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The Blue Letter Bible

2 Samuel 23 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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David’s Last Words

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:1

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:1 - These 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.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:2

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:2 - “The Spirit of the LORD speaks through me;
his words are upon my tongue.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:3

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:3 - The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:
‘The one who rules righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:4

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:4 - is like the light of morning at sunrise,
like a morning without clouds,
like the gleaming of the sun
on new grass after rain.’

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:5

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:5 - “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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:6

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:6 - But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
for they tear the hand that touches them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:7

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:7 - One must use iron tools to chop them down;
they will be totally consumed by fire.”
David’s Mightiest Warriors
(1Ch 11:10–47 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:8

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:8 - These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite,[fn] who was leader of the Three[fn]—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:9

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:9 - Next 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:10

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:10 - He 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!

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:11

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:11 - Next 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,

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:12

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:12 - but Shammah[fn] held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:13

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:13 - Once 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:14

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:14 - David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:15

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:15 - David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:16

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:16 - So 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:17

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:17 - “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men[fn] 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 Men

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:18

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:18 - Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty.[fn] 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:19

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:19 - Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty[fn] and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:20

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:20 - There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior[fn] from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions[fn] of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:21

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:21 - Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:22

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:22 - Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:23

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:23 - He 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:24

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:24 - Other members of the Thirty included:
Asahel, Joab’s brother;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:25

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:25 - Shammah from Harod;
Elika from Harod;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:26

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:26 - Helez from Pelon[fn];
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:27

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:27 - Abiezer from Anathoth;
Sibbecai[fn] from Hushah;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:28

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:28 - Zalmon from Ahoah;
Maharai from Netophah;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:29

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:29 - Heled[fn] son of Baanah from Netophah;
Ithai[fn] son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:30

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:30 - Benaiah from Pirathon;
Hurai[fn] from Nahale-gaash[fn];

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:31

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:31 - Abi-albon from Arabah;
Azmaveth from Bahurim;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:32

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:32 - Eliahba from Shaalbon;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:33

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:33 - son of Shagee[fn] from Harar;
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:34

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:34 - Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah;
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:35

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:35 - Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai from Arba;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:36

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:36 - Igal son of Nathan from Zobah;
Bani from Gad;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:37

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:37 - Zelek from Ammon;
Naharai from Beeroth, Joab’s armor bearer;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:38

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:38 - Ira from Jattir;
Gareb from Jattir;

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 23:39

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 23:39 - Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NLT Footnotes
Or the favorite subject of the songs of Israel; or the favorite of the Strong One of Israel.
As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:11; Hebrew reads Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite.
As in Greek and Latin versions (see also 1 Chr 11:11); the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:11); the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain, though it might be rendered the Three. It was Adino the Eznite who killed 800 men at one time.
Hebrew he.
Hebrew Shall I drink the blood of these men?
As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac version; most Hebrew manuscripts read the Three.
As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads the Three.
Or son of Jehoiada, son of Ish-hai.
Hebrew two of Ariel.
As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:27 (see also 1 Chr 27:10); Hebrew reads from Palti.
As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:29); Hebrew reads Mebunnai.
As in some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts read Heleb.
As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:31; Hebrew reads Ittai.
As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:32); Hebrew reads Hiddai.
Or from the ravines of Gaash.
As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:34; Hebrew reads Jonathan, Shammah; some Greek manuscripts read Jonathan son of Shammah.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Full copyright information is provided here. Visit the New Living Translation website.

For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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2 Samuel Chapter 23 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras