2 Samuel 23
23
David’s Last Words
1These are the last words of David:
The declaration of David son of Jesse, # Lk 3:32
the declaration of the man raised on high, # Or raised up by the high God
the one anointed by the God of Jacob, # 1Sm 16:12-13; Ps 89:20
the favorite singer of Israel:
2The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,
His word was on my tongue. # Mt 22:43; 2Pt 1:21
3The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me,
“The one who rules the people with justice,
who rules in the fear of God, # Ps 72:1-3; Is 11:1-5
4is like the morning light when the sun rises
on a cloudless morning,
the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”
5Is it not true my house is with God?
For He has established an everlasting covenant # Gn 9:16; 17:7,19; 1Ch 16:17; Ps 105:10 with me,
ordered and secured in every detail. # 2Sm 7:12-16; Ps 89:29; Is 55:3
Will He not bring about
my whole salvation and my every desire?
6But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside;
they can never be picked up by hand.
7The man who touches them
must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.
They will be completely burned up on the spot.
Exploits of David’s Warriors
8These are the names of David’s warriors: # 1Ch 11:11-47
Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers. # Some Hb mss, LXX read Three He wielded his spear # Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, LXX read He was Adino the Eznite against 800 men that he killed at one time.
9After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, 10but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.
11After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines, 12but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
13Three of the 30 leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam, # 1Sm 22:1 while a company of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim. 14At that time David was in the stronghold, # 1Sm 22:4-5 and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15David was extremely thirsty # Lit And David craved and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem! ” 16So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 17David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives? ” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
18Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah, # 1Sm 26:3-6 was leader of the Three. # Some Hb mss, Syr read the Thirty He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. 19Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three. # 1Ch 11:21
20Benaiah son of Jehoiada # 2Sm 8:18; 20:23 was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons # LXX; MT omits sons of Ariel # Or two warriors of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. 22These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. 23He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24Among the Thirty were:
Joab’s brother Asahel, # 2Sm 2:18-23; 1Ch 27:7
Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite,
26Helez the Paltite,
Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27Abiezer the Anathothite,
Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophahite,
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
30Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash, # Or from Nahale-gaash
31Abi-albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan son of # Some LXX mss; MT omits son of ; 1Ch 11:34 33Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite,
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, # 2Sm 15:12
35Hezro the Carmelite,
Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,
Bani the Gadite,
37Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah,
38Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
39and Uriah # Mt 1:6 the Hittite. # 2Sm 11:3-26
There were 37 in all.
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2 Samuel 23: HCSB
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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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