2 Samuel Chapter 23

¹ David’s last words

            “The oracle of David Ben-Jesse,

      the oracle of the man God honored,

                  the one anointed by Jacob’s God,

                  the sweet psalmist of Israel.

            ² “The Spirit of Yahveh speaks by me;

                  his message is on my tongue.

            ³ The God of Israel said,

                        the Rock of Israel told me,

                  ‘He that rules justly,

                        that rules in respect for God,

                              ⁴ is like the morning light from the rising sun

                                    on a cloudless morn,

                                    when tender grass sprouts from the soil

                                          in the sunshine after rain.’          

2 Sam 23:1-4

            ⁵ Is not my family that way with God?

            He has made an everlasting covenant with me,

                  ordered in every respect and secure.

            Won’t he make grow

                  my salvation and my desire?

            ⁶ But godless people every one will be thrown aside like briers,

                  because you can’t handle them.

            ⁷ If you touch them,                                                   

                  you have to arm yourself with iron and the shaft of a spear.

They’ll be completely burned up where they are.”    2 Sam 23:5-7

David’s Greatest Warriors

⁸ These are David’s most elite soldiers: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite [a Hachmonite in 1 Chronicles 11:11], chief of The Three. He was called Adino the Eznite because he killed 800 men in one battle.

⁹ After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, a descendant of Ahoah, another of The Three elite soldiers. He and David defied the Philistines that gathered for battle and Israel’s army retreated. ¹⁰ He arose and struck the Philistines till his hand was worn out and cramped onto the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The rest of the army only returned to strip the slain.

¹¹ After him was Shammah Ben-Agee, from Harar. The Philistines had gathered into a troop on a plot of ground full of lentils, and the rest of Israel’s army had fled. ¹² But he took his stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and struck the Philistines. Yahveh brought about a great victory.

¹³ Then The Three among The Thirty chief men went down to David at harvest time to the cave near Adullam, while a troop of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ David was in the stronghold while the garrison of Philistines was in Bethlehem. ¹⁵ David had a yearning, “If only somebody would give me a drink from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!” ¹⁶ So The Three broke through the Philistines’ camp and drew water from the well and brought it to him. But he wouldn’t drink it. He poured it out to Yahveh, ¹⁷ “I couldn’t do that, Yahveh. Am I going to drink the blood of men who jeopardized their lives?” Those are some things The Three most elite soldiers did.

2 Sam 23:8-17

¹⁸ Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of The Thirty. He handled his spear against 300 and killed them and had a name alongside The Three. ¹⁹ He was the most honored of The Thirty, so he became their commander, but he didn’t measure up to The Three.

²⁰ Then Benaiah Ben-Jehoiada—son of a great warrior from Kabzeel, who had done amazing things—killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. ²¹ He killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a club and took the spear away from him and killed him with it. ²² He had a name as well as The Three. ²³ He was honored among The Thirty, but he didn’t measure up to The Three. David appointed him over his guard.

2 Sam 23:18-23

²⁴ Asahel, Joab’s brother, was among the 30 as well as

Elhanan Ben-Dodo from Bethlehem;

²⁵ Shammah and Elika from Harod,

²⁶ Helez from Pelon,

Ira Ben-Ikkesh from Tekoa,

²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth,

Mebunnai from Hushah,

²⁸ Zalmon from Ahoah,

Maharai and ²⁹ Heleb Ben-Baanah from Netophah,

Ittai Ben-Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

³⁰ Benaiah from Pirathon,

Hiddai from Nahale-gaash,

³¹ Abialbon/Abiel^?LXX from Arabah,

Azmaveth from Bahurim,

³² Eliahba from Shaalbon,

the sons of Jashen,

Jonathan 33Ben-Shagee

and Ahiam Ben-Sharar from Harar [1 Ch 11:34],

³⁴Eliphelet Ben-Ahasbai from Maacah,

Eliam Ben-Ahithophel from Giloh,

³⁵ Hezro from Carmel,

Paarai from Arba,

³⁶ Igal Ben-Nathan from Zobah,

Bani from Gad,

³⁷ Zelek from Ammon,

Naharai from Beeroth, armor bearer for Joab Ben-Zeruiah;

³⁸ Ira and Gareb the Jattir,       

³⁹ Uriah the Hittite—37 in all.                                                                       

2 Sam 23:24-39

David’s Ill-Advised Census