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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Samuel 23 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></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" src="../topmenuchap/2_samuel/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 2 Samuel 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/22.htm" title="2 Samuel 22">◄</a> 2 Samuel 23 <a href="../2_samuel/24.htm" title="2 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"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/2_samuel/23.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">David’s Oracle</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>This was David’s last composition:</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">The oracle of David, son of Jesse,</p> <p class="poetry2">an oracle by the valiant one who was exalted—</p> <p class="poetry2">anointed by the God of Jacob,</p> <p class="poetry2">the contented psalm writer of Israel.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>The Spirit of the LORD speaks within<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:2 Or through">a</a></span> me;</p> <p class="poetry2">his word is on my tongue!</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>The God of Israel has spoken;</p> <p class="poetry2">the Rock of Israel has talked to me.</p> <p class="poetry2">“When one is governing men justly,</p> <p class="poetry2">he fears God while governing.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>He is like dawn’s first<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:4 The Heb. lacks first ">b</a></span> light,</p> <p class="poetry2">like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning,</p> <p class="poetry2">glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Is not my dynasty<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:5 Lit. house">c</a></span> like this with God?</p> <p class="poetry2">Has he not made an eternal covenant with me,</p> <p class="poetry2">preparing every detail of it?</p> <p class="poetry2">And he has made it secure,</p> <p class="poetry2">including my complete<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:5 Lit. including all of my">d</a></span> salvation, has he not?</p> <p class="poetry2">He has been of continual <span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:5 Lit. He has been all">e</a></span> help, has he not,</p> <p class="poetry2">even with respect to all of my desires?</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>But ungodly men<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:6 Lit. But Belial">f</a></span> are like thorns that are discarded</p> <p class="poetry2">because they cannot be safely<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:6 The Heb. lacks safely">g</a></span> handled.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Whoever handles them</p> <p class="poetry2">wears heavy duty clothing,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:7 Lit. arms himself with iron">h</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">carries strong tools,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:7 Lit. and a spear shaft">i</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">and burns them to ashes on the spot!<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:7 Lit. ashes where they sit">j</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">David’s Elite Soldiers</p><p class="cross_ref">(<a href="http://isv.scripturetext.com/1_chronicles/11.htm">1 Chronicles 11:10-19</a>)</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Here’s a list of the names of David’s special forces: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:8 Cf. 1Chr 11:11, where this individual is named Hachmoni’s son Jashobeam">k</a></span> was head of the Three;<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:8 i.e. a group of three distinguished officers who served David, and so throughout the chapter; cf. 1Chr 11:12">l</a></span> he was nicknamed Adino the Eznite<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:8 The two Heb. names comprise a word play that roughly translates as Thin as a Spear">m</a></span> because he killed 800 men in a single battle engagement.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Next was Dodai<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:9 Cf. 1Chr 11:12, where this individual is named Dodo">n</a></span> the Ahohite’s son Eleazar. Eleazar, who also was one of the Three, was with David when they challenged the Philistines. When the Philistines had assembled in battle array, the Israeli army retreated, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>but Eleazar remained standing right where he was and fought so hard against the Philistines that he became exhausted—he couldn’t even let go of his sword! The LORD magnificently delivered them that day. After Eleazar had won the battle, the other soldiers returned, but only to strip the weapons and armor from the dead.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:10 The Heb. lacks the weapons and armor from the dead">o</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Next was Shammah, Agee the Hararite’s son. One time the Philistines assembled to fight<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:11 Or assembled at Lehi">p</a></span> in a field where lentils had been growing. Israel’s army retreated from the Philistines, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>but Shammah stood his ground in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>One day while the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:13 Or the Rephaim Valley">q</a></span> three of the 30 leaders joined David at the cave of Adullam. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>David expressed his longing, “Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that’s by the city gate!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>So the Three elite warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out in the LORD’s presence, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>and said, “The LORD forbid that I drink this—this is the blood of men who endangered their own lives!” The Three elite warriors did these things.</p> <p class="heading">David’s Other Valiant Soldiers</p><p class="cross_ref">(<a href="http://isv.scripturetext.com/1_chronicles/11.htm">1 Chronicles 11:20-47</a>)</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the lieutenant<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:18 Lit. chief">r</a></span> in charge of the platoons.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:18 So Syr; MT reads Three ">s</a></span> He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:19 Or never attained the stature of">t</a></span> the Three.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:20 The Heb. lacks men named">u</a></span> Ariel from Moab<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:20 The Heb. name Ariel means lion">v</a></span> and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>He also killed a soldier<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:21 Lit. man">w</a></span> from Egypt. Of handsome appearance, the Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>He was well known among the platoons, but he didn’t measure up to<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:23 Or he never attained the stature of">x</a></span> the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Among the Thirty were Joab’s brother Asahel, Dodo’s son Elhanan of Bethlehem, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Helez the Paltite,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:26 Cf. 1Chr 11:27, where he is named Helez the Pelonite">y</a></span> Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Baanah’s son Heleb from Netophah, Ribai’s son Ittai from Gibeah of the descendants of Benjamin, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:30 The Heb. lacks area; i.e. a region in Gaash containing numerous seasonal streams">z</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Eliahba from Shaalbon, Jashen’s sons, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Shammah’s son from Harar, Sharar the Hararite’s son Ahiam, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Ahasbai the Maacathite’s son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonite’s son Eliam,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:34 Bathsheba’s father was Eliam; her grandfather was Ahithophel; cf. 2Sam 11:3; 15:12">aa</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>Hezro from Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>Nathan’s son Igal from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth (the armor-bearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab), <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Ira the Ithrite,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:38 Cf. 2Sam 20:26, where he is also known as Ira the Jairite">bb</a></span> Gareb the Ithrite, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/23-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>and Uriah the Hittite—for a total of 37.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 23:2 Or <i>through</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 23:4 The Heb. lacks <i>first </i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 23:5 Lit. <i>house</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 23:5 Lit. <i>including all of my</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 23:5 Lit. <i>He has been all</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 23:6 Lit. <i>But Belial</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 23:6 The Heb. lacks <i>safely</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 23:7 Lit. <i>arms himself with iron</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 23:7 Lit. <i>and a spear shaft</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 23:7 Lit. <i>ashes where they sit</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 23:8 Cf. 1Chr 11:11, where this individual is named <i>Hachmoni’s son Jashobeam</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 23:8 i.e. a group of three distinguished officers who served David, and so throughout the chapter; cf. 1Chr 11:12<br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 23:8 The two Heb. names comprise a word play that roughly translates as <i>Thin as a Spear</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 23:9 Cf. 1Chr 11:12, where this individual is named <i>Dodo</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 23:10 The Heb. lacks <i>the weapons and armor from the dead</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 23:11 Or <i>assembled at Lehi</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 23:13 Or <i>the Rephaim Valley</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 23:18 Lit. <i>chief</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 23:18 So Syr; MT reads <i>Three</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 23:19 Or <i>never attained the stature of</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 23:20 The Heb. lacks <i>men named</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 23:20 The Heb. name <i>Ariel</i> means <i>lion</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 23:21 Lit. <i>man</i><br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 23:23 Or <i>he never attained the stature of</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 23:26 Cf. 1Chr 11:27, where he is named <i>Helez the Pelonite</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 23:30 The Heb. lacks <i>area</i>; i.e. a region in Gaash containing numerous seasonal streams<br /><span class="fnb">aa</span> 23:34 Bathsheba’s father was Eliam; her grandfather was Ahithophel; cf. 2Sam 11:3; 15:12<br /><span class="fnb">bb</span> 23:38 Cf. 2Sam 20:26, where he is also known as <i>Ira the Jairite</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_samuel/22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_samuel/24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_samuel/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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