2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Words

1Here are David’s last words. He said,

“I am David, the son of Jesse. God has given me a message.

The Most High God has greatly honored me.

The God of Jacob anointed me as king.

I am the hero of Israel’s songs.

2“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me.

I spoke his word with my tongue.

3The God of Israel spoke.

The Rock of Israel said to me,

‘A king must rule over people in a way that is right.

He must have respect for God when he rules.

4Then he will be like the light of morning at sunrise

when there aren’t any clouds.

He will be like the bright sun after rain

that makes grass grow on the earth.’

5“Suppose my royal family was not right with God.

Then he would not have made a covenant with me that will last forever.

Every part of it was well prepared and made secure.

Then God would not have saved me completely

or given me everything I longed for.

6But evil people are like thorns that are thrown away.

You can’t pick them up with your hands.

7Even if you touch them,

you must use an iron tool or a spear.

Thorns are burned up right where they are.”

David’s Mighty Warriors

8Here are the names of David’s mighty warriors.

Josheb-Basshebeth was chief of the three mighty warriors. He was a Tahkemonite. He used his spear against 800 men. He killed all of them at one time.

9Next to him was Eleazar. He was one of the three mighty warriors. He was the son of Dodai, the Ahohite. Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim. That’s where Israel’s army made fun of the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. Then the Israelites pulled back. 10But Eleazar stayed right where he was. He struck down the Philistines until his hand grew tired. But he still held on to his sword. The Lord helped him win a great battle that day. The troops returned to Eleazar. They came back to him only to take what they wanted from the dead bodies.

11Next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee. Shammah was a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at a place where there was a field full of lentils. Israel’s troops ran away from the Philistines. 12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He didn’t let the Philistines capture it. He struck them down. The Lord helped him win a great battle.

13David was at the cave of Adullam. During harvest time, three of the 30 chief warriors came down to him there. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem. 15David longed for a drink of water. He said, “I wish someone would get me water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem.” 16So the three mighty warriors fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord. 17“Lord, I would never drink that water!” David said. “It stands for the blood of these men. They put their lives in danger by going to Bethlehem to get it.” So David wouldn’t drink it.

Those were some of the brave things the three mighty warriors did.

18Abishai was chief over the three mighty warriors. He was the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the three mighty warriors were. 19In fact, he was even more honored than the three mighty warriors. He became their commander. But he wasn’t included among them.

20Benaiah was a great hero from Kabzeel. He was the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah did many brave things. He struck down two of Moab’s best warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day. He killed a lion there. 21And he struck down a huge Egyptian. The Egyptian was holding a spear. Benaiah went out to fight against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand. Then he killed him with it. 22Those were some of the brave things Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did. He too was as famous as the three mighty warriors were. 23He was honored more than any of the thirty chief warriors. But he wasn’t included among the three mighty warriors. David put him in charge of his own personal guards.

24Here is a list of David’s men who were among the thirty chief warriors.

Asahel, the brother of Joab

Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem

25Shammah, the Harodite

Elika, the Harodite

26Helez, the Paltite

Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa

27Abiezer from Anathoth

Sibbekai, the Hushathite

28Zalmon, the Ahohite

Maharai from Netophah

29Heled, the son of Baanah, from Netophah

Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah in Benjamin

30Benaiah from Pirathon

Hiddai from the valleys of Gaash

31Abi-Albon, the Arbathite

Azmaveth, the Barhumite

32Eliahba, the Shaalbonite

the sons of Jashen

Jonathan, 33the son of Shammah, the Hararite

Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite

34Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the Maakathite

Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Giloh

35Hezro from Carmel

Paarai, the Arbite

36Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah

the son of Hagri

37Zelek from Ammon

Naharai from Beeroth, who carried the armor of Joab, the son of Zeruiah

38Ira, the Ithrite

Gareb, the Ithrite

39and Uriah, the Hittite

The total number of men was 37.

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2 Samuel 23: NIrV

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2 Samuel 23

David's Last Words

1These are the last words of David the son of Jesse.

The God of Jacob chose David

and made him a great king.

The Mighty God of Israel

loved him.#23.1 The Mighty … him: Or “He wrote Israel's favorite songs.”

When God told him to speak,

David said:

2The Spirit of the Lord

has told me what to say.

3Our Mighty Rock,#23.3 Mighty Rock: See the note at 22.2.

the God of Jacob, told me,

“A ruler who obeys God

and does right

4is like the sunrise

on a cloudless day,

or like rain that sparkles

on the grass.”#23.4 sparkles … grass: Or “makes the grass grow.”

5I have ruled this way,

and God will never break

his promise to me.

God's promise is complete

and unchanging;

he will always help me

and give me what I hope for.

6But evil people are pulled up

like thornbushes.

They are not dug up by hand,

7but with a sharp spear

and are burned on the spot.

The Three Warriors

(1 Chronicles 11.10-19)

8These are the names of David's warriors:

Ishbosheth#23.8 Ishbosheth: Hebrew “Josheb Bashebeth,” which seems to be another spelling of Ishbosheth. See the note at 2.8, although this is a different Ishbosheth. the son of Hachmon#23.8 the son of Hachmon: Or “the Tahchemonite” (see 1 Chronicles 11.11). was the leader of the Three Warriors.#23.8 the Three Warriors: The most honored group of warriors. They may have been part of the Thirty Warriors. “Three” and “thirty” are spelled almost the same in Hebrew, so there is some confusion in the manuscripts as to which group is being talked about in some places in the following lists. In one battle, he killed 800 men with his spear.#23.8 with … spear: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text (see 1 Chronicles 11.11).

9The next one of the Three Warriors was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. One time when the Philistines were at war with Israel, he and David dared the Philistines to fight them. Every one of the Israelite soldiers turned and ran, 10except Eleazar. He killed Philistines until his hand was cramped, and he couldn't let go of his sword. When Eleazar finished, all the Israelite troops had to do was come back and take the enemies' weapons and armor. The Lord gave Israel a great victory that day.

11Next was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. One time the Philistines brought their army together to destroy a crop of peas growing in a field near Lehi. The rest of Israel's soldiers ran away from the Philistines, 12but Shammah stood in the middle of the field and killed the Philistines. The crops were saved, and the Lord gave Israel a great victory.

13One year at harvest time, the Three Warriors#23.13 the Three Warriors: Or “three warriors.” Hebrew “three of the thirty most important.” went to meet David at Adullam Cave.#23.13 Adullam Cave: This may have happened during the time that David was an outlaw (see 1 Samuel 22.1-6). The Philistine army had set up camp in Rephaim Valley 14and had taken over Bethlehem. David was in his fortress, 15and he was very thirsty. He said, “I wish I had a drink from the well by the gate at Bethlehem.”

16The Three Warriors#23.16 the Three Warriors: Or “three warriors.” sneaked into the Philistine camp and got some water from the well near Bethlehem's gate. But after they brought the water back to David, he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a sacrifice 17and said to the Lord, “I can't drink this water! It's like the blood of these men who risked their lives to get it for me.”

The Three Warriors did these brave deeds.

The Thirty Warriors

(1 Chronicles 11.20-47)

18Joab's brother Abishai was the leader of the Thirty Warriors,#23.18 the Thirty Warriors: The second most honored group of warriors. They may have also been officers in the army (see the note at 23.8). and in one battle he killed 300 men with his spear. He was as famous as the Three Warriors 19and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. He was the commander of the Thirty Warriors, but he still did not become one of the Three Warriors.

20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel who did some amazing things. He killed two of Moab's best fighters,#23.20 Moab's best fighters: Or “big lions in Moab;” one ancient translation “sons of Ariel from Moab.” and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 21Another time, he killed an Egyptian, as big as a giant.#23.21 Egyptian … giant: First Chronicles 11.23; in this verse the Hebrew text has “good-looking Egyptian.” The Egyptian was armed with a spear, but Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah grabbed the spear from the Egyptian and killed him with it. 22-23Benaiah did these things. He never became one of the Three Warriors, but he was just as famous as they were and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. David made him the leader of his bodyguard.

24-39Some of the Thirty Warriors were:

Asahel the brother of Joab

Elhanan the son of Dodo from Bethlehem

Shammah from Harod

Elika from Harod

Helez the Paltite

Ira the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa

Abiezer from Anathoth

Mebunnai#23.24-39 Mebunnai: Or “Sibbecai” (see 1 Chronicles 11.26-47). the Hushathite

Zalmon the Ahohite

Maharai from Netophah

Heleb the son of Baanah from Netophah

Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamin

Benaiah from Pirathon

Hiddai from the streams on Mount Gaash

Abialbon from Beth-Arabah

Azmaveth from Bahurim#23.24-39 Bahurim: Or “Barhum.”

Eliahba from Shaalbon

Jashen#23.24-39 Jashen: Hebrew “sons of Jashen.”

Jonathan the son of Shammah the Hararite#23.24-39 Jonathan … Hararite: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation (see 1 Chronicles 11.26-47). In the Hebrew text Jonathan and Shammah are separate members of the list.

Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite

Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai from Maacah

Eliam the son of Ahithophel from Gilo

Hezro from Carmel

Paarai the Arbite

Igal the son of Nathan from Zobah

Bani the Gadite

Zelek from Ammon

Naharai from Beeroth, who carried the weapons of Joab the son of Zeruiah

Ira the Ithrite

Gareb the Ithrite

Uriah the Hittite

There were 37 in all.

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