Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
2 Samuel 23
The Last Words of David
These are the last words of David:
The declaration of David son of Jesse,
the declaration of the man raised on high,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
and the pleasant singer
of Israel’s songs.
The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me,
and his word
was upon my tongue.
The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me:
“One who rules humanity righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,
is like the light of morning
when the sun rises,
a morning without clouds,
when from brightness after rain
grass springs from the earth.”
God Has Made an Everlasting Covenant with Me
For is not my house so with God?
For he has made with me
an everlasting covenant,
ordered in everything
and secure.
Will he not cause to sprout
all my salvation
and all my desire?
But worthless men are all
like thorns thrown away,
for they cannot be taken
with the hand.
The man who touches them
must arm himself
with iron and the shaft of a spear,
and they are utterly burned
with fire where they lie.
The Three Mighty Men
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tahchemonite, chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi, among the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle and the men of Israel withdrew. He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and his hand clung to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled before the Philistines. But he stationed himself among the plot, rescued it, and struck the Philistines. The LORD brought about a great victory.
Water from the Well of Bethlehem
Three of the thirty leaders went down and came to David at harvest time to the cave of Adullam, while a troop of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
David longed and said, “Who would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate?”
Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, carried it, and brought it to David. But he was not willing to drink it; he poured it out to the LORD.
He said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he was not willing to drink it.
These things the three mighty men did.
Abishai and Benaiah
Abishai brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them and had a name among the Three. Was he not the most honored of the Thirty? He became their commander, but he did not attain to the Three. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, great in deeds. He struck the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and struck a lion among a pit on a snowy day. He struck an Egyptian, an impressive man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did and had a name among the three mighty men. He was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. David set him over his guard.
The Thirty
Asahel brother of Joab was among the Thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin;
Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash;
Abi-Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, son of the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
Uriah the Hittite.
Thirty-seven in all.