2 Samuel 23

1 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.

David, the son of Jesse, was a man whom [God caused to] become great. He was appointed to become king by the God whom Jacob [worshiped]. He wrote beautiful songs for the Israeli people. This is the last song that he wrote:

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

“The Spirit of Yahweh tells me what to say; the message that I speak [MTY] comes from him.

3 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.

God, the one whom we Israeli [people worship], has spoken; the one who protects us Israeli people said to me, ‘Kings who rule people justly have an awesome respect for me, God.

4 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.

They are like the sun that shines at dawn and causes the grass to [sprout/sparkle] after the rain ends.’

5 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?

And truly, that is how God will surely bless my family [RHQ] because he made an agreement with me that will endure forever, an agreement in which he promises that no part of it will ever be changed. He will surely cause me to prosper [RHQ], and he will always help me, and that is all that I desire.

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

But [he will get rid of] godless/evil people like [SIM] people throw away thorns that [injure people if they try to] pick them up with their hands.

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

Someone [who wants to get rid of thornbushes] does not grab them; he uses an iron [shovel] or a spear [to dig them out] and then he burns them completely.

8 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.

These are the names of David’s three greatest warriors. The first was Esh-Baal, [whose other name was Jashobeam], from the Hachmon clan (OR, the son of Hachmon). He was the leader of the three men. One time he fought against 800 enemies and killed them all with his spear.

9 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.

The second/next one of the three greatest warriors was Eleazar, who was the son of Dodo from the clan of Ahoh. One day he was with David when they defied/challenged the soldiers of Philistia who had gathered for the battle. The [other] Israeli soldiers retreated,

10 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.

but Eleazar stood there and fought the soldiers of Philistia until his arm became very tired, with the result that [his hand cramped and] he could not stop gripping his sword. Yahweh won a great victory on that day. And afterwards the [other] Israeli soldiers returned [to where Eleazar was], and stripped off the [armor from the men whom he had] killed.

11 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.

The third one of the greatest warriors was Shammah, the son of Agee from [the clan/town of] Harar. One time the Philistia soldiers gathered at Lehi [town], where there was a field full of lentils/peas [that they wanted to steal]. The other Israeli soldiers ran away from the Philistia troops,

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

but Shammah stood there in the field and did not let the Philistia soldiers [steal the crops], and killed them. Yahweh won a great victory on that day.

13 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.

Altogether there were 30 special warriors among David’s soldiers. Once, when it was almost time to harvest [the crops], three of those 30 men went down to Adullam Cave, where David was [staying]. A group of men from the Philistia army had set up their tents in Rephaim Valley [near Jerusalem].

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

David [and his soldiers] were in the cave [because it was safe there], and [another] group of Philistia soldiers was occupying Bethlehem.

15 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!”

[One day] David very much wanted [some water] to drink, and said “I wish that someone would bring me some water from the well near the gate at Bethlehem!”

16 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.

So his three greatest warriors forced their way through the camp of Philistia soldiers and drew some water from the well, and brought it to David. But he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out [on the ground] as an offering to Yahweh.

17 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.

He said, “Yahweh, it would certainly not be right for me to drink this water! That would be like [RHQ] drinking the blood of these men who were willing/ready to die for me!” So he refused to drink it. That was one of the things that those three great warriors did.

18 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.

Abishai, Joab’s [younger] brother, was the leader of the 30 [greatest warriors]. [One day] he fought against 300 men and killed them all with his spear. As a result, he also became famous.

19 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.

He was the most famous of the thirty greatest warriors, and he became their leader/commander, but he was not one of the three greatest warriors.

20 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.

Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, from Kabzeel [town], also did great deeds. He killed two of the best warriors from the Moab people-group. Also, he went down into a pit on a day when snow was falling, and killed a lion there.

21 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.

He also killed a huge soldier from Egypt who carried a spear. Benaiah [had only] his club, but he attacked the giant with it. Then he snatched the spear from the man’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

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

Those are [some of] the things that Benaiah did. As a result, he became famous, like the three greatest warriors were.

23 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.

He was more honored than the other members of the group of thirty great warriors, but not as famous as the three greatest warriors. David appointed him to be the commander of his bodyguards.

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

[These are the names of the great warriors]: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;

25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

Shammah and Elika, from [the] Harod [clan];

26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

Helez, from Pelet [city]; Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa [town];

27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai the Hushathite,

Abiezer, from Anathoth [city]; Mebunnai [whose other name was Sibbecai], from Hushah’s [clan];

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

Zalmon [whose other name was Ilai], from Ahoh’s [clan]; Maharai, from Netophah [town];

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

Heleb, the son of Baanah, also from Netophah [town]; Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah [town] in [the land that belonged to] the tribe of Benjamin;

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash.

Benaiah, from Pirathon [town]; Hiddai, from the valleys near Gaash [Mountain];

31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

Abi-Albon, from the clan of Arabah; Azmaveth, from Bahurim [town];

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite;

Eliahba, from Shaalbon [town]; The sons of Jashen; Jonathan;

33 Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

Shammah, from Harar [town/clan]; Ahiam the son of Sharar, from Harar [town/clan];

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

Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, from Maacah [town]; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Gilo [town];

35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

Hezro, from Carmel [city]; Paarai, from Arba [city];

36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani from the tribe of Gad,

Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah [city]; Bani, from the tribe of Gad;

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

Zelek, from the Ammon people-group; Naharai, the man who carried Joab’s weapons, from Beeroth [town];

38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira and Gareb, from Jattir [town];

39 Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.

Uriah, [Bathsheba’s husband], from the Heth people-group. Altogether, there were 37 famous soldiers, [but some of them had died and their names were not included].