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The Incomprehensibility of God's Infinity

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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk2SA">
      <div class="chapter ch23" data-usfm="2SA.23">
         <div class="label">23</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">David&#8217;s Last Words</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="2SA.23.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">These are the last words of David:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="2SA.23.1"><span class="content">&#8220;The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="2SA.23.1"><span class="content">the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="2SA.23.1"><span class="content">the man anointed by the God of Jacob,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="2SA.23.1"><span class="content">the hero of Israel&#8217;s songs:</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="2SA.23.1"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="2SA.23.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">&#8220;The Spirit of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> spoke through me;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="2SA.23.2"><span class="content">his word was on my tongue.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="2SA.23.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.23.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">The God of Israel spoke,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.23.3"><span class="content">the Rock of Israel said to me:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.23.3"><span class="content">&#8216;When one rules over people in righteousness,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.23.3"><span class="content">when he rules in the fear of God,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.23.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.23.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">he is like the light of morning at sunrise</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.23.4"><span class="content">on a cloudless morning,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.23.4"><span class="content">like the brightness after rain</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.23.4"><span class="content">that brings grass from the earth.&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.23.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.23.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">&#8220;If my house were not right with God,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.23.5"><span class="content">surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.23.5"><span class="content">arranged and secured in every part;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.23.5"><span class="content">surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.23.5"><span class="content">and grant me my every desire.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.23.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="2SA.23.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="2SA.23.6"><span class="content">which are not gathered with the hand.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="2SA.23.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="2SA.23.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Whoever touches thorns</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="2SA.23.7"><span class="content">uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="2SA.23.7"><span class="content">they are burned up where they lie.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">David&#8217;s Mighty Warriors</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="2SA.23.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="2SA.23.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">These are the names of David&#8217;s mighty warriors:</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="2SA.23.8"><span class="content">Josheb-Basshebeth,</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:8 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts suggest </span><span class="fqa">Ish-Bosheth, </span><span class="ft">that is, </span><span class="fqa">Esh-Baal </span><span class="ft">(see also 1 Chron. 11:11  </span><span class="fqa">Jashobeam</span><span class="ft">).</span></span></span><span class="content"> a Tahkemonite,</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:8 </span><span class="ft">Probably a variant of </span><span class="fqa">Hakmonite </span><span class="ft">(see 1 Chron. 11:11)</span></span></span><span class="content"> was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:8 </span><span class="ft">Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:11); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts </span><span class="fqa">Three; it was Adino the Eznite who killed eight hundred men</span></span></span><span class="content"> in one encounter.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="2SA.23.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="2SA.23.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:9 </span><span class="ft">See 1 Chron. 11:13; Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">gathered there.</span></span></span><span class="content"> for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="2SA.23.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="2SA.23.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="2SA.23.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel&#8217;s troops fled from them. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="2SA.23.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> brought about a great victory.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="2SA.23.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="2SA.23.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="2SA.23.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="2SA.23.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">David longed for water and said, &#8220;Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="2SA.23.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">. </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="2SA.23.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">&#8220;Far be it from me, </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, to do this!&#8221; he said. &#8220;Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?&#8221; And David would not drink it.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="2SA.23.17"><span class="content">Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="2SA.23.17"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="2SA.23.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:18 </span><span class="ft">Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac </span><span class="fqa">Thirty</span></span></span><span class="content"> He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="2SA.23.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="2SA.23.19"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="2SA.23.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab&#8217;s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="2SA.23.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian&#8217;s hand and killed him with his own spear. </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="2SA.23.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.23.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.23.23"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.23.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">Among the Thirty were:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.23.24"><span class="content">Asahel the brother of Joab,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.23.24"><span class="content">Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.23.24"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="2SA.23.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">Shammah the Harodite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="2SA.23.25"><span class="content">Elika the Harodite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="2SA.23.25"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.23.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">Helez the Paltite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.23.26"><span class="content">Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.23.26"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="2SA.23.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">Abiezer from Anathoth,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="2SA.23.27"><span class="content">Sibbekai</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:27 </span><span class="ft">Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 21:18; 1 Chron. 11:29); Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">Mebunnai</span></span></span><span class="content"> the Hushathite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="2SA.23.27"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="2SA.23.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">Zalmon the Ahohite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="2SA.23.28"><span class="content">Maharai the Netophathite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="2SA.23.28"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="2SA.23.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">Heled</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:29 </span><span class="ft">Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chron. 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts </span><span class="fqa">Heleb</span></span></span><span class="content"> son of Baanah the Netophathite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="2SA.23.29"><span class="content">Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="2SA.23.29"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="2SA.23.30"><span class="label">30</span><span class="content">Benaiah the Pirathonite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="2SA.23.30"><span class="content">Hiddai</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:30 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:32) </span><span class="fqa">Hurai</span></span></span><span class="content"> from the ravines of Gaash,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="2SA.23.30"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="2SA.23.31"><span class="label">31</span><span class="content">Abi-Albon the Arbathite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="2SA.23.31"><span class="content">Azmaveth the Barhumite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="2SA.23.31"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="2SA.23.32"><span class="label">32</span><span class="content">Eliahba the Shaalbonite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="2SA.23.32"><span class="content">the sons of Jashen,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="2SA.23.32"><span class="content">Jonathan </span></span><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="2SA.23.33"><span class="label">33</span><span class="content">son of</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:33 </span><span class="ft">Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:34); Hebrew does not have </span><span class="fq">son of</span><span class="fqa">.</span></span></span><span class="content"> Shammah the Hararite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="2SA.23.33"><span class="content">Ahiam son of Sharar</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:33 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:35) </span><span class="fqa">Sakar</span></span></span><span class="content"> the Hararite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="2SA.23.33"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="2SA.23.34"><span class="label">34</span><span class="content">Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="2SA.23.34"><span class="content">Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="2SA.23.34"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="2SA.23.35"><span class="label">35</span><span class="content">Hezro the Carmelite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="2SA.23.35"><span class="content">Paarai the Arbite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="2SA.23.35"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="2SA.23.36"><span class="label">36</span><span class="content">Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="2SA.23.36"><span class="content">the son of Hagri,</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">23:36 </span><span class="ft">Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:38); Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">Haggadi</span></span></span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="2SA.23.36"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="2SA.23.37"><span class="label">37</span><span class="content">Zelek the Ammonite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="2SA.23.37"><span class="content">Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="2SA.23.37"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v38" data-usfm="2SA.23.38"><span class="label">38</span><span class="content">Ira the Ithrite,</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v38" data-usfm="2SA.23.38"><span class="content">Gareb the Ithrite</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v38" data-usfm="2SA.23.38"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v39" data-usfm="2SA.23.39"><span class="label">39</span><span class="content">and Uriah the Hittite.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v39" data-usfm="2SA.23.39"><span class="content">There were thirty-seven in all.</span></span></div>
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