2 Samuel 22

2 Samuel 22

Poole - The sorrows of death, i.e. dangerous and deadly troubles. Or, the bands or cords of death, which had almost seized me, and was putting its bands upon me. Compare Ps. 73:4. The floods of ungodly men; their great multitudes, and strength, and violent assaults, breaking in upon me like a flood. Gilbrant on waves - The context of two of the Psalms and the two prophetic passages is that of at least temporary divine judgment. Waves passed over Jonah during his time of judgment and correction (Jon. 2:3). The imagery is of utter abandonment, as being under the waters implies the lowest realm of the universe, the antithetical abode of Yahweh (cf. 2Sa 22:5; Ps 42:7; Ps 88:7). However, Ps. 93:4 asserts the obvious, that Yahweh is "mightier than the... waves of the sea," superior to His created order. Reformation Study Bible - The image of overflowing water recurs frequently in Old Testament poetry as a symbol of distress and destruction (Ps. 32:6; 69:1, 2, 14; 144:7; Is. 43:2; Jon. 2:5). CHS - "The sorrows of death compassed me." Death like a cruel conqueror seemed to twist round about him the cords of pain. He was environed and hemmed in with threatening deaths of the most appalling sort. He was like a mariner broken by the storm and driven upon the rocks by dreadful breakers, white as the teeth of death. Sad plight for the man after God's own heart, but thus it is that Jehovah dealeth with his sons. “Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud the angry billows roar, Eager eyes are watching, longing, For the lights along the shore. Let the lower lights be burning, Send a gleam across the wave. Some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save.” The torrents of destruction (beliyyaal) overwhelmed me - Note that just as "MY" was common in the previous passages, now "ME" is used 4 times in 2Sa 22:5-6 to describe David's distress ("encompassed ME...overwhelmed ME...surrounded ME...confronted ME"). THOUGHT- Have you ever felt like that? That's a rhetorical question as I am sure every person reading this has felt these intensely distressing emotions. But the question is have we responded to them as David did, by calling on the LORD, yea, even crying out to our God (2Sa 22:7)? NET Note - The noun בְלִיַּעַל (beliyyaal) is used here as an epithet for death. Elsewhere it is a common noun meaning “wickedness, uselessness” (see HALOT 133-34 s.v. בְּלִיַּעַל). It is often associated with rebellion against authority and other crimes that result in societal disorder and anarchy. The phrase “man/son of wickedness” refers to one who opposes God and the order he has established. The term becomes an appropriate title for death, which, through human forces, launches an attack against God’s chosen servant. CHS - "The floods of ungodly men made me afraid." Torrents of ungodliness threatened to swamp all religion, and to hurry away the godly man's hope as a thing to be scorned and despised; so far was this threat fulfilled, that even the hero who slew Goliath began to be afraid. The most seaworthy bark is sometimes hard put to it when the storm fiend is abroad. The most courageous man, who as a rule hopes for the best, may sometimes fear the worst. Beloved reader, he who pens these lines has known better than most men what this verse means, and feels inclined to weep, and yet to sing, while he writes upon a text so descriptive of his own experience. On the night of the lamentable accident at the Surrey Music Hall, the floods of Belial were let loose, and the subsequent remarks of a large portion of the press were exceedingly malicious and wicked; our soul was afraid as we stood encompassed with the sorrows of death and the blasphemies of the cruel. But oh, what mercy was there in it all, and what honey of goodness was extracted by our Lord out of this lion of affliction! Surely God hath heard me! Art thou in an ill plight? Dear friend, learn thou from our experience to trust in the Lord Jehovah, who forsaketh not his chosen. 2 Samuel 22:6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. BGT 2 Samuel 22:6 ὠδῖνες θανάτου ἐκύκλωσάν με προέφθασάν με σκληρότητες θανάτου LXE 2 Samuel 22:6 the pangs of death surrounded me, the agonies of death prevented me. KJV 2 Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; NET 2 Samuel 22:6 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me; the snares of death trapped me. CSB 2 Samuel 22:6 The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. ESV 2 Samuel 22:6 the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. NIV 2 Samuel 22:6 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. NLT 2 Samuel 22:6 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. NRS 2 Samuel 22:6 the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me. NJB 2 Samuel 22:6 Sheol's snares on every side of me, Death's traps lying ahead of me, sorrows: or, cords, Job 36:8 Ps 18:5 116:3 140:5 Pr 5:22 Jon 2:2 Ac 2:24 the snares: Pr 13:14 14:27 Related Passage: Psalm 18:5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. MORE PERILS The cords of Sheol (she'ol; Lxx - thanatos - death) surrounded me - NIV - "The cords of the grave coiled around me" Here Sheol parallels death, for it is the OT name for the place of the dead. David pictures himself completely encircled and entangled by these ropes, especially during the 10 years he was fleeing for his live from Saul. Had David not had these experiences, he would not have been able to write such incredible descriptions of his distress. CHS - "The sorrows of hell compassed me about." From all sides the hell-hounds barked furiously. A cordon of devils hemmed in the hunted man of God; every way of escape was closed up. Satan knows how to blockade our coasts with the iron war-ships of sorrow, but, blessed be God, the port of all prayer is still open, and grace can run the blockade bearing messages from earth to heaven, and blessings in return from heaven to earth. Matthew Poole - The cords of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. = Of hell; or, of the grave, which brought me to the brink of the grave. Prevented me; had almost taken hold of me, ere I was aware of my danger. Jamieson, Fausset, Brown on sorrows—literally, “bands as of a net” (Ps 116:3 = The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.). NET Note - “Sheol,” personified here as David’s enemy, is the underworld, place of the dead in primitive Hebrew cosmology. The snares of death confronted me David's personifies death as a hunter laying nets and snares. CHS - "The snares of death prevented me." The old enemy (DEATH) hunts for his prey, not only with the dogs of the infernal kennel, but also with the snares of deadly craft. The nets were drawn closer and closer until the contracted circle completely prevented the escape of the captive: "About me the cords of hell were wound, And snares of death my footsteps bound." Thus hopeless was the case of this good man, as hopeless as a case could be, so utterly desperate that none but an almighty arm could be of any service. According to the four metaphors which he employs, he was bound like a malefactor for execution; overwhelmed like a shipwrecked mariner; surrounded and standing at bay like a hunted stag; and captured in a net like a trembling bird. What more of terror and distress could meet upon one poor defenseless head