2 Samuel 23

1 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:

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; my tongue gave his message.

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

7 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.”

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 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.

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 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,

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 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.

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 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,

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, defending it and killing the Philistines. The Lord gave them a great victory.

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, 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.

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

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

15 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!”

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 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.

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 “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.

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

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

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

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

20 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.

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 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.

He also killed 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 kind of things Benaiah did that made him as famous as the Three leading warriors.

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

23 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.

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

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

Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 Shammoth the Harorite; Elika the Harodite,

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

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

Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 Abiezer from Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;

Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophahite;

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

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

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

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

Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Baharumite;

Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashem; Jonathan,

Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan

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

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

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

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

35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

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

Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

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

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

38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

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

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