2 Samuel 23
1 These are the last words of David: “The declaration of David son of Jesse, the declaration of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet singer of Israel.
2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me, and his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘One who rules over people justly, one who rules in the fear of God,
4 is like the light of morning when the sun rises, a cloudless morning; like the brightness after rain, when grass sprouts from the earth.’
5 Is my house not so with God? He has made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered in every way and secure. Will he not make all my salvation and every desire spring forth?
6 But the worthless are all like thorns cast aside, for they cannot be taken in the hand.
7 Whoever touches them arms himself with iron and a spear shaft, and they are completely burned up in the fire where they lie.”
8 These are the names of David’s warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite, chief of the Three; he was Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time.
9 Next was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of an Ahohite, one of the three warriors with David. When they challenged the Philistines who had gathered there for battle, the men of Israel retreated.
10 He stood his ground and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew tired and clung to the sword. The LORD brought a great victory that day, and the people returned to him only to plunder.
11 Next was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered in a troop where there was a field full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the LORD brought a great victory.
13 Three of the thirty chiefs went down and came to David at the cave of Adullam at harvest time, while a troop of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14 David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.
15 David longed for a drink and said, “If only someone would give me water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!”
16 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and brought it to David. But he would not drink it; instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD.
17 He said, “Far be it from me, LORD, to do this! Should I drink the blood of the men who went there at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. That is what the three warriors did.
18 Abishai, Joab’s brother, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them, and he made a name for himself among the Three.
19 Was he not the most honored of the Three? He became their commander, but he did not attain the Three.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man of many deeds from Kabzeel, killed the two Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day.
21 He also killed an Egyptian, a good-looking man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down against him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
22 These were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he made a name for himself among the three warriors.
23 He was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain the Three; and David put him in charge of his personal guard.
24 Asahel, Joab’s brother, was among the Thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
25 Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26 Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
27 Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
29 Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ittai son of Ribai, from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
31 Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliaba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
33 Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezrai the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal son of Nathan, from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, Joab son of Zeruiah’s armor-bearer;
38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
39 Uriah the Hittite. In all, thirty-seven.
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