2 Samuel 23

1 Now these are David’s last words. David the son of Isai said: The man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, the excellent psalmist of Israel said:

These are David's last words. The divine message of David son of Jesse, the divine message of the man made great by God, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, the wonderful psalm-writer of Israel:

2 The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and his word by my tongue.

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; my tongue gave his message.

3 The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God.

Israel's God spoke; Israel's Rock told me, ‘He who rules the people justly, he who rules respecting God,

4 As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning without clouds, and as the grass springeth out of the earth by rain.

is like the light of the morning sunrise on a cloudless dawn; like the shining of raindrops on the new grass growing from the earth.’

5 Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with me an eternal covenant, firm in all things and assured. For he is all my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof that springeth not up.

Isn't this how my family is with God? For he has made an everlasting agreement with me, set out in detail and with every part guaranteed. He will make sure to save me and to give me all I want.

6 But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands.

But evil people are like thorns to be thrown aside; they can't be held in the hand.

7 And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to nothing.

The only way to deal with them is to use an iron tool or the handle of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they are.”

8 These are the names of the valiant men of David. Jesbaham sitting in the chair was the wisest chief among the three, he was like the most tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one onset.

These are the names of the leading warriors who supported David: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, leader of the Three. Using his spear, he once killed eight hundred men in a single battle.

9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David when they defied the Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle.

After him came Eleazar, son of Dodai, the Ahohite, one of the Three leading warriors. He was with David when they defied the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammin. The Israelites retreated,

10 And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and smote the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were fled away, returned to take spoils of them that were slain.

but Eleazar took his stand and went on killing Philistines until his hand stuck to his sword. The Lord saved them by granting them a great victory. The Israelite army did return, but only to strip the dead.

11 And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the Philistines,

After him came Shammah, son of Agee, the Hararite. When the Philistines gathered at Lehi, in a field full of lentils, the Israelite army ran away from them,

12 He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory.

but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defending it and killing the Philistines. The Lord gave them a great victory.

13 Moreover also before this the three who were princes among the thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants.

At harvest time, the Three, who were part of the Thirty leading warriors, went down to meet David when he was at the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim.

14 And David was then in a hold. and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem.

At the time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.

15 And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, by the gate.

David was feeling really thirsty, and he said, “If only someone could bring me a drink of water from the well beside the entrance gate to Bethlehem!”

16 And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David: but he would not drink, but offered it to the Lord,

The Three leading warriors broke through the Philistine defenses, took some water from the well at Bethelehem's gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, and poured it out as an offering to the Lord.

17 Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.

“Lord, never let me do this!” he said. “Isn't it like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives?” So he did not drink it. This is just some of the things the Three leading warriors did.

18 Abisai also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, was chief among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew, and he was renowned among the three,

Abishai, Joab's brother, was leader of the second Three. Using his spear, he once killed 300 men, and became famous among the Three.

19 And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not.

He was the most highly regarded of the Three and was their commander, though he was not one of the first Three.

20 And Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow.

Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a strong warrior from Kabzeel, did many amazing things. He killed two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went after a lion into a pit in the snow and killed it.

21 He also slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear.

Another time he killed a huge Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand but Benaiah attacked him with just a club. He grabbed the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

22 These things did Banaias the son of Joiada.

These were the kind of things Benaiah did that made him as famous as the Three leading warriors.

23 And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained riot to the first three: and David made him of his privy council.

He was the most highly regarded of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. David put him in charge of his personal bodyguard.

24 Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem.

Included in the Thirty were: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;

25 Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi,

Shammoth the Harorite; Elika the Harodite,

26 Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua,

Helez the Paltite; Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa;

27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati,

Abiezer from Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;

28 Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophahite;

29 Heled the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin,

Heleb, son of Baanah the Netophahite; Ittai, son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites;

30 Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,

Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the streams of Gaash;

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi,

Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Baharumite;

32 Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,

Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashem; Jonathan,

33 Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite,

son of Shagee the Hararite; Ahiam, son of Sachar the Hararite;

34 Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite,

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

35 Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,

Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi,

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

37 Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab the son of Sarvia,

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

38 Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite;

Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

39 Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all.

and Uriah the Hittite; a total of thirty-seven.