שמואל ב, פרק כ״ב, פסוק ל״ז

God's protection extends far beyond shielding a person from enemy attacks; it also involves securing their personal stability during moments of great danger. When a person walks with their feet too close together, they can easily lose their balance and fall [רש״י]. By widening a person's stride, God grants them a safe, steady, and effective way to move without collapsing to the ground [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The very physical steps a person takes are directly supported by this divine care [מצודת ציון].

This physical support is especially crucial in the chaos of a battlefield. A warrior might survive the weapons of the enemy, only to be defeated by tripping over narrow or slippery terrain. David expresses deep gratitude for God's personal care, noting that he was never brought down by the treacherous conditions of the ground beneath him [אברבנאל]. This divine protection ensured his feet never slipped or gave way [מצודת ציון]. While some view this physical support as a strengthening of the heels [רש״י], the primary approach among commentators is that God specifically guarded his knees and lower legs from buckling under pressure [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, אברבנאל].

Another perspective connects this divine assistance to a specific historical event. When David secretly entered the camp of King Saul, the king's guards were sleeping tightly packed together in a defensive ring. To help him navigate this impossible obstacle, God miraculously stretched David's stride, allowing him to step over the guards and reach the inner circle without waking a single person. By successfully navigating this dangerous path and choosing not to harm Saul, David earned an immense spiritual reward [אהבת יהונתן].