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2 Samuel 23
1599 Geneva Bible
2 Samuel 23
1599 Geneva Bible
23 1 The last words of David. 6 The wicked shall be plucked up as thorns. 8 The names and facts of his mighty men. 15 He desired water, and would not drink it.
1 These also be the [a]last words of David, David the son of Jesse saith, even the man who was set up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet singer of Israel saith,
2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my [b]tongue.
3 The God of Israel spake to me, the strength of Israel said, Thou shalt bear rule over men, being just, and ruling in the fear of God.
4 Even as the morning light when the sun riseth, the morning, I say, without clouds, so shall mine house be, and not as the [c]grass of the earth is by the bright rain.
5 For so shall not mine house be with God: for he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, perfect in all points, and sure: therefore all mine health and whole desire is, that he will not make it [d]grow so.
6 But the wicked shall be every one as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands.
7 But the man that shall touch them, must be defenced with iron, or with the shaft of a spear: and they shall be burnt with fire in the same place.
8 ¶ These be the names of the mighty men whom David hath: He that sat in the seat of [e]wisdom, being chief of the princes, was Adino of Ezni, he slew eight hundred at one time.
9 And after him was (A)Eleazar the son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi, one of the three worthies with David, when they [f]defied the Philistines gathered there to battle, when the men of Israel were [g]gone up.
10 He arose and smote the Philistines, until his hand was weary, and his [h]hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord gave great victory the same day, and the people returned after him only to spoil.
11 After him was (B)Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite: for the Philistines assembled at a town, where was a piece of a field full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: so the Lord gave [i]great victory.
13 ¶ Afterward three of the thirty captains went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam, and the host of the Philistines pitched in the valley of [j]Rephaim.
14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 And David [k]longed, and said, Oh, that one would give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate.
16 Then the three mighty brake into the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took and brought it to David, who would not drink thereof, but [l]poured it for an offering unto the Lord,
17 And said, O Lord, be it far from me, that I should do this. Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
18 ¶ (C)And Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred, [m]and slew them, and he had the name among the three.
19 For he was most excellent of the three, and was their captain, but he attained not unto the first three.
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the son of [n]a valiant man, which had done many acts, and was of Kabzeel, slew two strong men of Moab: he went down also, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of snow.
21 And he slew an Egyptian a [o]man of great stature, and the Egyptian had a [p]spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three worthies.
23 He was honorable among [q]thirty, but he attained not to the first three: and David made him of his counsel.
24 ¶ (D)Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty: Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem:
25 Shammoth the Harorite: Elika the Harodite:
26 Helez the (E)[r]Paltite: Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite:
27 Abiezer the Anathothite: [s]Mebunnai the Hushathite:
28 Zalmon an Ahohite: Maharai the Netophathite:
29 Heleb the son of Baanah a Netophathite: Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin:
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite: Hiddai of the river of Gaash:
31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite: Azmaveth the Barhumite:
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite: of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan:
33 Shammah the Hararite: Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite:
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of Maachathi: Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite:
35 Hezrai the Carmelite: Paarai the Arbite:
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah: Bani the Gadite:
37 Zelek the Ammonite: Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah:
38 Ira the Ithrite: Gareb the Ithrite:
39 Uriah the Hittite, [t]thirty and seven in all.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 23:1 Which he spake after that he had made the Psalms.
- 2 Samuel 23:2 Meaning, he spake nothing but by the motion of God’s Spirit.
- 2 Samuel 23:4 Which groweth quickly, and fadeth soon.
- 2 Samuel 23:5 But that my kingdom may continue forever according to his promise.
- 2 Samuel 23:8 As one of the King’s counsel.
- 2 Samuel 23:9 Or, assailed with danger of their lives.
- 2 Samuel 23:9 Meaning, fled from the battle.
- 2 Samuel 23:10 By a cramp which came of weariness and striving.
- 2 Samuel 23:12 Which hath neither respect to many nor few, when he will show his power.
- 2 Samuel 23:13 Or, giants.
- 2 Samuel 23:15 Being overcome with weariness and thirst.
- 2 Samuel 23:16 Bridling his affection, and also desiring God not to be offended for that rash enterprise.
- 2 Samuel 23:18 Hebrew, slain.
- 2 Samuel 23:20 Or, Jesse
- 2 Samuel 23:21 Or, a comely man.
- 2 Samuel 23:21 Which was as big as a weaver’s beam, 1 Chron. 11:23.
- 2 Samuel 23:23 He was more valiant than the thirty that follow, and not so valiant as the six before.
- 2 Samuel 23:26 Or, Pelonite.
- 2 Samuel 23:27 Divers of these had two names, appeareth 1 Chron. 11, and also many more are there mentioned.
- 2 Samuel 23:39 These came to David, and helped to restore him to his Kingdom.
2 Samuel 23
New International Version
2 Samuel 23
New International Version
David’s Last Words
23 These are the last words of David:
“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
the utterance of the man exalted(A) by the Most High,
the man anointed(B) by the God of Jacob,
the hero of Israel’s songs:
2 “The Spirit(C) of the Lord spoke through me;
his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock(D) of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,(E)
when he rules in the fear(F) of God,(G)
4 he is like the light(H) of morning(I) at sunrise(J)
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain(K)
that brings grass from the earth.’
5 “If my house were not right with God,
surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,(L)
arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
and grant me my every desire.
6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,(M)
which are not gathered with the hand.
7 Whoever touches thorns
uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
they are burned up where they lie.”
David’s Mighty Warriors(N)
8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:(O)
Josheb-Basshebeth,[a](P) a Tahkemonite,[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed[c] in one encounter.
9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai(Q) the Ahohite.(R) As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam,(S) while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.(T) 14 At that time David was in the stronghold,(U) and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.(V) 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured(W) it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood(X) of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
18 Abishai(Y) the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
20 Benaiah(Z) son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,(AA) performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24 Among the Thirty were:
Asahel(AB) the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite,(AC)
Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez(AD) the Paltite,
Ira(AE) son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27 Abiezer(AF) from Anathoth,(AG)
Sibbekai[f] the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai(AH) the Netophathite,(AI)
29 Heled[g](AJ) son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah(AK) in Benjamin,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,(AL)
Hiddai[h] from the ravines of Gaash,(AM)
31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,(AN)
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan 33 son of[i] Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar[j] the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,(AO)
Eliam(AP) son of Ahithophel(AQ) the Gilonite,
35 Hezro the Carmelite,(AR)
Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,(AS)
the son of Hagri,[k]
37 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite,(AT) the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira the Ithrite,(AU)
Gareb the Ithrite
39 and Uriah(AV) the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 23:8 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts suggest Ish-Bosheth, that is, Esh-Baal (see also 1 Chron. 11:11 Jashobeam).
- 2 Samuel 23:8 Probably a variant of Hakmonite (see 1 Chron. 11:11)
- 2 Samuel 23:8 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:11); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Three; it was Adino the Eznite who killed eight hundred men
- 2 Samuel 23:9 See 1 Chron. 11:13; Hebrew gathered there.
- 2 Samuel 23:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Thirty
- 2 Samuel 23:27 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 21:18; 1 Chron. 11:29); Hebrew Mebunnai
- 2 Samuel 23:29 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chron. 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Heleb
- 2 Samuel 23:30 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:32) Hurai
- 2 Samuel 23:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:34); Hebrew does not have son of.
- 2 Samuel 23:33 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:35) Sakar
- 2 Samuel 23:36 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:38); Hebrew Haggadi
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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