Holy Bible Aionian Edition® ~ English---Free-Bible-Version ~ 2-Samuel Chapter 23

< 2 Samuel 23 >

1 These are David's last words. The divine message of David son of Jesse, the divine message of the man made great by God, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, the wonderful psalm-writer of Israel:

Now these are the last words of David— David son of Jesse, the man who was highly honored, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; my tongue gave his message.

“The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me, and his word was on my tongue.

3 Israel's God spoke; Israel's Rock told me, ‘He who rules the people justly, he who rules respecting God,

The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, 'The one who rules righteously over men, who rules in the fear of God.

4 is like the light of the morning sunrise on a cloudless dawn; like the shining of raindrops on the new grass growing from the earth.’

He will be like the morning light when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs up from the earth through bright sunshine after rain.

5 Isn't this how my family is with God? For he has made an everlasting agreement with me, set out in detail and with every part guaranteed. He will make sure to save me and to give me all I want.

Indeed, is my family not like this before God? Has he not made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and sure in every way? Does he not increase my salvation and fulfill my every desire?

6 But evil people are like thorns to be thrown aside; they can't be held in the hand.

But the worthless will all be like thorns to be thrown away, because they cannot be gathered by one's hands.

7 The only way to deal with them is to use an iron tool or the handle of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they are.”

The man who touches them must use an iron tool or the shaft of a spear. They must be burned up where they lie.'”

8 These are the names of the leading warriors who supported David: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, leader of the Three. Using his spear, he once killed eight hundred men in a single battle.

These are the names of David's mighty men: Jeshbaal the Hachmonite was the leader of the mighty men. He killed eight hundred men on one occasion.

9 After him came Eleazar, son of Dodai, the Ahohite, one of the Three leading warriors. He was with David when they defied the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammin. The Israelites retreated,

After him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David when they taunted the Philistines who had gathered together to do battle, and when the men of Israel had retreated.

10 but Eleazar took his stand and went on killing Philistines until his hand stuck to his sword. The Lord saved them by granting them a great victory. The Israelite army did return, but only to strip the dead.

Eleazar stood and fought the Philistines until his hand became weary and his hand stiffened to the grip of his sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day. The army returned after Eleazar, only to strip the bodies.

11 After him came Shammah, son of Agee, the Hararite. When the Philistines gathered at Lehi, in a field full of lentils, the Israelite army ran away from them,

After him was Shammah son of Agee, a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together where there was a field of lentils, and the army fled from them.

12 but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defending it and killing the Philistines. The Lord gave them a great victory.

But Shammah stood in the middle of the field and defended it. He killed the Philistines, and Yahweh brought about a great victory.

13 At harvest time, the Three, who were part of the Thirty leading warriors, went down to meet David when he was at the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim.

Three of the thirty soldiers went down to David at harvest time, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 At the time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.

At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established at Bethlehem.

15 David was feeling really thirsty, and he said, “If only someone could bring me a drink of water from the well beside the entrance gate to Bethlehem!”

David was longing for water and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!”

16 The Three leading warriors broke through the Philistine defenses, took some water from the well at Bethelehem's gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, and poured it out as an offering to the Lord.

So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.

17 “Lord, never let me do this!” he said. “Isn't it like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives?” So he did not drink it. This is just some of the things the Three leading warriors did.

Then he said, “Yahweh, far be it from me, that I should do this. Should I drink the blood of men who have risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. These things were done by the three mighty.

18 Abishai, Joab's brother, was leader of the second Three. Using his spear, he once killed 300 men, and became famous among the Three.

Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was captain over the three. He once fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He was often mentioned along with the three soldiers.

19 He was the most highly regarded of the Three and was their commander, though he was not one of the first Three.

Was he not even more famous than the three? He was made their captain. However, his fame did not equal the fame of the three most famous soldiers.

20 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a strong warrior from Kabzeel, did many amazing things. He killed two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went after a lion into a pit in the snow and killed it.

Benaiah from Kabzeel was the son of Jehoiada; he was a strong man who did mighty feats. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion while it was snowing.

21 Another time he killed a huge Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand but Benaiah attacked him with just a club. He grabbed the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

Then he killed a very large Egyptian man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah fought against him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and then killed him with his own spear.

22 These were the kind of things Benaiah did that made him as famous as the Three leading warriors.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.

23 He was the most highly regarded of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. David put him in charge of his personal bodyguard.

He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24 Included in the Thirty were: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;

The thirty included the following men: Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

25 Shammoth the Harorite; Elika the Harodite,

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26 Helez the Paltite; Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa;

Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 Abiezer from Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;

Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophahite;

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

29 Heleb, son of Baanah the Netophahite; Ittai, son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites;

Heleb son of Baanah, the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,