2Samuel 23

1 This was David’s last composition: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, an oracle by the valiant one who was exalted— anointed by the God of Jacob, the contented psalm writer of Israel.ISV — 2Samuel 23:1

2 The Spirit of the LORD speaks within ^{a23:2 Or through} me; his word is on my tongue!ISV — 2Samuel 23:2

3 The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has talked to me. “When one is governing men justly, he fears God while governing.ISV — 2Samuel 23:3

4 He is like dawn’s first ^{b23:4 The Heb. lacks first} light, like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning, glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower.ISV — 2Samuel 23:4

5 Is not my dynasty ^{c23:5 Lit. house} like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete ^{d23:5 Lit. including all of my} salvation, has he not? He has been of continual ^{e23:5 Lit. He has been all} help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?ISV — 2Samuel 23:5

6 But ungodly men ^{f23:6 Lit. But Belial} are like thorns that are discarded because they cannot be safely ^{g23:6 The Heb. lacks safely} handled.ISV — 2Samuel 23:6

7 Whoever handles them wears heavy duty clothing, ^{h23:7 Lit. arms himself with iron} carries strong tools, ^{i23:7 Lit. and a spear shaft} and burns them to ashes on the spot! ^{j23:7 Lit. ashes where they sit} ( )ISV — 2Samuel 23:7

8 Here’s a list of the names of David’s special forces: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite ^{k23:8 Cf. 1Chr 11:11, where this individual is named Hachmoni’s son Jashobeam} was head of the Three; ^{l23:8 i.e. a group of three distinguished officers who served David, and so throughout the chapter; cf. 1Chr 11:12} he was nicknamed Adino the Eznite ^{m23:8 The two Heb. names comprise a word play that roughly translates as Thin as a Spear} because he killed 800 men in a single battle engagement.ISV — 2Samuel 23:8

9 Next was Dodai ^{n23:9 Cf. 1Chr 11:12, where this individual is named Dodo} the Ahohite’s son Eleazar. Eleazar, who also was one of the Three, was with David when they challenged the Philistines. When the Philistines had assembled in battle array, the Israeli army retreated,ISV — 2Samuel 23:9

10 but Eleazar remained standing right where he was and fought so hard against the Philistines that he became exhausted—he couldn’t even let go of his sword! The LORD magnificently delivered them that day. After Eleazar had won the battle, the other soldiers returned, but only to strip the weapons and armor from the dead. ^{o23:10 The Heb. lacks the weapons and armor from the dead}ISV — 2Samuel 23:10

11 Next was Shammah, Agee the Hararite’s son. One time the Philistines assembled to fight ^{p23:11 Or assembled at Lehi} in a field where lentils had been growing. Israel’s army retreated from the Philistines,ISV — 2Samuel 23:11

12 but Shammah stood his ground in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.ISV — 2Samuel 23:12

13 One day while the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants, ^{q23:13 Or the Rephaim Valley} three of the 30 leaders joined David at the cave of Adullam.ISV — 2Samuel 23:13

14 David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.ISV — 2Samuel 23:14

15 David expressed his longing, “Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that’s by the city gate!”ISV — 2Samuel 23:15

16 So the Three elite warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out in the LORD’s presence,ISV — 2Samuel 23:16

17 and said, “The LORD forbid that I drink this—this is the blood of men who endangered their own lives!” The Three elite warriors did these things. ( )ISV — 2Samuel 23:17

18 Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the lieutenant ^{r23:18 Lit. chief} in charge of the platoons. ^{s23:18 So Syr; MT reads Three} He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three.ISV — 2Samuel 23:18

19 He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to ^{t23:19 Or never attained the stature of} the Three.ISV — 2Samuel 23:19

20 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named ^{u23:20 The Heb. lacks men named} Ariel from Moab ^{v23:20 The Heb. name Ariel means lion} and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day.ISV — 2Samuel 23:20

21 He also killed a soldier ^{w23:21 Lit. man} from Egypt. Of handsome appearance, the Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.ISV — 2Samuel 23:21

22 Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors.ISV — 2Samuel 23:22

23 He was well known among the platoons, but he didn’t measure up to ^{x23:23 Or he never attained the stature of} the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail.ISV — 2Samuel 23:23

24 Among the Thirty were Joab’s brother Asahel, Dodo’s son Elhanan of Bethlehem,ISV — 2Samuel 23:24

25 Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod,ISV — 2Samuel 23:25

26 Helez the Paltite, ^{y23:26 Cf. 1Chr 11:27, where he is named Helez the Pelonite} Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa,ISV — 2Samuel 23:26

27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,ISV — 2Samuel 23:27

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,ISV — 2Samuel 23:28

29 Baanah’s son Heleb from Netophah, Ribai’s son Ittai from Gibeah of the descendants of Benjamin,ISV — 2Samuel 23:29

30 Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area, ^{z23:30 The Heb. lacks area; i.e. a region in Gaash containing numerous seasonal streams}ISV — 2Samuel 23:30

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim,ISV — 2Samuel 23:31

32 Eliahba from Shaalbon, Jashen’s sons,ISV — 2Samuel 23:32

33 Shammah’s son from Harar, Sharar the Hararite’s son Ahiam,ISV — 2Samuel 23:33

34 Ahasbai the Maacathite’s son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonite’s son Eliam, ^{aa23:34 Bathsheba’s father was Eliam; her grandfather was Ahithophel; cf. 2Sam 11:3; 15:12}ISV — 2Samuel 23:34

35 Hezro from Carmel, Paarai the Arbite,ISV — 2Samuel 23:35

36 Nathan’s son Igal from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,ISV — 2Samuel 23:36

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth (the armor-bearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab),ISV — 2Samuel 23:37

38 Ira the Ithrite, ^{bb23:38 Cf. 2Sam 20:26, where he is also known as Ira the Jairite} Gareb the Ithrite,ISV — 2Samuel 23:38

39 and Uriah the Hittite—for a total of 37.ISV — 2Samuel 23:39