2 Samuel 22:17-28 – Owning God’s Righteousness

Translation & Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ The Redeemer Church of Manhattan, KS
25 Jan 2015, 25 Dec 2022

Introduction

vs.17-19 David’s Need For Salvation Established

vs.20-25 Three Causal Statements

vs. 22-24 – David declares his own righteousness six times

Chiasm of vs. 21-25

21 Yahweh will deal with me according to my righteousness;

indeed, He will make a return to me according to [the] cleanness of my hands.

22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh,

and I have not detached from my God.

23 For all His judgments correspond with me,

and, as for His statutory-laws, I do not turn away from them,

24 so I have integrity {with} Him,

and I keep myself from my iniquity.

25 And Yahweh has made a return to me according to my righteousness -

according to the cleanness {of my hands} corresponding to His eyes.

vs. 26-27 The Correspondence of God With His Own Character



2 Samuel 22:1-28Side-by side comparison of versionsA

Ps.17 LXX

2Sa22 LXX

Brenton

Douay

KJV

NAW

2Sa.22 MT

Ps.18 MT

17 ῥύσεταί με ἐξ ἐχθρῶν μου δυνατῶν καὶ ἐκ τῶν μισούντων με, ὅτι ἐστερεώθησαν
ὑπὲρ ἐμέ.

18 ἐρρύσατό με ἐξ ἐχθρῶν μου ἰσχύος, ἐκ τῶν μισούντων με, ὅτι ἐκραταιώθησαν ὑπὲρ ἐμέ.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemie[sB], from them that hated me, for they were stronger than I.

18 He delivered me from my most mighty enemy, [andC] from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

18 He will cause to deliver me from my strong enemy - from the ones who hate me - because they were stronger than me.

(יח) יַצִּילֵנִי מֵאֹיְבִי עָזD מִשֹּׂנְאַי כִּי אָמְצוּ מִמֶּנִּי.

יח יַצִּילֵנִי מֵאֹיְבִי עָז וּמִשֹּׂנְאַי כִּי אָמְצוּ מִמֶּנִּי.

18 προέφθασάν με ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακώσεώς μου, καὶ ἐγένετο κύριος ἀντιστήριγμά μου

19 προέφθασάν με ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς μου καὶ ἐγένετο κύριος ἐπιστήριγμά μου

19 X The days of my affliction XE prevented me; but the Lord was X my stay.

19 He prevented me in the day of my affliction, and the Lord became my stay.

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was X my stay.

19 They will confront me in my day of calamity, but Yahweh has became my support,

יט יְקַדְּמֻנִיF בְּיוֹם אֵידִי וַיְהִי יְהוָה Gמִשְׁעָן לִי.

יְקַדְּמוּנִי בְיוֹם אֵידִי וַיְהִי יְהוָה לְמִשְׁעָן לִי.

19 καὶ ἐξήγαγέν με εἰς πλατυσμόν, X ῥύσεταί με, ὅτι ἠθέλησέν X με.

20 καὶ ἐξήγαγέν με εἰς πλατυσμὸν καὶ ἐξείλατό με, ὅτι εὐδόκησεν ἐν ἐμοί.

20 And he brought me into a wide place, and rescued me, because he delighted in me.

20 And he brought me forth into a large place, he delivered me, because I pleased him.

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

20 and He has brought me out to freedom. He snatched me up because He delighted in me.

(כ) וַיֹּצֵאH לַמֶּרְחָב אֹתִי יְחַלְּצֵנִי כִּי חָפֵץ בִּי.

כ וַיּוֹצִיאֵנִי לַמֶּרְחָב יְחַלְּצֵנִי כִּי חָפֵץ בִּי.

20 καὶ ἀνταποδώσει μοι κύριος κατὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην μου [καὶ] κατὰ τὴν καθαριότητα τῶν χειρῶν μου ἀνταποδώσει μοι,

21 καὶ ἀνταπέδωκέν μοι κύριος κατὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην μου, κατὰ τὴν καθαριότητα τῶν χειρῶν μου ἀνταπέδωκέν μοι,

21 And the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness; [evenI] according to the purity of my hands did he recompense me.

21 The Lord will reward me according to my justice: [and] according to the cleanness of my hands he will render to me.

21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21 Yahweh will deal with me according to my righteousness; indeed, He will make a return to me according to [the] cleanness of my hands.

כא יִגְמְלֵנִיJ יְהוָה כְּצִדְקָתִי Kכְּבֹר יָדַי יָשִׁיב לִיL.

כא יִגְמְלֵנִי יְהוָה
כְּצִדְקִxי כְּבֹר יָדַי יָשִׁיב לִי.

21 ὅτι ἐφύλαξα τὰς ὁδοὺς κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἠσέβησα ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ μου,

22 ὅτι ἐφύλαξα ὁδοὺς κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἠσέβησα ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ μου,

22 Because, I kept the ways of the Lord, and did not wickedly depart from my God.

22 Because I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

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

22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and I have not detached from my God.

כב כִּי שָׁמַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵי יְהוָה וְלֹא רָשַׁעְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָיM.

כב כִּי שָׁמַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵי יְהוָה וְלֹא רָשַׁעְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָי.

22 ὅτι πάντα τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιόν μου, καὶ τὰ δικαιώ­ματα αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀπέστησα ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ.

23 ὅτι πάντα τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ κατεναντίον μου, καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἀπέστην ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν.

23 For all his judgments and his ordinances were before me: I departed not from them.

23 For all his judgments are in my sight: and his precepts I have not removed from me.

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

23 For all His judgments correspond with me, and, as for His statutory-laws, I do not turn away from them,

(כג) כִּי כָל מִשְׁפָּטָוN לְנֶגְדִּיO וְחֻקֹּתָיו
לֹא
אָסוּר מִמֶּנָּהP.

כג כִּי כָל מִשְׁפָּטָיו לְנֶגְדִּי וְחֻקֹּתָיו
לֹא אָסִיר xמֶנִּי.

23 καὶ ἔσομαι ἄμωμος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ xφυλάξομαι ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας μου.

24 καὶ ἔσομαι ἄμωμος αὐτῷ καὶ προφυλάξομαι ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας μου.

24 And I shall be blameless before him, and will keep myself from my iniquity.

24 And I shall be perfect with him: and shall keep myself from my iniquity.

24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 so I have integrity {with} Him, and I keep myself from my iniquity.

(כד) וָאֶהְיֶה תָמִים לוֹQ וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָה מֵעֲו‍ֹנִי.

כד וָאֱהִי תָמִים עִמּוֹ וָאֶשְׁתַּמֵּרx מֵעֲו‍ֹנִי.

24 καὶ ἀνταποδώσει μοι κύριος κατὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην μου καὶ κατὰ τὴν καθαριότη­τα· τῶν χειρῶν μου ἐνώπιον τῶν ὀ φθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ.

25 καὶ ἀποδώσει μοι κύριος κατὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην μου καὶ κατὰ τὴν καθαριότητα [τῶν χειρῶν] μου ἐνώπιον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ .

25 And the Lord will recompense me according to my righteousness, and according to the purity [of my hands] in his eye-sight.

25 And the Lord will recompense me according to my justice: and according to the cleanness [of my hands] in the sight of his eyes.

25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eyeX sight.

25 And Yahweh has made a return to me according to my righteousness - according to the cleanness {of my hands} corresponding to His eyes.

(כה) וַיָּשֶׁב יְהוָה לִי כְּצִדְקָתִי כְּבֹרִיR לְנֶגֶד עֵינָיו.

כה וַיָּשֶׁב יְהוָה לִי כְצִדְקִxי כְּבֹר יָדַי לְנֶגֶד עֵינָיו.

25 μετὰ ὁσίου ὁσιωθήσῃ [καὶ] μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀθῴου ἀθῷος ἔσῃ

26 μετὰ ὁσίου ὁσιωθήσῃ [καὶ] μετὰ ἀνδρὸς τελείου τελειωθήσῃ

26 With the holy thou wilt be holy, [and] with the perfect man thou will be perfect,

26 With the holy one thou wilt be holy: [and] with the valiant X perfect.

26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself mer­ciful, [and] with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

26 With one who is godly, You will be godly, {and} with a mortal of integrity, You will show integrity.

כו עִם חָסִיד תִּתְחַסָּד Sעִם גִּבּוֹר תָּמִים תִּתַּמָּם.

כו עִם חָסִיד תִּתְחַסָּד
עִם גְּבַר תָּמִים תִּתַּמָּם.

26 [καὶ] μετὰ ἐκλεκτοῦ ἐκλεκτὸς ἔσῃ καὶ μετὰ στρεβλοῦ διαστρέψεις.

27 [καὶ] μετὰ ἐκλεκτοῦ ἐκλεκτὸς ἔσῃ καὶ μετὰ στρεβλοῦ στρεβλωθήσῃ.

27 [and] with the excellent thou wilt be excellent, and with the froward thou will be froward.

27 With the elect thou wilt be elect: and with the perverse thou wilt be perverted.

27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

27 With one who is purified, You will show Yourself pure, yet with one who is crooked, You will show Yourself convoluted.

כז עִם נָבָר תִּתָּבָר וְעִם עִקֵּשׁ תִּתַּפָּלT.

כז עִם נָבָר תִּתְבָּרָר וְעִם עִקֵּשׁ תִּתְפַּתָּל.

27 ὅτι σὺ
λαὸν ταπεινὸν σώσεις καὶ ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑπερη­φάνων ταπεινώσεις.

28 καὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν πτωχὸν σώσεις καὶ ὀφθαλμοὺς X ἐπὶ μετεώρων ταπεινώσεις.

28 And thou wilt save the poor people, and wilt bring down the eyes of the haughty.

28 And the poor people thou wilt save: and [with] thy eyes thou shalt humble X the haughty.

28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring them down.

28 {For You} Yourself will cause to save a lowly people. Your eyes are also upon the haughty; You will bring them low.

כח וְאֶתU עַם עָנִי תּוֹשִׁיעַ וְעֵינֶיךָV עַל רָמִים תַּשְׁפִּיל.

כח כִּי אַתָּה עַם עָנִי תוֹשִׁיעַ וְעֵינַיִםX X רָמוֹת תַּשְׁפִּיל.



1It’s also a Hebrew word for “soap”

2Matthew Henry commented that David is primarily objecting to the false charges of Saul (1 Sam. 26:23), Absalom, Shemei, etc. regarding his integrity in becoming king. cf. Keil & Delitzsch, “the innocence, which David attributed to himself, were not perfect righteousness or holiness before God, but the righteousness of his endeavours and deeds as contrasted with the unrighteousness and wickedness of his adversaries and pursuers, and consisted in the fact that he endeavoured earnestly and sincerely to walk in the ways of God”

3 Notice the definition for the khesid in terms of what he does Deut. 33:8 Of Levi he [Moses] said, "Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man, Whom You proved genuine at Massah… For they observed Your word and kept Your covenant. They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, And Your law to Israel. They shall put incense before You, And whole burnt offerings on Your altar.”

4I think this is the only occurrence of barar in the Niphal stem in the Bible. It seems quite reasonable to render it as a passive, as the ESV brings out. “Chosen” is also given as a secondary meaning gloss in Brown, Driver, and Briggs’ Hebrew-English Lexicon, and the Septuagint translated it that way.

5Verse 28 recalls this theme of the reversal of the positions of the powerful wicked and the lowly faithful in the Psalms of justice like Psalms 9:18; 10:2,9; 12:5; 14:6, etc. (cf. Job 22:29 & 1 Sam. 2:7, Isa. 2:11-17)

AMy original chart includes the NASB, NIV, and ESV, but their copyright restrictions have forced me to remove them from the publicly-available edition of this chart. (NAW is my translation.) When a translation adds words not in the Hebrew text, but does not indicate it has done so by the use of italics or greyed-out text, I put the added words in [square brackets]. When one version chooses a wording which is different from all the other translations, I underline it. When a version chooses a translation which, in my opinion, either departs too far from the root meaning of the Hebrew word or departs too far from the grammar form of the original text, I use strikeout. And when a version omits a word which is in the original text, I insert an X. (I also place an X at the end of a word if the original word is plural but the English translation is singular.) I occasionally use colors to help the reader see correlations between the various editions and versions when there are more than two different translations of a given word. The only known Dead Sea Scrolls containing 2 Samuel 22 are 4Q51 Samuela (containing parts of verses 16-50 and dated between 50-25 BC). No DSS of Chronicles has been discovered. Where the DSS is legible and in agreement with the MT, the MT is colored purple. Where the DSS supports the LXX (or Vulgate) with omissions or text not in the MT, I have highlighted with yellow the LXX and its translation into English, and where I have accepted that into my NAW translation, I have marked it with {pointed brackets}.
In the parallel Greek and Hebrew readings from Psalm 18, I have colored orange the words which are spelled differently and colored grey the words that are not in the 2 Samuel text. In most cases, the orange words are synonyms for the words in the 2 Sam. 22 text.

BSyriac and Targum translations also pluralize this Hebrew singular, perhaps to match the plural in v.1?

CThis “and” is not in the Vulgate; it was inserted by Douay. There is an “and” here in the Syriac and in the Greek Lucian Rescription, however.

Dcf. Psalm 142:6 “Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I.” (NKJV)

EThe majority text of the LXX reads like the MT: “they confronted me in the day of my affliction,” but the Vaticanus omits the word “in,” which changes the sentence.

Fcf. same verb in v5b, “...deathly noose-snares confronted me.”

GThe only other instance of this verb in the O.T. is Isaiah 3:1 “For behold, the Lord Yahweh of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water…” (NAW)

HIn the rest of the Psalms, the merkhav is the opposite of sgr “closed” (Ps. 31:8) and the opposite of tsr “tight spot” (Ps. 118:5) – which is exactly where David said he was at the beginning of v.7. This ‘snatching out’ matches the prayer in Ps. 6:4 (“Return, Yahweh! Snatch away my soul; save me because of Your lovingkindness”), and is synonymous to msh in v.17 of this Psalm, “He drew me out of deep water.”

IThis extra conjunction is in the Vaticanus, but not in the majority of LXX manuscripts.

Jcf. Psalm 7:4 “If I have repaid evil” and Psalm 13:6 “The Lord has dealt bountifully with me”

KThe oldest-known Greek manuscript (Vaticanus) as well as the more-recent Greek Lucian Rescription, the ancient Syriac, and the Latin Vulgate all read as though they were translating a vav conjunction here in the Hebrew. It doesn’t change the meaning, though.

Lcf. Hosea 12:14 yashiv lo and Gen. 50:15 yashiv nu – The only parallel uses in the O.T. clearly picture “payback.”

MDSS is obliterated here, but seems to have space for an extra word or two, but no extra word is suggested in any of the ancient manuscripts.

NThe Qere suggests emending the spelling of this word to the spelling found in Psalm 18 with an extra yod that makes the plural construct more obvious, but it is just a spelling convention, not a difference in meaning.

OIn v.21, both verbs are perfect/past tense, but in vs. 22-23, the first verb is an understood verb of being which I interpret as present tense, followed by an imperfect verb which I interpret as habitual action. I don’t see why most English versions translate it all in past tense. The LXX is not consistent because it translates the verbs of v. 22 as Aorist and the verbs of 23 as Future, and the NIV is also not consistent because it translates the understood verb of being in 22 as present (which I think is the best translation), but then it translates the understood verb of being in v.23 as past tense.

PThe MT’s pronoun ending here is feminine and singular (“her”), probably referring to the feminine “statutes” as a singular whole. LXX renders it plural (“them”), and a few Hebrew manuscripts render it (“him”). Psalm 18 renders this pronomial ending in the first person singular (“me”), as do the Vulgate and Syriac and a few Hebrew manuscripts of 2 Sam. 22.

QDSS is obliterated here, but its spacing definitively supports the Psalm 18 MT text עמו (“with him”) instead of the 2 Sam. MT text (“to him”), and so do the Syriac (עמה), Vulgate (cum), Lucian Rescription (μετ᾿), and a couple of Hebrew manuscripts. It doesn’t make for a difference in meaning, however.

RDSS is obliterated at this point, but its spacing supports the longer reading of the MT of Ps. 18 here (“of my hands”), as do the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate. This verse recaps the phrases from v.21 as well as the word “leneged” from v.23.

SDSS inserts a vav conjunction here, as do the LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac. In the Psalms, the gbr seems to be consistently used as the opposite of God (viz. Ps. 128:4, 89:48, 37:23), although it is also used in other books to distinguish a male from a female.

Tcf. Deut. 32:5 "They have corrupted themselves; They are not His children, Because of their blemish: A perverse and crooked generation.”

UDSS is obliterated here, but it has too much space for the MT reading, yet just enough extra space for the Psalm 18 reading of the MT (“and you yourself”).

VSyriac & LXX omit the “your” (like it is omitted in the Psalm), but it is in the LXX, Vulgate, & Targums of 2 Sam. 22. cf. Prov. 6:16-17 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look…” (KJV)

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