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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>2 Samuel 23 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" 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Samuel 24">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">David's Last Words</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_1"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.1" class="v10_23_1">1</span>These are the last words of David the son of Jesse.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_1">The God of Jacob chose David</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_1">and made him a great king.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_1">The Mighty God of Israel</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_1">loved him.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.1!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_1">When God told him to speak,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_1">David said:</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_2"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.2" class="v10_23_2">2</span>The Spirit of the <span class="nd">Lord</span></span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_2">has told me what to say.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_3"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.3" class="v10_23_3">3</span>Our Mighty Rock,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.3!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_3">the God of Jacob, told me,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_3">“A ruler who obeys God</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_3">and does right</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_4"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.4" class="v10_23_4">4</span>is like the sunrise</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_4">on a cloudless day,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_4">or like rain that sparkles</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_4">on the grass.”<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.4!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_5"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.5" class="v10_23_5">5</span>I have ruled this way,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_5">and God will never break</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_5">his promise to me.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_5">God's promise is complete</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_5">and unchanging;</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_5">he will always help me</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_5">and give me what I hope for.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_6"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.6" class="v10_23_6">6</span>But evil people are pulled up</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_6">like thornbushes.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_6">They are not dug up by hand,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v10_23_7"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.7" class="v10_23_7">7</span>but with a sharp spear</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v10_23_7">and are burned on the spot.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Three Warriors</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="1CH 11:10-19">1 Chronicles 11.10-19</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_8"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.8" class="v10_23_8">8</span>These are the names of David's warriors:</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_8">Ishbosheth<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.8!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> the son of Hachmon<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.8!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> was the leader of the Three Warriors.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.8!f.3" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> In one battle, he killed 800 men with his spear.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.8!f.4" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_9"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.9" class="v10_23_9">9</span>The next one of the Three Warriors was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. One time when the Philistines were at war with Israel, he and David dared the Philistines to fight them. Every one of the Israelite soldiers turned and ran, </span><span class="v10_23_10"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.10" class="v10_23_10">10</span>except Eleazar. He killed Philistines until his hand was cramped, and he couldn't let go of his sword. When Eleazar finished, all the Israelite troops had to do was come back and take the enemies' weapons and armor. The <span class="nd">Lord</span> gave Israel a great victory that day.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_11"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.11" class="v10_23_11">11</span>Next was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. One time the Philistines brought their army together to destroy a crop of peas growing in a field near Lehi. The rest of Israel's soldiers ran away from the Philistines, </span><span class="v10_23_12"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.12" class="v10_23_12">12</span>but Shammah stood in the middle of the field and killed the Philistines. The crops were saved, and the <span class="nd">Lord</span> gave Israel a great victory.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_13"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.13" class="v10_23_13">13</span>One year at harvest time, the Three Warriors<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.13!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> went to meet David at Adullam Cave.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.13!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> The Philistine army had set up camp in Rephaim Valley </span><span class="v10_23_14"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.14" class="v10_23_14">14</span>and had taken over Bethlehem. David was in his fortress, </span><span class="v10_23_15"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.15" class="v10_23_15">15</span>and he was very thirsty. He said, “I wish I had a drink from the well by the gate at Bethlehem.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_16"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.16" class="v10_23_16">16</span>The Three Warriors<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.16!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> sneaked into the Philistine camp and got some water from the well near Bethlehem's gate. But after they brought the water back to David, he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a sacrifice </span><span class="v10_23_17"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.17" class="v10_23_17">17</span>and said to the <span class="nd">Lord</span>, “I can't drink this water! It's like the blood of these men who risked their lives to get it for me.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_17">The Three Warriors did these brave deeds.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Thirty Warriors</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="1CH 11:20-47">1 Chronicles 11.20-47</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_18"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.18" class="v10_23_18">18</span>Joab's brother Abishai was the leader of the Thirty Warriors,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.18!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and in one battle he killed 300 men with his spear. He was as famous as the Three Warriors </span><span class="v10_23_19"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.19" class="v10_23_19">19</span>and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. He was the commander of the Thirty Warriors, but he still did not become one of the Three Warriors.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_20"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.20" class="v10_23_20">20</span>Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel who did some amazing things. He killed two of Moab's best fighters,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.20!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. </span><span class="v10_23_21"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.21" class="v10_23_21">21</span>Another time, he killed an Egyptian, as big as a giant.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.23.21!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> The Egyptian was armed with a spear, but Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah grabbed the spear from the Egyptian and killed him with it. </span><span class="v10_23_22"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.22-2Sam.23.23" class="v10_23_22">22-23</span>Benaiah did these things. He never became one of the Three Warriors, but he was just as famous as they were and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. David made him the leader of his bodyguard.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_23_24"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39" class="v10_23_24">24-39</span>Some of the Thirty Warriors were:</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Asahel the brother of Joab</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Elhanan the son of Dodo from Bethlehem</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Shammah from Harod</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Elika from Harod</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Helez the Paltite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Ira the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Abiezer from Anathoth</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Mebunnai<a href="#2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.1" id="link_2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> the Hushathite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Zalmon the Ahohite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Maharai from Netophah</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Heleb the son of Baanah from Netophah</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamin</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Benaiah from Pirathon</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Hiddai from the streams on Mount Gaash</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Abialbon from Beth-Arabah</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Azmaveth from Bahurim<a href="#2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.2" id="link_2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Eliahba from Shaalbon</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Jashen<a href="#2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.3" id="link_2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.3" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Jonathan the son of Shammah the Hararite<a href="#2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.4" id="link_2Sam.23.24-2Sam.23.39!f.4" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai from Maacah</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Eliam the son of Ahithophel from Gilo</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Hezro from Carmel</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Paarai the Arbite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Igal the son of Nathan from Zobah</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Bani the Gadite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Zelek from Ammon</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Naharai from Beeroth, who carried the weapons of Joab the son of Zeruiah</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Ira the Ithrite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Gareb the Ithrite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">Uriah the Hittite</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v10_23_24">There were 37 in all.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">The Mighty … him: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “He wrote Israel's favorite songs.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.3 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Mighty Rock: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 22.2.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.4 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">sparkles … grass: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “makes the grass grow.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Ishbosheth: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Josheb Bashebeth,” which seems to be another spelling of Ishbosheth. See the note at 2.8, although this is a different Ishbosheth.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the son of Hachmon: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “the Tahchemonite” (see 1 Chronicles 11.11).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Three Warriors: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The most honored group of warriors. They may have been part of the Thirty Warriors. “Three” and “thirty” are spelled almost the same in Hebrew, so there is some confusion in the manuscripts as to which group is being talked about in some places in the following lists.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">with … spear: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text (see 1 Chronicles 11.11).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.13 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Three Warriors: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “three warriors.” Hebrew “three of the thirty most important.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.13 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Adullam Cave: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This may have happened during the time that David was an outlaw (see 1 Samuel 22.1-6).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.16 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Three Warriors: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “three warriors.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.18 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Thirty Warriors: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The second most honored group of warriors. They may have also been officers in the army (see the note at 23.8).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.20 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Moab's best fighters: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “big lions in Moab;” one ancient translation “sons of Ariel from Moab.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.21 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Egyptian … giant: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">First Chronicles 11.23; in this verse the Hebrew text has “good-looking Egyptian.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.24-39 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Mebunnai: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “Sibbecai” (see 1 Chronicles 11.26-47).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.24-39 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Bahurim: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “Barhum.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.24-39 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Jashen: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “sons of Jashen.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.24-39 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Jonathan … Hararite: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts of one ancient translation (see 1 Chronicles 11.26-47). In the Hebrew text Jonathan and Shammah are separate members of the list.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. 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