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2 Samuel 23

English Standard Version



1 Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:[1] (2Sa 7:8; 2Sa 22:51; Ps 78:70) 2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. (2Pe 1:21) 3 The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, (Ex 18:21; 2Sa 22:2; 2Sa 22:32; 2Sa 22:47; 2Ch 19:7; 2Ch 19:9) 4 he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain[2] that makes grass to sprout from the earth. (Jud 5:31; Pr 4:18; Ho 6:5) 5 “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? (2Sa 7:15; Ps 89:29; Isa 55:3) 6 But worthless men[3] are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7 but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.”[4] 



8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three.[5] He wielded his spear[6] against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. (1Ch 11:11; 1Ch 27:2) 9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. (2Sa 23:28; 1Ch 27:4) 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain. 11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi,[7] where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. (2Sa 23:33) 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory. 13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. (1Sa 22:1; 2Sa 5:18) 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. (1Sa 13:23; 1Sa 22:4) 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did. (Le 17:10) 18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty.[8] And he wielded his spear against three hundred men[9] and killed them and won a name beside the three. 19 He was the most renowned of the thirty[10] and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three. (1Ch 11:21) 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man[11] of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels[12] of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. (Jos 15:21; 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23) 21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. 23 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard. 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, (2Sa 2:18; 1Ch 27:7) 25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, (1Ch 11:27; 1Ch 27:8) 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, (2Sa 14:2) 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, (Jos 21:18; 2Sa 21:18) 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, (2Sa 23:9; 2Ki 25:23) 29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, (Jos 18:28; Jud 19:14; 2Sa 23:28) 30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, (Jos 24:30; Jud 2:9; Jud 12:13; Jud 12:15; 1Ch 27:14) 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, (2Sa 3:16) 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, (2Sa 23:11) 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, (2Sa 10:6; 2Sa 10:8; 2Sa 11:3; 2Sa 15:12) 35 Hezro[13] of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, (Jos 15:55) 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, (2Sa 8:3) 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, (2Sa 4:2) 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, (2Sa 20:26; 1Ch 2:53) 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all. (2Sa 11:3; 2Sa 11:6) 

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2 Samuel 23

New International Version



1 These are the last words of David: ‘The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: 2 ‘The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: “When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, 4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.” 5 ‘If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. 6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. 7 Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.’ 



8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth,[1] a Tahkemonite,[2] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed[3] in one encounter. (1Ch 11:11) 9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim[4] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, (1Ch 11:13) 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. 11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. 13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 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 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 ‘Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!’ he said. ‘Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?’ And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. 18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.[5] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. (1Ch 11:20) 19 Was he not held in greater honour than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honour than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. 24 Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, 27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai[6] the Hushathite, (1Ch 11:29) 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heled[7] son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, (1Ch 11:30) 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai[8] from the ravines of Gaash, (1Ch 11:32) 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan 33 son of[9] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar[10] the Hararite, (1Ch 11:34; 1Ch 11:35) 34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,[11] (1Ch 11:38) 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armour-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite 39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all. 

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2 Samuel 23

King James Version

1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things , and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. 6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place. 8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, 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 were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. 13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it , and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. 18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them , and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: 21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian' hand, and slew him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard. 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

2 Samuel 23

New International Reader’s Version



1 Here are David’s last words. He said, ‘I am David, the son of Jesse. God has given me a message. The Most High God has greatly honoured me. The God of Jacob anointed me as king. I am the hero of Israel’s songs. 2 ‘The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me. I spoke his word with my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me, “A king must rule over people in a way that is right. He must have respect for God when he rules. 4 Then he will be like the light of morning at sunrise when there aren’t any clouds. He will be like the bright sun after rain that makes grass grow on the earth.” 5 ‘Suppose my royal family was not right with God. Then he would not have made a covenant with me that will last for ever. Every part of it was well prepared and made secure. Then God would not have saved me completely or given me everything I longed for. 6 But evil people are like thorns that are thrown away. You can’t pick them up with your hands. 7 Even if you touch them, you must use an iron tool or a spear. Thorns are burned up right where they are.’ 



8 Here are the names of David’s mighty warriors. Josheb-Basshebeth was chief of the three mighty warriors. He was a Tahkemonite. He used his spear against 800 men. He killed all of them at one time. 9 Next to him was Eleazar. He was one of the three mighty warriors. He was the son of Dodai, the Ahohite. Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim. That’s where Israel’s army made fun of the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. Then the Israelites pulled back. 10 But Eleazar stayed right where he was. He struck down the Philistines until his hand grew tired. But he still held on to his sword. The LORD helped him win a great battle that day. The troops returned to Eleazar. They came back to him only to take what they wanted from the dead bodies. 11 Next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee. Shammah was a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at a place where there was a field full of lentils. Israel’s troops ran away from the Philistines. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He didn’t let the Philistines capture it. He struck them down. The LORD helped him win a great battle. 13 David was at the cave of Adullam. During harvest time, three of the 30 chief warriors came down to him there. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for a drink of water. He said, ‘I wish someone would get me water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem.’ 16 So the three mighty warriors fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the LORD. 17 ‘LORD, I would never drink that water!’ David said. ‘It stands for the blood of these men. They put their lives in danger by going to Bethlehem to get it.’ So David wouldn’t drink it. Those were some of the brave things the three mighty warriors did. 18 Abishai was chief over the three mighty warriors. He was the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the three mighty warriors were. 19 In fact, he was even more honoured than the three mighty warriors. He became their commander. But he wasn’t included among them. 20 Benaiah was a great hero from Kabzeel. He was the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah did many brave things. He struck down two of Moab’s best warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day. He killed a lion there. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. The Egyptian was holding a spear. Benaiah went out to fight against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand. Then he killed him with it. 22 Those were some of the brave things Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did. He too was as famous as the three mighty warriors were. 23 He was honoured more than any of the thirty chief warriors. But he wasn’t included among the three mighty warriors. David put him in charge of his own personal guards. 24 Here is a list of David’s men who were among the thirty chief warriors. Asahel, the brother of Joab Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem 25 Shammah, the Harodite Elika, the Harodite 26 Helez, the Paltite Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa 27 Abiezer from Anathoth Sibbekai, the Hushathite 28 Zalmon, the Ahohite Maharai from Netophah 29 Heled, the son of Baanah, from Netophah Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah in Benjamin 30 Benaiah from Pirathon Hiddai from the valleys of Gaash 31 Abi-Albon, the Arbathite Azmaveth, the Barhumite 32 Eliahba, the Shaalbonite the sons of Jashen Jonathan, 33 the son of Shammah, the Hararite Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite 34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the Maakathite Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Giloh 35 Hezro from Carmel Paarai, the Arbite 36 Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah the son of Hagri 37 Zelek from Ammon Naharai from Beeroth, who carried the armour of Joab, the son of Zeruiah 38 Ira, the Ithrite Gareb, the Ithrite 39 and Uriah, the Hittite The total number of men was 37. 

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