2 Samuel Chapter 23 (Index)

001  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

002  The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

003  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

004  And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

005  Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

006  But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

007  But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

008  These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

009  And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

010  He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

011  And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

012  But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

013  And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

014  And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

015  And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

016  And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

017  And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, 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.

018  And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.

019  Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

020  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

021  And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a 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.

022  These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

023  He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

024  Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

025  Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

026  Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

027  Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

028  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

029  Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

030  Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

031  Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

032  Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

033  Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

034  Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

035  Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

036  Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

037  Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

038  Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

039  Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.