2 Samuel 23 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Now these are the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse says,
the man who was raised on high says,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
the sweet psalmist of Israel:
[2] “Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me.
His word was on my tongue.
[3] The God of Israel said,
the Rock of Israel spoke to me,
‘One who rules over men righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,
[4] shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
a morning without clouds,
when the tender grass springs out of the earth,
through clear shining after rain.’ [5] Isn’t my house so with God?
Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things, and sure,
for it is all my salvation and all my desire.
Won’t he make it grow?
[6] But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away,
because they can’t be taken with the hand.
[7] The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear.
They will be utterly burned with fire in their place.” [8] These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time. [9] After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away. [10] He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take plunder. [11] After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines. [12] But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory. [13] Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. [14] David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. [15] David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” [16] The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David; but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh. [17] He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things. [18] Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. [19] Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he wasn’t included as one of the three. [20] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow. [21] He killed a huge Egyptian, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. [22] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. [23] He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard. [24] Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty: Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, [25] Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, [26] Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, [27] Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, [28] Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, [29] Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, [30] Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash. [31] Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, [32] Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, [33] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, [34] Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, [35] Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, [36] Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, [37] Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah, [38] Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, [39] and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
David the son of Jesse says,
the man who was raised on high says,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
the sweet psalmist of Israel:
[2] “Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me.
His word was on my tongue.
[3] The God of Israel said,
the Rock of Israel spoke to me,
‘One who rules over men righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,
[4] shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
a morning without clouds,
when the tender grass springs out of the earth,
through clear shining after rain.’ [5] Isn’t my house so with God?
Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things, and sure,
for it is all my salvation and all my desire.
Won’t he make it grow?
[6] But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away,
because they can’t be taken with the hand.
[7] The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear.
They will be utterly burned with fire in their place.” [8] These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time. [9] After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away. [10] He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take plunder. [11] After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines. [12] But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory. [13] Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. [14] David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. [15] David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” [16] The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David; but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh. [17] He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things. [18] Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. [19] Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he wasn’t included as one of the three. [20] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow. [21] He killed a huge Egyptian, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. [22] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. [23] He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard. [24] Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty: Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, [25] Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, [26] Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, [27] Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, [28] Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, [29] Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, [30] Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash. [31] Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, [32] Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, [33] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, [34] Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, [35] Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, [36] Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, [37] Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah, [38] Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, [39] and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
King James Version
David’s Last Words
[1] Now these be the last H314 words H1697 of David. H1732David H1732 the son H1121 of Jesse H3448 said, H5002 (QalPasPtc)
And the man H1397 who was raised up H6965 (HophPerf) on high, H5920
The anointed H4899 of the God H430 of Jacob, H3290
And the sweet H5273 psalmist H2158 of Israel, H3478 said, H5002 (QalPasPtc)
[2] The Spirit H7307 of the Lord H3068 spake H1696 (PielPerf) by me,
And his word H4405 was in my tongue. H3956
[3] The God H430 of Israel H3478 said, H559 (QalPerf)
The Rock H6697 of Israel H3478 spake H1696 (PielPerf) to me,
He that ruleth§ H4910 (QalActPtc) over men H120 must be just, H6662
Ruling H4910 (QalActPtc) in the fear H3374 of God. H430
[4] And he shall be as the light H216 of the morning, H1242 when the sun H8121 riseth, H2224 (QalImpf)
Even a morning H1242 without H3808 clouds; H5645
As the tender grass H1877 springing out of the earth H776
By clear shining H5051 after rain. H4306
[5] Although my house H1004 be not so with God; H410
Yet he hath made H7760 (QalPerf) with me an everlasting H5769 covenant, H1285
Ordered H6186 (QalPasPtc) in all things, and sure: H8104 (QalPasPtc)
For this is all my salvation, H3468 and all my desire, H2656
Although he make it not to grow. H6779 (HiphImpf)
[6] But the sons of Belial H1100 shall be all of them as thorns H6975 thrust away, H5074 (HophPtc)
Because they cannot be taken H3947 (QalImpf) with hands: H3027
[7] But the man H376 that shall touch H5060 (QalImpf) them
Must be fenced§ H4390 (NiphImpf) with iron H1270 and the staff H6086 of a spear; H2595
And they shall be utterly H8313 (QalInf) burned H8313 (NiphImpf) with fire H784 in the same place. H7675 (QalInf)
His Mighty Men
[8] These be the names H8034 of the mighty men H1368 whom David H1732 had: the Tachmonite H8461 that sat H3427 (QalActPtc) in the seat, H7675 (QalInf/QK) chief H7218 among the captains; H7991 the same was Adino H5722 the Eznite: H6112 he lift up his spear against eight H8083 hundred, H3967 whom he slew H2491§ at one H259 time. H6471 [9] And after H310 him was Eleazar H499 the son H1121 of Dodo H1734 the Ahohite, H266 one of the three H7969 mighty men H1368 with David, H1732 when they defied H2778 (PielInf) the Philistines H6430 that were there gathered together H622 (NiphPerf) to battle, H4421 and the men H376 of Israel H3478 were gone away: H5927 (QalImpf) [10] he arose, H6965 (QalPerf) and smote H5221 (HiphImpf) the Philistines H6430 until H3588 his hand H3027 was weary, H3021 (QalPerf) and his hand H3027 clave H1692 (QalImpf) unto the sword: H2719 and the Lord H3068 wrought H6213 (QalImpf) a great H1419 victory H8668 that day; H3117 and the people H5971 returned H7725 (QalImpf) after H310 him only to spoil. H6584 (PielInf) [11] And after H310 him was Shammah H8048 the son H1121 of Agee H89 the Hararite. H2043 And the Philistines H6430 were gathered together H622 (NiphImpf) into a troop, H2416§ where was a piece H2513 of ground H7704 full H4392 of lentiles: H5742 and the people H5971 fled H5127 (QalPerf) from H6440 the Philistines. H6430 [12] But he stood H3320 (HithImpf) in the midst H8432 of the ground, H2513 and defended H5337 (HiphImpf) it, and slew H5221 (HiphImpf) the Philistines: H6430 and the Lord H3068 wrought H6213 (QalImpf) a great H1419 victory. H8668 [13] And three H7969 (Qere) of the thirty H7970 chief H7218§ went down, H3381 (QalImpf) and came H935 (QalImpf) to David H1732 in the harvest time H7105 unto the cave H4631 of Adullam: H5725 and the troop H2416 of the Philistines H6430 pitched H2583 (QalActPtc) in the valley H6010 of Rephaim. H7497 [14] And David H1732 was then in an hold, H4686 and the garrison H4673 of the Philistines H6430 was then in Beth-lehem. H1035 [15] And David H1732 longed, H183 (HithImpf) and said, H559 (QalImpf) Oh that one would give me drink H8248 (HiphImpf) of the water H4325 of the well H953 of Beth-lehem, H1035 which is by the gate! H8179 [16] And the three H7969 mighty men H1368 brake through H1234 (QalImpf) the host H4264 of the Philistines, H6430 and drew H7579 (QalImpf) water H4325 out of the well H953 of Beth-lehem, H1035 that was by the gate, H8179 and took H5375 (QalImpf) it, and brought H935 (HiphImpf) it to David: H1732 nevertheless he would H14 (QalPerf) not drink H8354 (QalInf) thereof, but poured it out H5258 (HiphImpf) unto the Lord. H3068 [17] And he said, H559 (QalImpf) Be it far H2486 from me, O Lord, H3068 that I should do H6213 (QalInf) this: is not this the blood H1818 of the men H582 that went H1980 (QalActPtc) in jeopardy of their lives? H5315 therefore he would H14 (QalPerf) not drink H8354 (QalInf) it. These things did H6213 (QalPerf) these three H7969 mighty men. H1368 [18] And Abishai, H52 the brother H251 of Joab, H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 was chief H7218 among three. H7992 And he lifted up H5782 (PolePerf) his spear H2595 against three H7969 hundred, H3967 and slew H2491 them,§ and had the name H8034 among three. H7969 [19] Was he not most honourable H3513 (NiphPtc) of three? H7969 therefore he was their captain: H8269 howbeit he attained H935 (QalPerf) not unto the first three. H7969 [20] And Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 the son H1121 of a valiant H2428 man, H376 (QK) of Kabzeel, H6909 who had done many H7227 acts, H6467§ he slew H5221 (HiphPerf) two H8147 lionlike men H739§ of Moab: H4124 he went down H3381 (QalPerf) also and slew H5221 (HiphPerf) a lion H738 in the midst H8432 of a pit H953 in time H3117 of snow: H7950 [21] and he slew H2026 (QalImpf) an Egyptian, H4713 a goodly H4758 man: H376§ and the Egyptian H4713 had a spear H2595 in his hand; H3027 but he went down H3381 (QalImpf) to him with a staff, H7626 and plucked H1497 (QalImpf) the spear H2595 out of the Egyptian’s H4713 hand, H3027 and slew H5221 (HiphPerf) him with his own spear. H2595 [22] These things did H6213 (QalPerf) Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and had the name H8034 among three H7969 mighty men. H1368 [23] He was more honourable H3513 (NiphPtc) than the thirty, H7970§ but he attained H935 (QalPerf) not to the first three. H7969 And David H1732 set H7760 (QalImpf) him over his guard. H4928§ [24] Asahel H6214 the brother H251 of Joab H3097 was one of the thirty; H7970 Elhanan H445 the son H1121 of Dodo H1734 of Beth-lehem, H1035 [25] Shammah H8048 the Harodite, H2733 Elika H470 the Harodite, H2733 [26] Helez H2503 the Paltite, H6407 Ira H5896 the son H1121 of Ikkesh H6142 the Tekoite, H8621 [27] Abiezer H44 the Anethothite, H6069 Mebunnai H4012 the Hushathite, H2843 [28] Zalmon H6756 the Ahohite, H266 Maharai H4121 the Netophathite, H5200 [29] Heleb H2460 the son H1121 of Baanah, H1196 a Netophathite, H5200 Ittai H863 the son H1121 of Ribai H7380 out of Gibeah H1390 of the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 [30] Benaiah H1141 the Pirathonite, H6553 Hiddai H1914 of the brooks H5158§ of Gaash, H1608 [31] Abi-albon H45 the Arbathite, H6164 Azmaveth H5820 the Barhumite, H1273 [32] Eliahba H455 the Shaalbonite, H8170 of the sons H1121 of Jashen, H3464 Jonathan, H3083 [33] Shammah H8048 the Hararite, H2043 Ahiam H279 the son H1121 of Sharar H8325 the Hararite, H2043 [34] Eliphelet H467 the son H1121 of Ahasbai, H308 the son H1121 of the Maachathite, H4602 Eliam H463 the son H1121 of Ahithophel H302 the Gilonite, H1526 [35] Hezrai H2695 the Carmelite, H3761 Paarai H6474 the Arbite, H701 [36] Igal H3008 the son H1121 of Nathan H5416 of Zobah, H6678 Bani H1137 the Gadite, H1425 [37] Zelek H6768 the Ammonite, H5984 Nahari the Beerothite, H886 armourbearer H5375 (QalActPtc) to Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 [38] Ira H5896 an Ithrite, H3505 Gareb H1619 an Ithrite, H3505 [39] Uriah H223 the Hittite: H2850 thirty H7970 and seven H7651 in all.Footnotes
- § 23:3 Or, be thou ruler, etc.
- § 23:7 Heb. filled
- § 23:8 Heb. slain
- § 23:11 Or, for foraging
- § 23:13 Or, the three captains over the thirty
- § 23:18 Heb. slain
- § 23:20a Heb. great of acts
- § 23:20b Heb. lion of God
- § 23:21 Heb. a man of countenance or sight, called 1. Chro. 11.23 a man of great stature
- § 23:23a Or, honourable among the thirty
- § 23:23b Or, council. Heb. at his command
- § 23:30 Or, valleys
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