2 Samuel 23

Now these {are} the last words of David. An oracle of David the son of Jesse, and an oracle of the man raised {to} height, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the delightful {one} of the songs of Israel. \*

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

The God of Israel spoke to me, the Rock of Israel said, ‘A righteous one ruling over man {is} ruling {in} the fear of God,

and {is} like the light of morning, {when} the sun rises, a morning {with} no clouds, {like} grass from the earth from brightness after rain.’ \*

For {is} not my house thus with God? For he has made a covenant with me forever, ordered in everything and secured. For all my salvation and every desire, surely will he not make {it} sprout?

But the wicked, all of them, {will be} like a thorn thrown away because they do not take in the hand.

But the man {who} touches them will be filled {with} iron or the wood of a spear. And burning, they will be burned in the fire in place.” \*

These {are} the names of the warriors who {were} to David. Josheb Basshebeth the Tahchemonite {was} the head of the Three. He was lifting his spear against 800, slain at one time. \*

And after him {was} Eleazar the son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi, among the three warriors with David. When they taunted the Philistines, they had gathered themselves there for battle, and the men of Israel went up,

he, he arose and struck the Philistines until his hand tired and his hand clung to the sword. And God did great salvation on that day, and the people returned after him only to plunder. \*

And after him {was} Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. Now the Philistines gathered themselves to Lehi, and a portion of the field there was full {of} lentils, and the people fled from the face of the Philistines.

But he stationed himself in the midst of the portion, and he delivered it, and he struck the Philistines. And God did great salvation. \*

And three from the head Thirty went down, and they came to the harvest, to David, to the cave of Adullam. And a troop of Philistines was camping in the Valley of the Raphaites.

And David {was} then in the stronghold, and a garrison of the Philistines {was} then {in} Bethlehem.

And David desired, and he said, “Who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that {is} at the gate?”

And the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, and they drew water from the well of Bethlehem that {is} at the gate. And they carried {it} away and brought {it} to David. But he was not willing to drink it, and he poured it out to God.

And he said, “Profane to me, God, from my doing this, the blood of the men having gone with their lives!” And he was not willing to drink it. \* These {things} the three warriors did. \*

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, he {was} the head of the three, and he was lifting his spear against 300, slain. And to him {was} a name among the Three.

{Is it not} that he was the most honored of the three? And he became to them a commander. But he did not come to the Three. \*

And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, {was} a son of a man of valor, many deeds, from Kabzeel. He, he struck the two Ariel of Moab. And he, he went down and struck a lion in the midst of the pit on a day of snow.

And he himself struck a man of Egypt, a man of appearance. Now in the hand of the Egyptian {was} a spear, and he went down against him with a staff. But he seized the spear from the hand of the Egyptian, and he killed him with his spear.

These {things}, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada did. And to him {was} a name among the three warriors.

More than the Thirty, he was honored, but to the Three, he did not come. \* And David put him to his bodyguard.

Asahel the brother of Joab {was} among the Thirty; Elhanan, the son of Dodo {of} Bethlehem;

Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;

Helez the Paltite; Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;

Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;

Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;

Heleb, the son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai, the son of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin;

Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai of the wadis of Gaash;

Abi Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;

Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;

Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam, the son of Sharar the Hararite;

Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;

Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;

Igal, the son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;

Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, the carrier of the equipment of Joab, the son of Zeruiah;

Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

Uriah the Hittite; {in} all, 37. \*