2 Samuel 22:15

He shot ¹  arrows and scattered them, ²  lightning and routed them. ³ 

He shot arrows and scattered the enemies , bolts of lightning and routed them.

"And He sent out arrows, and scattered them, Lightning, and routed them.

He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were confused.

God shot his arrows--pandemonium! He hurled his lightnings--a rout!

And he sent out his arrows, driving them in all directions; by his flames of fire they were troubled.

He sent out arrows, and scattered them—lightning, and routed them.

He sent out arrows and scattered them; Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.

He shot ¹  arrows and scattered them, ²  lightning and routed them. ³ 

¹ tn Heb “sent.”

² tn The pronominal suffixes on the verbs “scattered” and “routed” (see the next line) refer to David’s enemies. Some argue that the suffixes refer to the arrows, in which case one might translate “shot them far and wide” and “made them move noisily,” respectively. They argue that the enemies have not been mentioned since v. 4 and are not again mentioned until v. 17. However, usage of the verbs פוּץ (puts, “scatter”) and הָמַם (hamam, “rout”) elsewhere in Holy War accounts suggests the suffixes refer to enemies. Enemies are frequently pictured in such texts as scattered and/or routed (see Exod 14:24; 23:27; Num 10:35; Josh 10:10; Judg 4:15; 1 Sam 7:10; 11:11; Ps 68:1).

³ sn Lightning is a common motif in OT theophanies and in ancient Near Eastern portrayals of the storm god and warring kings. Arrows and lightning bolts are associated in other texts (see Pss 77:17-18; 144:6; Zech 9:14), as well as in ancient Near Eastern art. See R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 187, 190-92.