2 Samuel 23
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1These are the last words of David: “David, the son of Jesse, speaks— David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.1This was David's last composition: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, an oracle by the valiant one who was exalted— anointed by the God of Jacob, the contented psalm writer of Israel.
2“The Spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue.2The Spirit of the LORD speaks within me; his word is on my tongue!
3The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,3The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has talked to me. "When one is governing men justly, he fears God while governing.
4is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’4He is like dawn's first light, like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning, glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower.
5“Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.5Is not my dynasty like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete salvation, has he not? He has been of continual help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?
6But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them.6But ungodly men are like thorns that are discarded because they cannot be safely handled.
7One must use iron tools to chop them down; they will be totally consumed by fire.” David’s Mightiest Warriors7Whoever handles them wears heavy duty clothing, carries strong tools, and burns them to ashes on the spot!
8These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three —the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.8Here's a list of the names of David's special forces: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite was head of the Three; he was nicknamed Adino the Eznite because he killed 800 men in a single battle engagement.
9Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled.9Next was Dodai the Ahohite's son Eleazar. Eleazar, who also was one of the Three, was with David when they challenged the Philistines. When the Philistines had assembled in battle array, the Israeli army retreated,
10He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!10but Eleazar remained standing right where he was and fought so hard against the Philistines that he became exhausted—he couldn't even let go of his sword! The LORD magnificently delivered them that day. After Eleazar had won the battle, the other soldiers returned, but only to strip the weapons and armor from the dead.
11Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled,11Next was Shammah, Agee the Hararite's son. One time the Philistines assembled to fight in a field where lentils had been growing. Israel's army retreated from the Philistines,
12but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.12but Shammah stood his ground in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.
13Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there.13One day while the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants, three of the 30 leaders joined David at the cave of Adullam.
14David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.14David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
15David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.”15David expressed his longing, "Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that's by the city gate!"
16So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD.16So the Three elite warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out in the LORD's presence,
17“The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. David’s Thirty Mighty Men17and said, "The LORD forbid that I drink this—this is the blood of men who endangered their own lives!" The Three elite warriors did these things.
18Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.18Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother, was the lieutenant in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three.
19Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.19He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to the Three.
20There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.20Jehoiada's son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named Ariel from Moab and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day.
21Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.21He also killed a soldier from Egypt. Of handsome appearance, the Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.
22Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.22Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors.
23He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.23He was well known among the platoons, but he didn't measure up to the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail.
24Other members of the Thirty included: Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;24Among the Thirty were Joab's brother Asahel, Dodo's son Elhanan of Bethlehem,
25Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod;25Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod,
26Helez from Pelon ; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;26Helez the Paltite, Ikkesh's son Ira from Tekoa,
27Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah;27Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon from Ahoah; Maharai from Netophah;28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,
29Heled son of Baanah from Netophah; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);29Baanah's son Heleb from Netophah, Ribai's son Ittai from Gibeah of the descendants of Benjamin,
30Benaiah from Pirathon; Hurai from Nahale-gaash ;30Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area,
31Abi-albon from Arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim;31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim,
32Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan32Eliahba from Shaalbon, Jashen's sons,
33son of Shagee from Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;33Shammah's son from Harar, Sharar the Hararite's son Ahiam,
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;34Ahasbai the Maacathite's son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonite's son Eliam,
35Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Arba;35Hezro from Carmel, Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani from Gad;36Nathan's son Igal from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth (the armor-bearer for Zeruiah's son Joab),
38Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.39and Uriah the Hittite—for a total of 37.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
2 Samuel 22
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