Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
Then the earth shook and trembled. The imagery of this highly poetical passage is supposed by Dr. Chandler ('Life of David.' 2:, p. 211) to have been borrowed from 2 Samuel 5:20-24, and by Dean Stanley, from 2 Samuel 6:8.
The foundations of heaven moved and shook. No certain conclusion can be drawn as to the popular notions prevalent among the Hebrews from the bold imagery of the poets; but it is generally believed that, while as a nomadic people they conceived of the earth as a round tent, and the expanse of the firmament as its covering. they, on their permanent settlement in Canaan, viewed it as a splendid palace resting upon many pillars (cf. Psalms 75:3; Psalms 104:5; Proverbs 8:25-29: Rosenmuller's 'Geography,' 1:, Appendix 1:, A). But Gesenius supposes that by 'the foundations of the heavens' are rather meant lofty mountains, on which they seem to rest. Psalms 18:7 has, instead of "the foundations of heaven," "the foundations of the hills - i:e., subterranean rocks.
Because he was wroth, х kiy (H3588) chaaraah (H2734) low (H3807a), because it was kindled to him; scil. 'ap (H639), anger (cf. 2 Samuel 19:43; Genesis 31:30; Genesis 34:7; 1 Samuel 15:11. The Septuagint has: hoti ethumoothee kurios autois, because the Lord was wroth with them-namely, David's enemies]. As to thunder being an expression of divine wrath, it was considered among the Hebrews (1 Samuel 2:10; 1 Samuel 7:10), and it is still popularly believed by multitudes in our own day, to be God's voice speaking in anger to the wicked.