2 Samuel 23
23
David’s last words
1These are David’s last words:
This is the declaration of Jesse’s son David,
the declaration of a man raised high,
a man anointed by the God of Jacob,
a man favored by the strong one of Israel.#23.1 Or Israel’s favorite singer or the favorite of Israel’s songs
2The LORD’s spirit speaks through me;
his word is on my tongue.
3Israel’s God has spoken,
Israel’s rock said to me:
“Whoever rules rightly over people,
whoever rules in the fear of God,
4is like the light of sunrise
on a morning with no clouds,
like the bright gleam after the rain
that brings grass from the ground.”
5Yes, my house is this way with God!#23.5 Or Yes, my house is surely with God!
He has made an eternal covenant with me,
laid out and secure in every detail.
Yes, he provides every one of my victories
and brings my every desire to pass.
6But despicable people are like thorns,
all of them good for nothing,
because they can’t be carried by hand.
7No one can touch them,
except with iron bar or the shaft of a spear.
They must be burned up with fire right on the spot!
David’s warriors
8These are the names of David’s warriors: Jeshbaal#23.8 LXXL, OL; MT Josheb-bashebeth; cf 1 Chron 11:11 from Hachmon#23.8 See 1 Chron 11:11. was chief of the Three.#23.8 LXXL, Vulg; cf 1 Chron 11:11; MT chief of the officers He raised his spear#23.8 Cf 1 Chron 11:11; Heb uncertain against eight hundred, killing them on a single occasion.
9Next in command was Eleazar, Dodo’s son and Ahohi’s grandson. He was among the three warriors with David when they insulted the Philistines who had gathered there for battle. The Israelites retreated, 10but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was weary and stuck to the sword. But the LORD accomplished a great victory that day. The troops then returned to Eleazar, but only to plunder the dead.
11Next in command was Agee’s son Shammah, who was from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a plot of land full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines, 12but Shammah took a position in the middle of the plot, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. The LORD accomplished a great victory.
13At harvesttime, three of the thirty chiefs went down and joined David at the fortress#23.13 Or cave; cf 2 Sam 23:14 of Adullam, while a force of Philistines were camped in the Rephaim Valley. 14At that time, David was in the fortress, and a Philistine fort was in Bethlehem. 15David had a craving and said, “If only someone could give me a drink of water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 16So the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it and poured it out to the LORD.
17“The LORD forbid that I should do that,” he said. “Isn’t this the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it.
These were the kinds of things the three warriors did.
18Now Zeruiah’s son Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty.#23.18 Some Heb manuscripts, Syr; MT third or three He raised his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and made a name for himself along with the Three. 19He was the most famous of the Thirty.#23.19 Syr; cf 1 Chron 11:25; MT Wasn’t he the most famous of the Three? He became their commander, but he wasn’t among the Three.
20Jehoiada’s son Benaiah was a hero from Kabzeel who performed great deeds. He killed the two sons#23.20 LXX; MT lacks sons. of Ariel from Moab. He once went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 21He also killed a giant#23.21 MT handsome; cf 1 Chron 11:23 Egyptian who had a spear in his hand. Benaiah went against him armed with a staff. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22These were the kinds of things Jehoiada’s son Benaiah did. He made a name for himself along with the three warriors. 23He was famous among the Thirty, but he didn’t become one of the Three. David placed him in command of his own bodyguard.
24Among the Thirty were:
Asahel, Joab’s brother;
Elhanan, Dodo’s son from Bethlehem;
25Shammah from Harod;
Elika from Harod;
26Helez from Pelet;
Ira, Ikkesh’s son from Tekoa;
27Abiezer from Anathoth;
Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28Zalmon from Ahoh;
Maharai from Netophah;
29Heleb, Baanah’s son from Netophah;
Ittai, Ribai’s son from Gibeah in Benjamin;
30Benaiah from Pirathon;
Hiddai from the Gaash ravines;
31Abi-albon from the desert plain;
Azmaveth from Bahurim;
32Eliahba from Shaalbon;
Jashen the Gizonite;#23.32 Cf 1 Chron 11:34; MT Jashen’s sons
Jonathan, 33Shammah’s son#23.33 LXX; MT lacks son. from Harar;
Ahiam, Sharar’s son from Harar;
34Eliphelet, Ahasbai’s son from Maacah;
Eliam, Ahithophel’s son from Giloh;
35Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai from Erab;
36Igal, Nathan’s son from Zobah;
Bani the Gadite;
37Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai from Beeroth, and the armor-bearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab;
38Ira from Ither;
Gaeb from Ither;
39and Uriah the Hittite—
thirty-seven in all.
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2 Samuel 23: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
2 Samuel 23
23
David’s Last Words
1These are the last words of David.
This is the message of David son of Jesse.
The man made great by the Most High God speaks.
He is the appointed king of the God of Jacob;
he is the sweet singer of Israel:
2“The Lord’s Spirit spoke through me,
and his word was on my tongue.
3The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me:
‘Whoever rules fairly over people,
who rules with respect for God,
4is like the morning light at dawn,
like a morning without clouds.
He is like sunshine after a rain
that makes the grass sprout from the ground.’
5“This is how God has cared for my family.
God made a lasting agreement with me,
right and sure in every way.
He will accomplish my salvation
and satisfy all my desires.
6“But all evil people will be thrown away like thorns
that cannot be held in a hand.
7No one can touch them
except with a tool of iron or wood.
They will be thrown in the fire and burned where they lie.”
David’s Army
8These are the names of David’s warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite, was head of the Three. He killed eight hundred men at one time.
9Next was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. Eleazar was one of the three soldiers who were with David when they challenged the Philistines. The Philistines were gathered for battle, and the Israelites drew back. 10But Eleazar stayed where he was and fought the Philistines until he was so tired his hand stuck to his sword. The Lord gave a great victory for the Israelites that day. The troops came back after Eleazar had won the battle, but only to take weapons and armor from the enemy.
11Next there was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines came together to fight in a vegetable field. Israel’s troops ran away from the Philistines, 12but Shammah stood in the middle of the field and fought for it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord gave a great victory.
13Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him at the cave of Adullam during harvest. The Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and some of the Philistines were in Bethlehem.
15David had a strong desire for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 16So the three warriors broke through the Philistine army and took water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out before the Lord, 17saying, “May the Lord keep me from drinking this water! It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives!” So David refused to drink it. These were the brave things that the three warriors did.
18Abishai, brother of Joab son of Zeruiah, was captain of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He became as famous as the Three 19and was more honored than the Three. He became their commander even though he was not one of them.
20Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed two of the best warriors from Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 21Benaiah killed a large Egyptian who had a spear in his hand. Benaiah had a club, but he grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22These were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He was as famous as the Three. 23He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David made him leader of his bodyguards.
The Thirty Chief Soldiers
24The following men were among the Thirty:
Asahel brother of Joab;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
25Shammah the Harodite;
Elika the Harodite;
26Helez the Paltite;
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
27Abiezer the Anathothite;
Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28Zalmon the Ahohite;
Maharai the Netophathite;
29Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;
30Benaiah the Pirathonite;
Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
31Abi-Albon the Arbathite;
Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan 33son of Shammah the Hararite;
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite;
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35Hezro the Carmelite;
Paarai the Arbite;
36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah;
the son of Hagri;
37Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah;
38Ira the Ithrite;
Gareb the Ithrite,
39and Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.