel 2:10.