Chapter 23

Now these [be] the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said,⁷ and the man [who was] raised up⁹⁰ on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,⁷

The Spirit of the LORD spake¹⁴ by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.

The God of Israel said,¹ the Rock of Israel spake¹⁴ to me, He that ruleth⁶ over men [must be] just, ruling⁶ in the fear of God.

And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth,⁴ [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made¹ with me an everlasting covenant, ordered⁷ in all [things], and sure:⁷ for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to grow.⁵⁵

But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away,⁹⁴ because they cannot be taken⁴ with hands:

But the man [that] shall touch⁴ them must be fenced¹¹ with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly² burned¹¹ with fire in the [same] place.²

These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat,^{6 7674 3429} chief among the captains; the same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift up his spear] against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, ²⁶⁶ [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied¹⁵ the Philistines [that] were there gathered⁸ together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:⁴

He arose,¹ and smote⁵⁵ the Philistines until his hand was weary,¹ and his hand clave⁴ unto the sword: and the LORD wrought⁴ a great victory that day; and the people returned⁴ after him only to spoil.¹⁵

And after him [was] Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered¹¹ together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled¹ from the Philistines.

But he stood¹⁰¹ in the midst of the ground, and defended⁵⁵ it, and slew⁵⁵ the Philistines: and the LORD wrought⁴ a great victory.

And three ⁷⁹⁷⁰ of the thirty chief went down,⁴ and came⁴ to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched⁶ in the valley of Rephaim.

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

And David longed,¹⁰¹ and said,⁴ Oh that one would give me drink⁵⁵ of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the gate!

And the three mighty men brake through⁴ the host of the Philistines, and drew⁴ water out of the well of Bethlehem, that [was] by the gate, and took⁴ [it], and brought⁵⁵ [it] to David: nevertheless he would¹ not drink² thereof, but poured it out⁵⁵ unto the LORD.

And he said,⁴ Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do² this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went⁶ in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would¹ not drink² it. These things did¹ these three mighty men.

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. ⁷⁹⁹² And he lifted up³¹ his spear against three hundred, [and] slew [them], and had the name among three.

Was he not most honourable¹² of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained¹ not unto the [first] three.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew⁵² two lionlike men of Moab: he went down¹ also and slew⁵² a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

And he slew⁵² an Egyptian, ³⁷⁶ a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down⁴ to him with a staff, and plucked⁴ the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew⁴ him with his own spear.

These [things] did¹ Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

He was more honourable¹² than the thirty, but he attained¹ not to the [first] three. And David set⁴ him over his guard.

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

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

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

Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

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

Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

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

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

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

Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

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

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer^{6 3627} to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.