Holy Bible Aionian Edition® ~ English---Leeser-Tanakh ~ 2-Samuel Chapter 23

< 2 Samuel 23 >

1 And these are the last words of David. Thus saith David the son of Jesse, and thus saith the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet singer of Israel:

Now these are the last words of David— David son of Jesse, the man who was highly honored, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, and his word was upon my tongue.

“The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me, and his word was on my tongue.

3 [Thus] said the God of Israel, concerning me spoke the Rock of Israel, That [I should be] ruler over men, be righteous, ruling in the fear of God;

The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, 'The one who rules righteously over men, who rules in the fear of God.

4 And as in the light of morning the sun riseth, in a morning without clouds, with more than the brightness [reflected] by rain on the herbs that spring from the earth.

He will be like the morning light when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs up from the earth through bright sunshine after rain.

5 Truly is not so my house with God? since he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, firm in all, and sure? yea, will he not cause to grow all my salvation, and all my desire?

Indeed, is my family not like this before God? Has he not made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and sure in every way? Does he not increase my salvation and fulfill my every desire?

6 But the godless are all of them as waving thorns, which cannot be taken in the hand;

But the worthless will all be like thorns to be thrown away, because they cannot be gathered by one's hands.

7 But the man that will touch them must protect his hand with iron and the staff of a spear: and they will be utterly burnt with fire in the dwelling.

The man who touches them must use an iron tool or the shaft of a spear. They must be burned up where they lie.'”

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Yosheb-bashebeth, the Thachkemonite, the chief among the captains, —the same as 'Adino the 'Eznite, —because of eight hundred slain at one time.

These are the names of David's mighty men: Jeshbaal the Hachmonite was the leader of the mighty men. He killed eight hundred men on one occasion.

9 And after him was El'azar the son of Dodo, the son of Achochi, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had withdrawn themselves;

After him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David when they taunted the Philistines who had gathered together to do battle, and when the men of Israel had retreated.

10 He then arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand did cleave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory on that day; and the people returned after him only to strip [the slain].

Eleazar stood and fought the Philistines until his hand became weary and his hand stiffened to the grip of his sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day. The army returned after Eleazar, only to strip the bodies.

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Age the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, and there was a piece of ground full of lentiles; and the people had fled from the Philistines;

After him was Shammah son of Agee, a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together where there was a field of lentils, and the army fled from them.

12 But he placed himself in the midst of the ground, and delivered it, and smote the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.

But Shammah stood in the middle of the field and defended it. He killed the Philistines, and Yahweh brought about a great victory.

13 And these three, the chiefs of the thirty, went down, and came to David at harvest-time unto the cave of 'Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

Three of the thirty soldiers went down to David at harvest time, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 And David was then in the strong-hold, and an outpost of the Philistines was then in Beth-lechem.

At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established at Bethlehem.

15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would bring me water to drink out of the well at Beth-lechem, which is by the gate!

David was longing for water and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!”

16 And the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines; and drew water out of the well of Beth-lechem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but he would not drink thereof, and poured it out unto the Lord.

So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.

17 And he said, Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went at the risk of their life? and thus he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

Then he said, “Yahweh, far be it from me, that I should do this. Should I drink the blood of men who have risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. These things were done by the three mighty.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruyah, was the chief of these three; and he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain, and had a name among the three.

Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was captain over the three. He once fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He was often mentioned along with the three soldiers.

19 Although he was the most honored of the three, wherefore he became their captain: he nevertheless attained not unto the three [in prowess].

Was he not even more famous than the three? He was made their captain. However, his fame did not equal the fame of the three most famous soldiers.

20 And Benayahu the son of Yehoyada', the son of a valiant man, great in many acts of Kabzeel; he it was that smote the two lion-like heroes of Moab; he also went down and slew a lion in the midst of a pit on a day when it snowed;

Benaiah from Kabzeel was the son of Jehoiada; he was a strong man who did mighty feats. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion while it was snowing.

21 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of good appearance; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and he snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

Then he killed a very large Egyptian man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah fought against him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and then killed him with his own spear.

22 These things did Benayahu the son of Yehoyada', and he had a name among the three mighty men.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.

23 He was more honored than the thirty; but he attained not to these three. And David appointed him in his private council.

He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24 'Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elchanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lechem,

The thirty included the following men: Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

25 Shammah the Charodite, Elika the Charodite,

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26 Chelez the Paltite, 'Ira the son of 'Ikkesh the Teko'ite,

Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 Abi'ezer the 'Anethothite, Mebunnai the Chushathite,

Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Achochite, Maharai the Netophathite,

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

29 Cheleb the son of Ba'anah, the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gib'ah of the children of Benjamin,

Heleb son of Baanah, the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,