2 Samuel 23

The Last Words of David

1 Now these are the last words of David.
Thus says David the son of Jesse;
Thus says a the man raised up on high,
b The anointed of the God of Jacob,
And the sweet psalmist of Israel:

2 "The c Spirit of the LORD spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said,
d The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
'He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling e in the fear of God. 4 And f he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,
By clear shining after rain.'

5 "Although my house is not so with God,
g Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,
Ordered in all things and secure.
For this is all my salvation and all my desire;
Will He not make it increase? 6 But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away,
Because they cannot be taken with hands. 7 But the man who touches them
Must be 1 armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,
And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."

David's Mighty Men

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: 2 JoshebBasshe'beth 3 the Tachmonite, chief among 4 the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.

9 And after him was h Eleazar the son of 5 Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was i weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to j plunder.

11 And after him was k Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. l The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

13 Then m three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at n the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in o the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in p the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. 17 And he said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not q the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

18 Now r Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of 6 another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 19 Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from s Kabzeel, 7 who had done many deeds. t He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, 8 a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him u over his guard.

24 v Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 w 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 from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of x Gaash, 31 AbiAl'bon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan, 33 y Shammah the 9 Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of z Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 10 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of a Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 38 b Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and c Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

  1. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:12 - 16
    When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
    Psalms 89:29
    His seed also I will make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven.
  2. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:8
    Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
    2 Samuel 7:9
    And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
    Psalms 78:70
    He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds.
    Psalms 78:71
    From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:12
    So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!
    1 Samuel 16:13
    Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
    Psalms 89:20
    I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 22:43
    He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying:
    2 Peter 1:21
    For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 18:21
    Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
    Isaiah 11:1 - 5
    There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 89:36
    His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me.
    Isaiah 60:1
    Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:12
    When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
    Psalms 89:29
    His seed also I will make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven.
    Isaiah 55:3
    Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you - The sure mercies of David.
  9. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 11:12
    After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
    1 Chronicles 27:4
    Over the division of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
  10. Cross References
    Judges 8:4
    When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 30:24
    "For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike."
    1 Samuel 30:25
    So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
  12. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 11:27
    Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite.
  13. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 11:13
    He was with David at Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines.
    1 Chronicles 11:14
    But they stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.
  14. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 11:15
    Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
  15. Cross References
    1 Samuel 22:1
    David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
  16. Cross References
    2 Samuel 5:18
    The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 22:4
    So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
    1 Samuel 22:5
    Now the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah." So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.
  18. Cross References
    Leviticus 17:10
    And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
  19. Cross References
    2 Samuel 21:17
    But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.
    1 Chronicles 11:20
    Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.
  20. Cross References
    Joshua 15:21
    The cities at the limits of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the South, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur.
  21. Cross References
    Exodus 15:15
    Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, Trembling will take hold of them; All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.
  22. Cross References
    2 Samuel 8:18
    Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.
    2 Samuel 20:23
    And Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.
  23. Cross References
    2 Samuel 2:18
    Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle.
    1 Chronicles 27:7
    The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
  24. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 11:27
    Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite.
  25. Cross References
    Judges 2:9
    And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.
  26. Cross References
    2 Samuel 23:11
    And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines.
  27. Cross References
    2 Samuel 15:12
    Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city - from Giloh - while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.
  28. Cross References
    2 Samuel 8:3
    David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates.
  29. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 2:53
    The families of Kirjath Jearim were the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. From these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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