David's Last Song
23 1 The last words of David son of Jesse, the oracle of David, the oracle of the man God raised up, anointed by the God of Jacob, our Father, Israel's beloved singer of songs: a a 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 David's mighty warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite, chief of the three, raised his spear against eight hundred men, killing them at once. 9 Next was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines gathered for battle there, and Israel's men retreated. 10 He rose up, struck the Philistines until his hand tired and clung to the sword. Our Father won a great victory that day, and the troops returned behind him only to strip the dead. 11 Next was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines massed at Lehi, in a field full of lentils, and the troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah stood in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. And our Father brought a great victory.
13 At harvest three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed and said, "If only someone would give me water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem!"
16 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and brought it to David. But he refused to drink it; he poured it out to our Father. 17 He said, "Never, my Father, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?" So he would not drink it. Such were the deeds of the three warriors.
18 Abishai, Joab's brother, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He raised his spear against three hundred, killed them, and won fame among the three. 19 Was he not the most honored of the thirty? He became their commander, though not one of the three.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant man from Kabzeel, of many deeds. He struck down Moab's two mighty warriors. 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 held a spear, but Benaiah came at him with only a staff, wrenched the spear from his hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name among the three mighty men. 23 He was more honored than the thirty, but not among the three. David put him over 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.
