2 Samuel 23

Chapter 23.

23 ¹ Now these are the last words of David. The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, our Father, and the beloved singer of Israel's songs: ¹ 1 v1 An oracle is an inspired prophetic word; David speaks here as one moved by God's Spirit.

² The Spirit of our Father spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. ³ Our Father, the God of Israel, has spoken; the Rock of Israel said to me: "When one rules over people in righteousness, ruling in the fear of God, ⁴ he is like the light of morning when the sun rises on a cloudless dawn, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth." ⁵ Is not my house like this with our Father? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not bring to fruition all my salvation and all my desire? ⁶ But worthless men are all like thorns thrown away, for they cannot be picked up barehanded. ⁷ The one who would touch them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are burned with fire on the spot.

David's Mighty Men

⁸ These are the names of David's mighty warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

⁹ Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. ¹⁰ He rose up and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew weary and clung to the sword. Our Father brought about a great victory that day, and the troops returned after him only to strip the slain.

¹¹ Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils, and 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. And our Father 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 band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. ¹⁵ David longed for water and said, "If only someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem!"

¹⁶ So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and carried it back to David. But he would not drink it; he poured it out to our Father. ¹⁷ He said, "Far be it from me, my Father, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" So he would not drink it. Such were the deeds of the three mighty men.

¹⁸ Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred, whom he killed, and made a name for himself among the three. ¹⁹ Was he not the most honored of the thirty? He became their commander, but he was not one of the three.

²⁰ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man from Kabzeel, a man of great deeds. He struck down two of Moab's mightiest warriors, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion there. ²¹ He also struck down an impressive Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went against him with only a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. ²² Such were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he made a name for himself alongside the three mighty men. ²³ He was held in greater honor than the thirty, but he was not one of the three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

²⁴ Among the thirty were: 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 Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;

³⁰ Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;

³¹ Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;

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

³³ 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 — thirty-seven in all.