תהלים, פרק י״ח, פסוק מ״ד

King David reflects on his remarkable journey to the throne, expressing deep gratitude to God for carrying him from a life of survival and bitter struggles to a position of international authority. His path was fraught with conflict, but he ultimately emerged as a leader who subdued foreign powers and unified a fractured nation.

The primary approach among commentators is that David first gives thanks for surviving intense internal disputes and civil wars within the Israelites. His early years were marked by domestic turmoil, including the relentless pursuit by King Saul and the painful rebellion of his own son, Absalom [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Beyond mere physical survival, this rescue had profound social and spiritual layers. From a social perspective, the Israelites found it difficult to accept the authority of a man who had once been a simple shepherd. Because they viewed him as an equal, David faced the constant threat of their disrespect and friction, from which God spared him [אלשיך]. Spiritually, David was saved from the heavy divine punishment that would have fallen upon him had he made errors in judgment or harshly oppressed his own people [רש״י]. Conversely, an alternative viewpoint suggests that these early struggles were not domestic at all, but rather refer to the numerous wars David fought against foreign nations before securing his kingdom [מצודת דוד, מאירי].

As his reign stabilized, David's influence expanded far beyond his own borders. He was elevated to govern over other nations, ending their hostilities and bringing them under his control [מצודת דוד]. This authority reached distant and previously unknown lands [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ], specifically resulting in the subjugation of neighboring powers such as Edom and Aram [רד״ק, מאירי].

This transition highlights a deliberate choice in David's leadership. He strongly preferred to exercise his absolute authority and heavy rule over foreign nations rather than over the Israelites. Imposing a strict reign over his own brothers, who knew him from his humble beginnings, would have inevitably sparked resentment and scorn [אלשיך]. Furthermore, by directing his dominion outward toward foreign powers, David avoided severe divine consequences, as there is no heavenly punishment for subjugating foreign nations [רש״י].