2 Samuel 23
Expanded Bible
David’s Last Words
23 These are the last words of David.
This is the ·message [declaration; oracle; inspired words] of David son of Jesse.
The man ·made great by the Most High God [raised high/exalted by God] speaks.
He is the ·appointed king of [anointed by] the God of Jacob;
he is the sweet ·singer [psalmist; or hero] of Israel:
2 “The Lord’s Spirit spoke through me,
and his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me:
‘Whoever rules ·fairly [justly; righteously] over people,
who rules ·with respect for [in fear of] God [Prov. 1:7],
4 is like the morning light at ·dawn [sunrise],
like a morning without clouds.
He is like sunshine after a rain
that makes the grass ·sprout from the ground [L of the earth sparkle/gleam].’
5 “·This is how God has cared for my family [L Is it not so with my house and God?].
God made a lasting ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with me [7:1–17],
·right [ordered; arranged] and ·sure [secured; guaranteed; assured] in ·every way [all things].
·He will [L Will he not…?] ·accomplish [ensure] my ·salvation [safety]
and ·satisfy [fufill; bring about/to fruition] all my desires.
6 “But all ·evil [worthless; godless] people will be thrown away like thorns
that cannot be held in a hand.
7 No one can touch them
except with a tool of iron or ·wood [L the shaft of a spear].
They will be ·thrown in [consumed by] the fire and burned where they lie.”
David’s Army(A)
8 These are the names of David’s warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite, was ·head of the Three [chief of the captains; C David’s most prestigious soldiers; 1 Chr. 11:11]. He ·used [wielded; brandished] his spear and killed eight hundred men at one time.
9 Next was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. Eleazar was one of the three ·soldiers [warriors; champions; mighty men] who were with David when they ·challenged [defied; taunted] the Philistines. The Philistines were gathered for battle, and the Israelites ·drew back [had fled/disbanded]. 10 But Eleazar ·stayed where he was [stood his ground] and ·fought [killed; L struck] the Philistines until ·he was so tired his hand [L his hand was so stiff that it] stuck to his sword. The Lord ·gave [brought about] a great victory for the Israelites that day. The troops came back after Eleazar had won the battle, but only to ·take weapons and armor from the enemy [plunder].
11 Next there was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines came together to fight in a ·vegetable [lentil] field. Israel’s troops ·ran away [fled] from the Philistines, 12 but Shammah stood in the middle of the field and ·fought for [defended] it and ·killed [L struck] the Philistines. And the Lord ·gave [brought about] a great victory.
13 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief ·soldiers [warriors], came down to him at the cave of Adullam during harvest. The Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and ·some [L a detachment/garrison] of the Philistines were in Bethlehem.
15 David had a ·strong desire for some water [L craving; longing]. He said, “·Oh, I wish [If only] someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine ·army [lines; camp] and ·took [drew] water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out before [C as an offering to] the Lord, 17 saying, “·May the Lord keep me from drinking this water [L The Lord forbid that I should do this]! It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives!” So David refused to drink it. ·These [Such] were the ·brave things [exploits; deeds] that the three ·warriors [champions] did.
18 Abishai, brother of Joab son of Zeruiah, was ·captain [leader; chief] of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He ·became as famous as [won/earned a name among] the Three 19 and was ·more honored than the Three [or the most honored of the Thirty; C the Hebrew text has “Three”; the Syriac text has “Thirty” and fits the context better]. He became their commander even though he was not one of ·them [L the Three].
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a ·brave [valiant] fighter from Kabzeel who ·did mighty things [performed great/heroic exploits]. He killed two ·of the best warriors [or sons of Ariel] from Moab. He also went down into a ·pit [storage well] and killed a lion on a snowy day. 21 Benaiah killed a ·large [impressive; or handsome] Egyptian who had a spear in his hand. Benaiah had a club, but he grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He ·was as famous as [L had a name among] the Three. 23 He ·received more honor than [was honored among] the Thirty, but ·he did not become a member of [was not equal to] the Three. David ·made him leader [put him in charge/command] of his bodyguards.
The Thirty Chief Soldiers
24 The following men were among the Thirty:
Asahel 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 the Anathothite;
Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon the Ahohite;
Maharai the Netophathite;
29 ·Heled [or Heleb] son of Baanah the Netophathite;
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite;
Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite;
Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan 33 son of Shammah the Hararite;
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite;
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezro the Carmelite;
Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal son of Nathan of Zobah;
the son of Hagri;
37 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the armor 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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