2 Kings 23
23
1Now these are David's last words. David the son of Isai said: The man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, the excellent psalmist of Israel said:
2The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me: and his word by my tongue.
3The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God.
4As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning without clouds; and as the grass springeth out of the earth by rain.
5Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with me an eternal covenant, firm in all things and assured. For he is all my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof that springeth not up.
6But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands.
7And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to nothing.
8These are the names of the valiant men of David. Jesbaham sitting in the chair was the wisest chief among the three: he was like the most tender little worm of the wood; who killed eight hundred men at one onset.
9After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David when they defied the Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle.
10And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and smote the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword. And the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were fled away returned to take spoils of them that were slain.
11And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the Philistines,
12He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and defeated the Philistines. And the Lord gave a great victory.
13Moreover also before this the three who were princes among the thirty went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants.
14And David was then in a hold: and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem.
15And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, by the gate!
16And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David. But he would not drink, but offered it to the Lord,
17Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their lives? Therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.
18Abisai also, the brother of Joab the son of Sarvia, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew. And he was renowned among the three,
19And the noblest of three, and was their chief: but to the three first he attained not.
20And Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel. He slew the two lions of Moab: and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow.
21He also slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear.
22These things did Banaias the son of Joiada.
23And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained not to the first three. And David made him of his privy council.
24Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem.
25Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi,
26Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua,
27Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati,
28Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heled the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin,
30Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,
31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi,
32Eliaba of Salaboni, the sons of Jassen, Jonathan,
33Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite,
34Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite,
35Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,
36Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi,
37Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab the son of Sarvia,
38Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite,
39Urias the Hethite: thirty and seven in all.
Currently Selected:
2 Kings 23: DRC1752
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
2 Samuel 23
23
David’s Last Words
1These are the last words of David:
“This message is from David son of Jesse.
This message is from the man God made great.
He is the king chosen by the God of Jacob,
the sweet singer of Israel.#23:1 the sweet singer of Israel Or “The most pleasant of the songs of Israel.”
2The Lord’s Spirit spoke through me.
His word was on my tongue.
3The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me,
‘Whoever rules people fairly,
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 tender grass grow from the ground.’
5“God made my family strong and secure.#23:5 God … secure Or “Hasn’t God made my family strong?”
He made an agreement with me forever.
God made sure this agreement was
good and secure in every way.
So surely he will give me every victory.
He will give me everything I want!
6“But evil people are like thorns.
People don’t hold thorns.
They throw them away.
7If someone touches them,
it hurts like a spear made of wood and iron.
Yes, evil people are like thorns.
They will be thrown into the fire,
and they will be completely burned.”
The Three Heroes
8These are the names of David’s special soldiers:
Josheb Basshebeth the Tahkemonite#23:8 Josheb Basshebeth the Tahkemonite Or “Jashobeam the Hacmonite.” See 1 Chron. 11:11. was captain of the king’s special forces.#23:8 king’s special forces A special group of soldiers who formed three-man squads and went on special missions for the king. He used his spear to kill 800 men at one time.#23:8 Josheb Basshebeth … time The Hebrew text here is unclear. The translation follows 1 Chron. 11:11 and the ancient Greek version.
9Next, there was Eleazar son of Dodai#23:9 Eleazar son of Dodai Or “Eleazar his cousin.” who was there with David when he challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites ran away, 10but Eleazar stood and fought the Philistines until his hand became so tired that it cramped around his sword handle. The Lord won a great victory that day. The people of Israel came back, but only to take things from the dead.
11Next there was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines came together to fight. They fought in a field of lentils.#23:11 lentils Small round beans. The people ran away from the Philistines. 12But Shammah stood in the middle of the field and defended it. He defeated the Philistines. The Lord gave Israel a great victory that day.
13Once during harvest time David was at the cave of Adullam, and three of the Thirty Heroes#23:13 Thirty Heroes Or “the king’s special forces.” These men were David’s famous group of very brave soldiers. Also in verses 23, 24. went down to meet him there. At the same time the Philistine army was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.#23:13 three … Rephaim The Hebrew text here is hard to understand, but compare 1 Chron. 11:15.
14Another time David was in the fortress, and a group of Philistines soldiers was stationed in Bethlehem. 15David was thirsty for some water from his hometown, so he said, “Oh, if only I could have some water from that well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 16So the Three Heroes#23:16 Three Heroes These were David’s three bravest soldiers. Also in verses 18, 22. fought their way through the Philistine army and got some water from the well near the city gate in Bethlehem. They took it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it on the ground as an offering to the Lord. 17David said, “Lord, I cannot drink this water. It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives for me.” This is why David refused to drink the water. The Three Heroes did many brave things like that.
Other Brave Soldiers
18Abishai was the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah. Abishai was the leader of the Three Heroes. He used his spear against 300 enemies and killed them. He became as famous as the Three. 19Abishai was as famous as the Three Heroes. He became their leader, even though he was not one of them.
20Then there was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel. He was the son of a powerful man.#23:20 powerful man That is, a man from the warrior class. He is ready to protect his people in war. Benaiah did many brave things. He killed two of the best soldiers in Moab. One day when it was snowing, Benaiah went down into a hole in the ground and killed a lion. 21Benaiah also killed a big Egyptian soldier. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, and Benaiah only had a club. He grabbed the spear in the Egyptian’s hands and took it away from him. Then Benaiah killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 22Benaiah son of Jehoiada did many more brave things like that. He was as famous as the Three Heroes. 23Benaiah was even more famous than the Thirty Heroes, but he did not become a member of the Three Heroes. David made Benaiah the leader of his bodyguards.
The Thirty Heroes
24The following men were among the Thirty Heroes:
Asahel, the 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 from Anathoth;
Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28Zalmon the Ahohite;
Maharai from Netophah;
29Heled son of Baanah from Netophah;
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin;
30Benaiah the Pirathonite;
Hiddai from the Brooks of Gaash;
31Abi Albon the Arbathite;
Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan 33the son of Shammah from Harar;
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite;
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35Hezro the Carmelite;
Paarai the Arbite;
36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah;
Bani the Gadite;
37Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai from Beeroth (Naharai carried the armor for Joab son of Zeruiah);
38Ira the Ithrite;
Gareb the Ithrite;
39and Uriah the Hittite.
There were 37 in all.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International