David's Last Words
2 Kingdoms 23, verse 1. Now these are the last words of David. “David, the faithful one, the son of Jesse; The faithful man whom the Lord raised up, The anointed of the God of Jacob, The sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 2. “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 3. The God of Israel says, A guardian of Israel spoke a parable, saying, ‘Among men, how will you strengthen the fear of God? 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 4. By God, the sun may arise in the light of early morning; The early morning does not pass by without light; So after rain, new growth shows forth out of the earth.’ 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 5. “For my house is not so with the Mighty One; For He prepared an everlasting covenant with me, Keeping it prepared for every time. For my entire salvation and my every desire is That the lawless may not in any way flourish! 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 6. All of them are as thorns thrusting outward, For they cannot be taken by the hand. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 7. And a man will not labor among them, Unless armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And to their dishonor, they shall be burned with fire.”
David's Mighty Men
2 Kingdoms 23, verse 8. The names of David's mighty men were, first, Jebosheth the Canaanite, chief among the three. The second was called Adino the Eznite. He drew his sword against eight hundred men at one time and killed them. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 9. And after him was Eleazar his cousin, the son of Zousitos, one of the three mighty men. He was with David in Zerran when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 10. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great deliverance that day, and the people stayed behind him only to plunder. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 11. And after him was Shammah the son of Asa the Arouchaite. The Philistines had gathered to Theria, where there was a part of the field full of lentils. Then the people fled from the Philistines. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 12. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the Lord brought about a great deliverance. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 13. Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David in Kason at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 14. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 15. And David said with longing, “Who will give me a drink of the water from the well in Bethlehem by the gate?” 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 16. So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 17. And he said, “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives so that I should drink?” Therefore he would not drink it. These are the things the three mighty men did. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 18. Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men and won a name among these three. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 19. Of the three he was the most honored. Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 20. Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, a man from Kabzeel, abundant in deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He had also gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 21. And he killed an Egyptian man, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand like the wood of a ladder, so he went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 22. These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and he won a name among three mighty men. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 23. He was the most honored of the three, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him as his reporter. 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 24. And the names of King David's mighty men were Asahel the brother of Joab, one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo, David's uncle, of Bethlehem; 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 25. Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 26. Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 27. Abiezer the Anathothite of the sons of Asothitos, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 28. Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 29. Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah, the son of Benjamin, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 30. Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 31. Abiel the son of the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 32. Eliahba the Shaalbonite of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 33. Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 34. Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 35. Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 36. Igal the son of Nathan from the mighty men, the Gadite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 37. Elie the Ammonite, Gelorai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 38. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 2 Kingdoms 23, verse 39. and Uriah the Hittite. These were thirty-seven in all.