2 Samuel 23
23
David’s Last Words
1These are the last words of David:
“David, the son of Jesse, speaks—
David, the man who was raised up so high,
David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.#23:1 Or the favorite subject of the songs of Israel; or the favorite of the Strong One of Israel.
2“The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;
his words are upon my tongue.
3The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:
‘The one who rules righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,
4is like the light of morning at sunrise,
like a morning without clouds,
like the gleaming of the sun
on new grass after rain.’
5“Is it not my family God has chosen?
Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.
His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.
He will ensure my safety and success.
6But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
for they tear the hand that touches them.
7One must use iron tools to chop them down;
they will be totally consumed by fire.”
David’s Mightiest Warriors
8These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite,#23:8a As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:11; Hebrew reads Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite. who was leader of the Three#23:8b As in Greek and Latin versions (see also 1 Chr 11:11); the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.#23:8c As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:11); the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain, though it might be rendered the Three. It was Adino the Eznite who killed 800 men at one time.
9Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. 10He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!
11Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, 12but Shammah#23:12 Hebrew he. held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
13Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. 14David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.
15David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 16So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 17“The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men#23:17 Hebrew Shall I drink the blood of these men? who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.
David’s Thirty Mighty Men
18Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty.#23:18 As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac version; most Hebrew manuscripts read the Three. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. 19Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty#23:19 As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads the Three. and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.
20There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior#23:20a Or son of Jehoiada, son of Ish-hai. from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions#23:20b Hebrew two of Ariel. of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. 21Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. 22Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors. 23He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.
24Other members of the Thirty included:
Asahel, Joab’s brother;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
25Shammah from Harod;
Elika from Harod;
26Helez from Pelon#23:26 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:27 (see also 1 Chr 27:10); Hebrew reads from Palti.;
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
27Abiezer from Anathoth;
Sibbecai#23:27 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:29); Hebrew reads Mebunnai. from Hushah;
28Zalmon from Ahoah;
Maharai from Netophah;
29Heled#23:29a As in some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts read Heleb. son of Baanah from Netophah;
Ithai#23:29b As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:31; Hebrew reads Ittai. son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);
30Benaiah from Pirathon;
Hurai#23:30a As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:32); Hebrew reads Hiddai. from Nahale-gaash#23:30b Or from the ravines of Gaash.;
31Abi-albon from Arabah;
Azmaveth from Bahurim;
32Eliahba from Shaalbon;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan 33son of Shagee#23:33 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:34; Hebrew reads Jonathan, Shammah; some Greek manuscripts read Jonathan son of Shammah. from Harar;
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah;
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;
35Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai from Arba;
36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah;
Bani from Gad;
37Zelek from Ammon;
Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
38Ira from Jattir;
Gareb from Jattir;
39Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
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2 Samuel 23: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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2 Samuel 23
23
1Now these are the last words of David:
The oracle of David, the son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man who was raised on high,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
the sweet psalmist of Israel:#23.1 Or the favorite of the songs of Israel
2“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me,
his word is upon my tongue.
3The God of Israel has spoken,
the Rock of Israel has said to me:
When one rules justly over men,
ruling in the fear of God,
4he dawns on them like the morning light,
like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning,
like rain#23.4 Heb from rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
5Yea, does not my house stand so with God?
For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secure.
For will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
6But godless men#23.6 Heb worthlessness are all like thorns that are thrown away;
for they cannot be taken with the hand;
7but the man who touches them
arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear,
and they are utterly consumed with fire.”#23.7 Heb fire in the sitting
8 #
1 Chron 11.10-41. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tah-chemonite; he was chief of the three;#23.8 Or captains he wielded his spear#23.8 1 Chron 11.11: Heb obscure against eight hundred whom he slew at one time.
9And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand cleaved to the sword; and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.
11And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the men fled from the Philistines. 12But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory.
13And three of the thirty chief men went down, and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 14David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15And David said longingly, “O that some one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” 16Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the Lord, 17and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
18Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty.#23.18 Two Hebrew Mss Syr: MT three And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and slew them, and won a name beside the three. 19He was the most renowned of the thirty,#23.19 1 Chron 11.25: Heb Was he the most renowned of the three? and became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.
20And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man#23.20 Another reading is the son of Ish-hai of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels#23.20 The meaning of the word ariel is unknown of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21And he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. 22These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. 23He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, 27Abiezer, of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibe-ah of the Benjaminites, 30Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, 32Eliahba of Sha-albon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel of Gilo, 35Hezro#23.35 Another reading is Hezrai of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Be-eroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
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