2 Samuel 22 in Hebrew, English & Transliteration

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Tenakh Study · We are reading through the book of 2 Samuel together, every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link. Our Messianic Jewish notes appear below each passage; tap Commentary above to hide them.

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Tenakh Study · 2 Samuel 22:1–51

2 Samuel, Chapter 22

שמואל ב כב

David’s song of deliverance, sung “in the day that Hashem delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Shaul” — the same song as Psalm 18. Hashem is his rock and fortress; He comes down in storm and fire and draws David out of many waters, repays him measure for measure, girds him for battle, makes him head of the nations, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his seed forever.

22:1And David spoke unto Hashem the words of this song in the day that Hashem had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Shaul (Saul).

Vayedaber David la-Adonai et-divrei hashirah hazot beyom hitzil Adonai oto mikaf kol-oyevav umikaf Sha'ul.

אוַיְדַבֵּ֚ר דָּוִד֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את בְּיוֹם֩ הִצִּ֨יל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֹת֛וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כָּל־אֹיְבָ֖יו וּמִכַּ֥ף שָׁאֽוּל׃

Commentary · 22:1

“In the day that Hashem delivered him”

Rashi says David sang this “in his old age, after all his troubles had passed”; Radak, “at the end of his days, when Hashem had given him rest.” Shaul is named apart because he was “his enemy and pursuer more than all of them” (Rashi), “weighed against all his enemies” (Radak). The song stands again in the book of Psalms as Psalm 18, with many small differences; the Abarbanel says David composed it in his youth as a private song and adjusted it when he set it in Psalms for others to pray (Abarbanel on 22:1). Israel reads it as the haftarah of the last day of Pesach, beside the Song at the Sea (Megillah 31a).

Why does it come right after the giants fall (21:15–22)? Rabbi Yudan in the Midrash: David sang only after he was reviled and his enemies fell, “so when the Messiah comes, no song is sung until the Messiah is reviled” (Midrash Tehillim 18, on Psalm 89:51). The Talmud remembers a king who did not sing: Chizkiyahu might have been made the Messiah, but “David… who said so many songs and praises before You, You did not make Messiah,” and Chizkiyahu “did not say a song before You” (Sanhedrin 94a, Bar Kappara). Praise is part of what the Messiah’s house is made of.

“Hashem is my rock”

22:2And he said, “Hashem is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

Vayomar Adonai sal'i umetzudati umefalti-li.

בוַיֹּאמַ֑ר יְהֹוָ֛ה סַֽלְעִ֥י וּמְצֻדָתִ֖י וּמְפַלְטִי־לִֽי׃

22:3the God of my rock, in Him will I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; You save me from violence.

Elohei tzuri eḥeseh-bo magini vekeren yish'i misgabi umenusi moshi'i meḥamas toshi'eni.

גאֱלֹהֵ֥י צוּרִ֖י אֶחֱסֶה־בּ֑וֹ מָגִנִּ֞י וְקֶ֣רֶן יִשְׁעִ֗י מִשְׂגַּבִּי֙ וּמְנוּסִ֔י מֹשִׁעִ֕י מֵחָמָ֖ס תֹּשִׁעֵֽנִי׃

22:4I will call on Hashem, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

Mehulal ekra Adonai ume'oyevay ivashea.

דמְהֻלָּ֖ל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהֹוָ֑ה וּמֵאֹיְבַ֖י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃

22:5For the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of worthlessness made me afraid;

Ki afafuni mishberei-mavet naḥalei veliya'al yeva'atuni.

הכִּ֥י אֲפָפֻ֖נִי מִשְׁבְּרֵי־מָ֑וֶת נַחֲלֵ֥י בְלִיַּ֖עַל יְבַעֲתֻֽנִי׃

22:6the cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me.

Ḥevlei she'ol sabuni kidemuni mokeshei-mavet.

וחֶבְלֵ֥י שְׁא֖וֹל סַבֻּ֑נִי קִדְּמֻ֖נִי מֹֽקְשֵׁי־מָֽוֶת׃

22:7In my distress I called upon Hashem, and cried to my God; and He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came into His ears.

Batzar-li ekra Adonai ve'el-elohay ekra vayishma meheiḥalo koli veshav'ati be'oznav.

זבַּצַּר־לִי֙ אֶקְרָ֣א יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֖י אֶקְרָ֑א וַיִּשְׁמַ֚ע מֵהֵֽיכָלוֹ֙ קוֹלִ֔י וְשַׁוְעָתִ֖י בְּאָזְנָֽיו׃

22:8Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because He was angry.

Vayitga'ash vatir'ash ha'aretz mosedot hashamayim yirgazu vayitga'ashu ki-ḥarah lo.

חוַיִּתְגָּעַ֚שׁ (כתיב וִַתְגָּעַ֚שׁ) וַתִּרְעַשׁ֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ מוֹסְד֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִרְגָּ֑זוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ כִּֽי־חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃

22:9There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it.

Alah ashan be'apo ve'esh mipiv toḥel geḥalim ba'aru mimenu.

טעָלָ֚ה עָשָׁן֙ בְּאַפּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֥שׁ מִפִּ֖יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל גֶּחָלִ֖ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

22:10He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.

Vayet shamayim vayerad va'arafel taḥat raglav.

יוַיֵּ֥ט שָׁמַ֖יִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל תַּ֥חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃

22:11And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; and He was seen upon the wings of the wind.

Vayirkav al-keruv vaya'of vayera al-kanfei-ruaḥ.

יאוַיִּרְכַּ֥ב עַל־כְּר֖וּב וַיָּעֹ֑ף וַיֵּרָ֖א עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃

22:12And He made darkness pavilions round about Him, gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

Vayashet ḥosheḥ sevivotav sukot ḥashrat-mayim avei sheḥakim.

יבוַיָּ֥שֶׁת ח֛שֶׁךְ סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו סֻכּ֑וֹת חַֽשְׁרַת־מַ֖יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃

22:13From the brightness before Him coals of fire were kindled.

Minogah negdo ba'aru gaḥalei-esh.

יגמִנֹּ֖גַהּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ בָּעֲר֖וּ גַּחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃

22:14Hashem thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice.

Yar'em min-shamayim Adonai ve'elyon yiten kolo.

ידיַרְעֵ֥ם מִן־שָׁמַ֖יִם יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעֶלְי֖וֹן יִתֵּ֥ן קוֹלֽוֹ׃

22:15And He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confounded them.

Vayishlaḥ ḥitzim vayefitzem barak vayahom.

טווַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח חִצִּ֖ים וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם בָּרָ֖ק וַיָּהֹֽם (כתיב וַיָּהֹֽמם)׃

22:16And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of Hashem, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

Vayera'u afikei yam yigalu mosedot tevel bega'arat Adonai minishmat ruaḥ apo.

טזוַיֵּֽרָאוּ֙ אֲפִ֣קֵי יָ֔ם יִגָּל֖וּ מֹסְד֣וֹת תֵּבֵ֑ל בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה מִנִּשְׁמַ֖ת ר֥וּחַ אַפּֽוֹ׃

22:17He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters;

Yishlaḥ mimarom yikaḥeni yamsheni mimayim rabim.

יזיִשְׁלַ֥ח מִמָּר֖וֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי יַֽמְשֵׁ֖נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃

22:18He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me.

Yatzileni me'oyevi az misne'ay ki ametzu mimeni.

יחיַצִּילֵ֕נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֖י עָ֑ז מִשּׂ֣נְאַ֔י כִּ֥י אָמְצ֖וּ מִמֶּֽנִי׃

22:19They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but Hashem was my stay.

Yekademuni beyom eidi vayehi Adonai mish'an li.

יטיְקַדְּמֻ֖נִי בְּי֣וֹם אֵידִ֑י וַיְהִ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה מִשְׁעָ֖ן לִֽי׃

22:20He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.

Vayotze lamerḥav oti yeḥaletzeni ki-ḥafetz bi.

כוַיֹּצֵ֥א לַמֶּרְחָ֖ב אֹתִ֑י יְחַלְּצֵ֖נִי כִּי־חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי׃

Commentary · 22:2–20

“He drew me out of many waters”

Hebrew lesson: tzur, “rock,” frames the song: “Hashem is my rock” (22:2), “the God of my rock” (22:3), “who is a rock, save our God?” (22:32), “blessed be my rock” (22:47). David hid in rocks for years; he learned that the rock that saves is not stone. Moshe sang, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4), and Paul said of the rock in the wilderness, “that Rock was Messiah” (1 Corinthians 10:4). “The horn of my salvation” (22:3) is what Zechariah sang when the Messiah was coming: “an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:69).

David cried from the cords of Sheol, and all creation moved for one man: the earth shook, Hashem bowed the heavens, rode upon a cherub, and “was seen (vayera) upon the wings of the wind”; Psalm 18 says He “did fly (vayede),” and the Midrash reads both: “He has many worlds, and goes to appear in them” (Midrash Tehillim 18; Radak on 22:11). “He drew me out (yamsheni) of many waters” uses the word with which Pharaoh’s daughter named Moshe (Exodus 2:10) — our own observation. Messianic reading. God raised Yeshua, “having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24).

According to my righteousness

22:21Hashem rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has repaid me.

Yigmeleni Adonai ketzidkati kevor yaday yashiv li.

כאיִגְמְלֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָדַ֖י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃

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

Ki shamarti darḥei Adonai velo rasha'ti me'elohay.

כבכִּ֥י שָׁמַ֖רְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א רָשַׁ֖עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃

22:23For all His judgments were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

Ki ḥol-mishpatav lenegdi veḥukotav lo-asur mimenah.

כגכִּ֥י כָל־מִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו (כתיב מִשְׁפָּטָ֖ו) לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו לֹא־אָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

22:24I was also upright before Him, and have kept myself from my iniquity.

Va'ehyeh tamim lo va'eshtamerah me'avoni.

כדוָאֶהְיֶ֥ה תָמִ֖ים ל֑וֹ וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָ֖ה מֵעֲו‍ֹנִֽי׃

22:25Therefore Hashem has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight.

Vayashev Adonai li ketzidkati kevori leneged einav.

כהוַיָּ֧שֶׁב יְהֹוָ֛ה לִ֖י כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י כְּבֹרִ֖י לְנֶ֥גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃

22:26With the merciful You show Yourself merciful, and with the upright man You show Yourself upright;

Im-ḥasid titḥasad im-gibor tamim titamam.

כועִם־חָסִ֖יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד עִם־גִּבּ֥וֹר תָּמִ֖ים תִּתַּמָּֽם׃

22:27with the pure You show Yourself pure, and with the perverse You show Yourself crooked.

Im-navar titavar ve'im-ikesh titapal.

כזעִם־נָבָ֖ר תִּתָּבָ֑ר וְעִם־עִקֵּ֖שׁ תִּתַּפָּֽל׃

22:28And the afflicted people You will save; but Your eyes are upon the haughty, that You may bring them down.

Ve'et-am ani toshia ve'eineḥa al-ramim tashpil.

כחוְאֶת־עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְעֵינֶ֖יךָ עַל־רָמִ֥ים תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃

Commentary · 22:21–28

Measure for measure

“Hashem rewarded me according to my righteousness.” How can David say this after Bat-Sheva? The Abarbanel dates the song to his youth, so (we may add) long before; and the next chapter will call David the one who “raised up the yoke of repentance” (Moed Katan 16b). A man who has truly returned may speak again of clean hands, as one whom Hashem has made clean (Psalm 51:9).

“With the merciful You show Yourself merciful… with the perverse You show Yourself crooked.” Rashi on the psalm: “measure for measure”; on our chapter he reads the merciful, upright and pure as the three patriarchs, and the perverse as Pharaoh. Radak: to the one who is merciful in his ways, “You show that You are merciful by doing him good” (Rashi and Radak on 22:26–27). The Targum reads verse 28 as hope: the people “called a dark people in this world, You are destined to redeem.” “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

“You are my lamp”

22:29For You are my lamp, O Hashem; and Hashem will lighten my darkness.

Ki-atah neiri Adonai va-Adonai yagiah ḥoshki.

כטכִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה נֵירִ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיהֹוָ֖ה יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי׃

22:30For by You I run against a troop; by my God I leap over a wall.

Ki veḥah arutz gedud belohay adaleg-shur.

לכִּ֥י בְכָ֖ה אָר֣וּץ גְּד֑וּד בֵּאלֹהַ֖י אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּר׃

22:31As for God, His way is perfect; the word of Hashem is tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him.

Ha'el tamim darko imrat Adonai tzerufah magen hu leḥol haḥosim bo.

לאהָאֵ֖ל תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכּ֑וֹ אִמְרַ֚ת יְהֹוָה֙ צְרוּפָ֔ה מָגֵ֣ן ה֔וּא לְכֹ֖ל הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃

22:32For who is God, save Hashem? And who is a rock, save our God?

Ki mi-el mibal'adei Adonai umi tzur mibal'adei eloheinu.

לבכִּ֥י מִי־אֵ֖ל מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וּמִ֥י צ֖וּר מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

22:33God is my strong fortress, and He makes my way perfect.

Ha'el ma'uzi ḥayil vayater tamim darki.

לגהָאֵ֥ל מָעוּזִּ֖י חָ֑יִל וַיַּתֵּ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים דַּרְכִּֽי (כתיב דַּרְכִּֽו)׃

22:34He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me upon my high places.

Meshaveh raglay ka'ayalot ve'al bamotay ya'amideni.

לדמְשַׁוֶּ֥ה רַגְלַ֖י (כתיב רַגְלַ֖יו) כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת וְעַ֥ל בָּמוֹתַ֖י יַעֲמִדֵֽנִי׃

22:35He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.

Melamed yaday lamilḥamah veniḥat keshet-neḥushah zero'otay.

להמְלַמֵּ֥ד יָדַ֖י לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִחַ֥ת קֶֽשֶׁת־נְחוּשָׁ֖ה זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃

22:36You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your humility has made me great.

Vatiten-li magen yish'eḥa va'anoteḥa tarbeni.

לווַתִּתֶּן־לִ֖י מָגֵ֣ן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃

22:37You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet did not slip.

Tarḥiv tza'adi taḥteni velo ma'adu karsulay.

לזתַּרְחִ֥יב צַעֲדִ֖י תַּחְתֵּ֑נִי וְלֹ֥א מָעֲד֖וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃

22:38I pursued my enemies, and destroyed them; and did not turn back until I had consumed them.

Erdefah oyevay va'ashmidem velo ashuv ad-kalotam.

לחאֶרְדְּפָ֥ה אֹיְבַ֖י וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָשׁ֖וּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃

22:39And I consumed them, and crushed them, so that they could not arise; and they fell under my feet.

Va'aḥalem va'emḥatzem velo yekumun vayiflu taḥat raglay.

לטוָאֲכַלֵּ֥ם וָאֶמְחָצֵ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יְקוּמ֑וּן וַֽיִּפְל֖וּ תַּ֥חַת רַגְלָֽי׃

22:40For You have girded me with strength for battle; those who rose up against me You have subdued under me.

Vatazreni ḥayil lamilḥamah taḥria kamay taḥteni.

מוַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי חַ֖יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֥יעַ קָמַ֖י תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃

22:41You have also made my enemies turn their backs unto me, those who hate me, that I might destroy them.

Ve'oyevay tatah li oref mesan'ay va'atzmitem.

מאוְאֹ֣יְבַ֔י תַּ֥תָּה לִּ֖י עֹ֑רֶף מְשַׂנְאַ֖י וָאַצְמִיתֵֽם׃

22:42They looked, but there was none to save; even unto Hashem, but He did not answer them.

Yish'u ve'ein moshia el-Adonai velo anam.

מביִשְׁע֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין משִׁ֑יעַ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽם׃

22:43Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth; I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad.

Ve'eshḥakem ka'afar-aretz ketit-ḥutzot adikem erka'em.

מגוְאֶשְׁחָקֵ֖ם כַּעֲפַר־אָ֑רֶץ כְּטִיט־חוּצ֥וֹת אֲדִקֵּ֖ם אֶרְקָעֵֽם׃

22:44You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people; You have kept me to be head of the nations; a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

Vatefaleteni merivei ami tishmereni lerosh goyim am lo-yada'ti ya'avduni.

מדוַֽתְּפַלְּטֵ֔נִי מֵרִיבֵ֖י עַמִּ֑י תִּשְׁמְרֵ֙נִי֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֔ם עַ֥ם לֹא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי יַעַבְדֻֽנִי׃

22:45Strangers shall submit themselves unto me; as soon as they hear, they shall obey me.

Benei neḥar yitkaḥashu-li lishmoa ozen yishame'u li.

מהבְּנֵ֥י נֵכָ֖ר יִתְכַּֽחֲשׁוּ־לִ֑י לִשְׁמ֥וֹעַ אֹ֖זֶן יִשָּׁ֥מְעוּ לִֽי׃

22:46Strangers shall fade away, and come trembling out of their strongholds.

Benei neḥar yibolu veyaḥgeru mimisgerotam.

מובְּנֵ֥י נֵכָ֖ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ וְיַחְגְּר֖וּ מִמִּסְגְּרוֹתָֽם׃

22:47Hashem lives; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation;

Ḥay-Adonai uvaruḥ tzuri veyarum elohei tzur yish'i.

מזחַי־יְהֹוָ֖ה וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י וְיָרֻ֕ם אֱלֹהֵ֖י צ֥וּר יִשְׁעִֽי׃

22:48the God who executes vengeance for me, and brings down peoples under me,

Ha'el hanoten nekamot li umorid amim taḥteni.

מחהָאֵ֕ל הַנֹּתֵ֥ן נְקָמֹ֖ת לִ֑י וּמֹרִ֥יד עַמִּ֖ים תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃

22:49and who brings me forth from my enemies; You also lift me up on high above those who rise up against me; You deliver me from the violent man.

Umotzi'i me'oyevay umikamay teromemeni me'ish ḥamasim tatzileni.

מטוּמוֹצִיאִ֖י מֵאֹֽיְבָ֑י וּמִקָּמַי֙ תְּר֣וֹמְמֵ֔נִי מֵאִ֥ישׁ חֲמָסִ֖ים תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃

22:50Therefore I will give thanks unto You, O Hashem, among the nations, and I will sing praises unto Your name.

Al-ken odeḥa Adonai bagoyim uleshimḥa azamer.

נעַל־כֵּ֛ן אוֹדְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם וּלְשִׁמְךָ֖ אֲזַמֵּֽר׃

22:51He is a tower of salvation for His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed, forever.”

Migdol yeshu'ot malko ve'oseh-ḥesed limshiḥo leDavid ulezar'o ad-olam.

נאמִגְדּ֖וֹל (כתיב מִגְדֹּ֖יל) יְשׁוּע֣וֹת מַלְכּ֑וֹ וְעֹֽשֶׂה־חֶ֧סֶד לִמְשִׁיח֛וֹ לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

Commentary · 22:29–51

“Your humility has made me great”

“You are my lamp, O Hashem” (22:29): David’s men called him the lamp of Israel (21:17); here he says who his lamp is. “Your humility (anvatcha) has made me great” (22:36): Rashi, “You enlarged toward me the measure of Your humility”; Radak on the psalm, “as if You lowered Your glory to attend to me.” Rabbi Yochanan: “Wherever you find the might of the Holy One, there you find His humility” (Megillah 31a). Paul sang the same of the Son, who “humbled himself… Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him” (Philippians 2:8–9).

“You have kept me to be head of the nations; a people whom I have not known shall serve me.” The Targum reads the song’s climax as redemption, “the miracle and redemption that You will do for Your Messiah” (Targum on 22:32), and FFOZ hears Psalm 18:43 on the Messiah’s lips (End of Days, Lesson 19); Paul quotes verse 50 of the Gentiles praising Israel’s God (Romans 15:9). In the last verse the text reads migdol, “a tower of salvation,” where Psalm 18 has magdil, “He makes great”; in the grace after meals we say magdil on weekdays and migdol on Shabbat, festivals and Rosh Chodesh (Mishnah Berurah 189:5; Abudarham). The Midrash: redemption grows little by little like the dawn, and “migdol — King Messiah is made for them like a tower” (Midrash Tehillim 18).

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), as published on Chabad.org. Every verse was checked character by character against Chabad’s Tenakh. Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the familiar English name in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Shaul (Saul)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible.
Transliteration: Produced from the Hebrew with the open-source hebrew-transliteration library, adapted to Sephardic/Israeli pronunciation and reviewed by hand: ḥ for Chet and Chaf, tz for Tzadi, k for Kuf, and the Divine Name read “Adonai.” Names are capitalized.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Metzudat David, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. It is shown by default; tap Commentary to hide it.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

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2 Samuel 22 (Shmuel Bet) in Hebrew, Transliteration and English

2 Samuel, Chapter 22

Sources & method