But worthless men[a] are all like thorns that are thrown away,
    for they cannot be taken with the hand;
but the man who touches them
    arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear,
    and they are utterly consumed with fire.”[b]

David's Mighty Men

(A)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: (B)Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three.[c] He wielded his spear[d] against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:6 Hebrew worthlessness
  2. 2 Samuel 23:7 Hebrew consumed with fire in the sitting
  3. 2 Samuel 23:8 Or of the captains
  4. 2 Samuel 23:8 Compare 1 Chronicles 11:11; the meaning of the Hebrew expression is uncertain

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