2 Samuel 23 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

David’s Last Words

2Sa 23:1These 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]

2Sa 23:2

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

2Sa 23:3

2Sa 23:3The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:
‘The one who rules righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,

2Sa 23:4

2Sa 23:4is like the light of morning at sunrise,
like a morning without clouds,
like the gleaming of the sun
on new grass after rain.’

2Sa 23:5

2Sa 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.

2Sa 23:6

2Sa 23:6But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
for they tear the hand that touches them.

2Sa 23:7

2Sa 23:7One must use iron tools to chop them down;
they will be totally consumed by fire.”

David’s Mightiest Warriors

(1Ch 11:10–47 )

2Sa 23:8

2Sa 23:8These 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]

2Sa 23:9

2Sa 23:9Next 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.

2Sa 23:10

2Sa 23:10He 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!

2Sa 23:11

2Sa 23:11Next 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,

2Sa 23:12

2Sa 23:12but Shammah[fn] held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

2Sa 23:13

2Sa 23:13Once 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.

2Sa 23:14

2Sa 23:14David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.

2Sa 23:15

2Sa 23:15David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.”

2Sa 23:16

2Sa 23:16So 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.

2Sa 23:17

2Sa 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

2Sa 23:18

2Sa 23:18Abishai 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.

2Sa 23:19

2Sa 23:19Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty[fn] and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

2Sa 23:20

2Sa 23:20There 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.

2Sa 23:21

2Sa 23:21Once, 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.

2Sa 23:22

2Sa 23:22Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.

2Sa 23:23

2Sa 23:23He 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.

2Sa 23:24

2Sa 23:24Other members of the Thirty included:
Asahel, Joab’s brother;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

2Sa 23:25

2Sa 23:25Shammah from Harod;
Elika from Harod;

2Sa 23:26

2Sa 23:26Helez from Pelon[fn];
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;

2Sa 23:27

2Sa 23:27Abiezer from Anathoth;
Sibbecai[fn] from Hushah;

2Sa 23:28

2Sa 23:28Zalmon from Ahoah;
Maharai from Netophah;

2Sa 23:29

2Sa 23:29Heled[fn] son of Baanah from Netophah;
Ithai[fn] son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);

2Sa 23:30

2Sa 23:30Benaiah from Pirathon;
Hurai[fn] from Nahale-gaash[fn];

2Sa 23:31

2Sa 23:31Abi-albon from Arabah;
Azmaveth from Bahurim;

2Sa 23:32

2Sa 23:32Eliahba from Shaalbon;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan

2Sa 23:33

2Sa 23:33son of Shagee[fn] from Harar;
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;

2Sa 23:34

2Sa 23:34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah;
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;

2Sa 23:35

2Sa 23:35Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai from Arba;

2Sa 23:36

2Sa 23:36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah;
Bani from Gad;

2Sa 23:37

2Sa 23:37Zelek from Ammon;
Naharai from Beeroth, Joab’s armor bearer;

2Sa 23:38

2Sa 23:38Ira from Jattir;
Gareb from Jattir;

2Sa 23:39

2Sa 23:39Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NLT Footnotes

(23:1)

Or the favorite subject of the songs of Israel; or the favorite of the Strong One of Israel.

(23:8)

As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:11; Hebrew reads Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite.

(23:8)

As in Greek and Latin versions (see also 1 Chr 11:11); the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

(23:8)

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.

(23:12)

Hebrew he.

(23:17)

Hebrew Shall I drink the blood of these men?

(23:18)

As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac version; most Hebrew manuscripts read the Three.

(23:19)

As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads the Three.

(23:20)

Or son of Jehoiada, son of Ish-hai.

(23:20)

Hebrew two of Ariel.