2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Words

1 These are the last words of David:

The declaration of David son of Jesse,  * 23:1 Lk 3:32

the declaration of the man raised on high,  * 23:1 Or raised up by the high God

the one anointed by the God of Jacob.  * 23:1 1Sm 16:12–13; Ps 89:20

This is the most delightful of Israel’s songs.

2 The Spirit of the  Lord spoke through me,

his word was on my tongue.  * 23:2 Mt 22:43; 2Pt 1:21

3 The 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,  * 23:3 Ps 72:1–3; Is 11:1–5

4 is like the morning light when the sun rises

on a cloudless morning,

the glisten of rain on sprouting grass."

5 Is it not true my house is with God?

For he has established a permanent covenant  * 23:5 Gn 9:16; 17:7,19; 1Ch 16:17; Ps 105:10 with me,

ordered and secured in every detail.  * 23:5 2Sm 7:12–16; Ps 89:29; Is 55:3

Will he not bring about

my whole salvation and my every desire?

6 But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside;

they can never be picked up by hand.

7 The 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

8 These are the names of David’s warriors:  * 23:8–39 1Ch 11:11–47

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers.  * 23:8 Some Hb mss, LXX read Three He wielded his spear  * 23:8 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, LXX read He was Adino the Eznite against eight hundred men that he killed at one time.

9 After 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, 10 but 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.

11 After 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, 12 but 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.

13 Three of the thirty leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam,  * 23:13 1Sm 22:1 while a company of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold,  * 23:14 1Sm 22:4–5 and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David was extremely thirsty  * 23:15 Lit And David craved and said, "If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem! " 16 So 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. 17 David 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.

18 Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah,  * 23:18 1Sm 26:3–6 was leader of the Three.  * 23:18 Some Hb mss, Syr read the Thirty He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. 19 Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.  * 23:19 1Ch 11:21

20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada  * 23:20 2Sm 8:18; 20:23 was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons  * 23:20 LXX; MT omits sons of Ariel  * 23:20 Or two warriors of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 He also killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. 22 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. 23 He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24 Among the Thirty were

Joab’s brother Asahel,  * 23:24 2Sm 2:18–23; 1Ch 27:7

Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 Shammah the Harodite,

Elika the Harodite,

26 Helez the Paltite,

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 Abiezer the Anathothite,

Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite,

Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash,  * 23:30 Or from Nahale-gaash

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

the sons of Jashen,

Jonathan son of  * 23:32 Some LXX mss; MT omits son of; 1Ch 11:3433 Shammah the Hararite,

Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite,

Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,  * 23:34 2Sm 15:12

35 Hezro the Carmelite,

Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,

Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

39 and Uriah  * 23:39 Mt 1:6 the Hethite.  * 23:39 2Sm 11:3–26

There were thirty-seven in all.