2 SamuelChapter 23

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¹These are the last words of David:
"This is the message of David son of Jesse.
It is the message of the man God lifted up high.
The God of Jacob anointed him.
He is the sweet songwriter of Israel. ²The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me.
His word was on my tongue. ³The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me,
'A man may rule people fairly.
He may rule with the fear of God. ⁴He is like the morning light when the sun rises on a day with no clouds.
He is like the shine after rain on new grass coming up from the earth.' ⁵Isn't my house right with God?
For he has made a covenant with me that lasts forever.
It is set in order and made secure in every part.
Won't he bring about all my salvation?
Won't he give me all I desire? ⁶But worthless people are all like thorns that are thrown away,
because no one can pick them up by hand. ⁷A man who touches them must use iron
or the handle of a spear.
They are burned up with fire right where they lie." ⁸These are the names of David's mighty warriors. Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was the leader of the Three. He used his spear against eight hundred men. He killed them all at one time. ⁹Next was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty warriors. He was with David when they made fun of the Philistines. The Philistines had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel pulled back. ¹⁰But Eleazar stood his ground. He struck down Philistines until his hand was too tired to let go. It stuck to his sword. The LORD won a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to Eleazar, but only to take things from the dead. ¹¹Next was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered near a field full of lentils. Israel's troops ran away from them. ¹²But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He kept the field safe and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD won a great victory. ¹³At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David. He was at the cave of Adullam. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴At that time David was in the stronghold. Some Philistine soldiers were stationed at Bethlehem. ¹⁵David was very thirsty. He said, "Oh, I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!" ¹⁶So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine camp. They drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the LORD. ¹⁷He said, "LORD, I would never do this! This water is the blood of the men who risked their lives!" So he would not drink it. These were the brave deeds of the three mighty warriors. ¹⁸Abishai was the brother of Joab and the son of Zeruiah. He was the leader of the Three. He used his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He won a name for himself along with the Three. ¹⁹Wasn't he honored more than the Three? He became their commander. But he was not one of the Three. ²⁰Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel. He did many great deeds. He struck down two of Moab's best warriors. And on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. ²¹He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. But Benaiah went against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand. Then he killed him with his own spear. ²²These were the brave deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He won a name for himself along with the three mighty warriors. ²³He was honored more than any of the Thirty. But he was not one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards. ²⁴These were among the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, ²⁵Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, ²⁶Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, ²⁷Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, ²⁸Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, ²⁹Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, ³⁰Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the streams of Gaash, ³¹Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, ³²Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan ³³son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, ³⁴Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, ³⁵Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, ³⁶Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, ³⁷Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (he carried the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah), ³⁸Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ³⁹and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.