Commentary Critical and Explanatory
2 Samuel 22:50
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the pagan, х bagowyim (H1471)] - among the nations. Thank Thee for what?-for my deliverance, and for my advancement to the theocratic throne. х `al (H5921) keen (H3651)] wherefore-on which account, with references to all that he had described, bearing not only on his past and present experience of the divine goodness, but on the prospective blessings included in the covenant-I will thank Thee 'among the nations.' [The Septuagint has: dia touto exomologeesomai soi kurie en tois ethnesi.] Either - (1) in the assembled congregation of the Israelite tribes, to whom this word х gowyim (H1471)] is sometimes applied (Joshua 3:17; Joshua 4:1; Ezekiel 2:3); (2) i:e., in the presence of those who from time to time resorted to Jerusalem on embassy of international importance, or before those of them to whom, as my tributaries, I may go or transmit correspondence; or, (3) among the pagan in the widest sense-as referring not to David personally, but to his royal successors, especially, to Christ.
Accordingly, this praise has ever since been given to God, wherever this song has been known and used in the churches; and in this extended spiritual view it is applied by Paul to the preaching of his gospel among the Gentiles (Romans 15:9), "that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."