2 Samuel 23

¹ These are the last words of David: Thus speaks David son of Jesse, thus speaks the man raised toeminence, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the singer of the songs of Israel:

² The spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, his word is on my tongue;

³ the God of Jacob has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: He whose rule is upright on earth,who rules in the fear of God,

⁴ is like the morning light at sunrise (on a cloudless morning) making the grass of the earth sparkle afterrain.

⁵ Yes, my House stands firm with God: he has made an eternal covenant with me, al in order, welassured; does he not bring to fruition my every victory and desire?

⁶ But men of Belial he rejects like thorns, for these are never taken up in the hand:

⁷ no one touches them except with a pitchfork or spear-shaft, and then only to burn them to nothing!

⁸ These are the names of David's champions: Ishbaal the Hachmonite leader of the Three; it was hewho brandished his spear over eight hundred men whom he had kil ed at one time.

⁹ Next, there was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three champions. He was with David atPas-Dammim when the Philistines mustered for battle there and the men of Israel had disbanded.

¹⁰ But he stood his ground and cut down the Philistines until his hand was so stiff that he could not letgo of the sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day, and the people rallied behind him, although onlyto plunder.

¹¹ Next, there was Shamma son of Elah, the Hararite. The Philistines had mustered at Lehi. There wasa field ful of lentils there; the people fled from the Philistines,

¹² but he took his stand in the middle of the field, held it, and cut down the Philistines; and Yahwehbrought about a great victory.

¹³ Three members of the Thirty went down at the beginning of the harvest and came to David at theCave of Adullam while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Val ey of the Rephaim.

¹⁴ David was then in the stronghold, and there was a Philistine garrison in Bethlehem.

¹⁵ Longingly David said, 'If only someone would fetch me a drink of water from the wel that stands bythe gate at Bethlehem!'

¹⁶ At this, the three champions, forcing their way through the Philistine camp, drew water from the welthat stands by the gate of Bethlehem and, taking it away, presented it to David. He, however, would not drinkany of it, but poured it out as a libation to Yahweh.

¹⁷ 'Yahweh preserve me', he said, 'from doing such a thing! This is the blood of men who went at risk oftheir lives.' That was why he would not drink. Such were the deeds of these three champions.

¹⁸ Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Thirty. It was he who brandished hisspear over three hundred men whom he had kil ed, winning himself a name among the Thirty.

¹⁹ He was a most il ustrious member of the Thirty and became their captain, but he was not equal to theThree.

²⁰ Benaiah of Kabzeel was the son of Jehoiada and hero of many exploits. He it was who slaughteredtwo formidable Moabites and, one snowy day, climbed down and slaughtered the lion in the storage-wel .

²¹ He also slaughtered an Egyptian of great stature. The Egyptian was armed with a spear, but he tookhim on with a staff, tore the spear from the Egyptian's hand and kil ed the man with it.

²² Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, winning him a name among the thirty champions.

²³ He was a most il ustrious member of the Thirty, but he was not equal to the Three. David put him incommand of his bodyguard.

²⁴ Asahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo, of Bethlehem;

²⁵ Shammah of Harod; Elika of Harod;

²⁶ Helez of Beth-Pelet; Ira son of Ikkesh, of Tekoa;

²⁷ Abiezer of Anathoth; Sibbecai of Hushah;

²⁸ Zalmon of Ahoh; Maharai of Netophah;

²⁹ Heled son of Baanah, of Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai, of Gibeah in Benjamin;

³⁰ Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai of the Torrents of Gaash;

³¹ Abibaal of Beth-ha-Arabah; Azmaveth of Bahurim;

³² Eliahba of Shaalbon; Jashen of Gimzo; Jonathan

³³ son of Shammah, of Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar, of Harar;

³⁴ Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, of Beth-Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel, of Gilo;

³⁵ Hezro of Carmel; Paarai of Arab;

³⁶ Igal son of Nathan, of Zobah; Bani the Gadite;

³⁷ Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth squire to Joab, son of Zeruiah;

³⁸ Ira of Jattir; Gareb of Jattir;

³⁹ Uriah the Hittite- thirty-seven in al .