2 Samuel 23

1 These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:

2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,

4 is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’

5 Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?

6 But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.

7 The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”

8 These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

9 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated,

10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.

11 And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.

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 At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,

17 saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

19 Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

20 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.

21 He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

22 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men.

23 He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

24 Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, 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 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan

33 son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

1 ¶ Now these [be] the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God.

4 And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

5 Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure: for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to grow.

6 But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

7 But the man [that] shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the [same] place.

8 ¶ These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift up his spear] against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

9 And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

11 And after him [was] Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

14 And David [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines [was] then [in] Bethlehem.

15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the gate!

16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that [was] by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, [and] slew [them], and had the name among three.

19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22 These [things] did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

1 These are the last words of David: David the son of Jesse spake; the man assured of the Messiah of the God of Jacob spake sweetly with the psalms of Israel.

2 The Spirit of the LORD hath spoken by me, and his speech is by my tongue.

3 The GOD of Israel hath spoken unto me; the stronghold of Israel hath spoken, the righteous Ruler among men, the Ruler in the fear of GOD.

4 And as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth in the morning without cloud, when from the brightness after the rain the grass groweth out of the earth.

5 For my house is not so with God: for he hath set me a covenant for ever, and all things are well ordered and kept. For all my salvation and my doings are that nothing increase.

6 but Belial are all like the outcast thistles which cannot be grasped with hands;

7 But he that shall attack them shall have iron and spears in his hand, and shall be burned with fire in the tabernacle.

8 These are the names of the mighty men of David: Jashabeam the son of Hachmoni, the chiefest of the three; he took up his spear, and slew eight hundred at one time.

9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi, among the three valiant men with David. And they mocked the Philistines, and were gathered there to battle, and the men of Israel went up,

10 And he stood and smote the Philistines, until his hand was weary upon the sword. And the LORD gave great salvation at that time; and the people turned back after him to take away.

11 After him was Samma the son of Agah the Hararite. And the Philistines gathered themselves together into a company, and there was there a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from before the Philistines,

12 And he stood in the midst of the piece, and delivered it, and smote the Philistines: and God gave great salvation.

13 And these three chief of thirty came down in the harvest to David in the cave of Adullam; and the band of the Philistines lay in the bottom of Rephaim.

14 And David was in the castle at that time, and the Philistine people were in Bethlehem.

15 And David longed, and said, Who shall fetch me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem under the gate?

16 And the three mighty men went into the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, which was under the gate, and bare it, and brought it unto David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out unto the LORD.

17 And said, Let the LORD forbid that I should do this thing. Is it not the blood of the men that have dared their lives, and perished? And he would not drink it. So did the three mighty men.

18 And Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the chief of the three. He lifted up his spear, and smote three hundred: and he was also renowned among three.

19 And the most glorious of the three, and was chief of them: but he came not nigh unto the three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of Ishail, of great works, of Kabzeel. And he smote two lions of Moab: and he went down, and smote a lion in the well in the snowy season.

21 And he smote also an Egyptian, an abominable man, which had a spear in his hand. And he went down unto him with a rod, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22 This did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada: and he was famous among the three mighty men.

23 And more glorious than the thirty: but he came not within three. And David made him a secret council.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty. Elhanan the son of Dodo, at Bethlehem.

25 Samma the Haradite. Elika the Haradite.

26 Helez the Paltite. Ira the son of Ike the Thekoite.

27 Abieser the Anthothite. Mebunai the Hushathite.

28 Zalmon the Ahohite. Maherai the Netophathite.

29 Heleb the son of Baenah the Netophathite. Ithai the son of Ribai, of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin.

30 Benaiah the Pirgathonite. Hidai, of the streams of Gaa.

31 Abialbon the Arbathite. Asmaveth the Barhumite.

32 Eliakheba the Saalbonite. The children Jasen and Jonathan.

33 Samma the Hararite. Ahiam the son of Sarar the Hararite.

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahazbai the son of Maechathi. Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.

35 Hezrai the Carmelite Paerai the Arbiter.

36 Jegeal the son of Nathan of Zobah. Bani the Gadite.

37 Zelek the Ammonite. Naharai the Beerothite, the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah.

38 Ira the Jethrite. Gareb the Jethrite.

39 Uriah the Hittite. Of all these there are thirty and seven.