Second Book of Samuel 23

¹ These are the last words of David: Oracle of David son of Jesse, oracle of the man raised to eminence, 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 who rules men with justice, who rules in the fear of God,

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

⁵ Yes, my House stands firm with God: he has made an everlasting covenant with me, all in order, well assured; does he not bring to flower all that saves me, all I desire?

⁶ But godless men are all like desert thorns, for these are never gathered by hand:

⁷ no one touches them unless with iron or the shaft of a spear, and then they are burnt in the fire. David’s champions

⁸ These are the names of David’s champions: Ishbaal the Hachmonite, leader of the three; it was he who wielded his battle-axe against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

⁹ After him there was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three champions. He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines mustered for battle there and the men of Israel retreated before them.

¹⁰ But he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines until his hand was so numb that it stuck to the sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day, and though the army rallied behind Eleazar it was only to plunder.

¹¹ After him there was Shamma son of Elah, the Hararite. The Philistines had mustered at Lehi. There was a field full of lentils there; the army took flight before the Philistines,

¹² but he positioned himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So Yahweh brought about a great victory.

¹³ Three out of the thirty went down at the beginning of the harvest and came to David at the Cave of Adullam while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of the Rephaim.

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

¹⁵ ‘Oh,’ David sighed ‘if someone would fetch me a drink of water from the well that stands by the gate at Bethlehem!’

¹⁶ At this the three champions, forcing their way through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well that stands by the gate of Bethlehem, and bringing it away presented it to David. But he would drink none of it and poured it out as a libation to Yahweh.

¹⁷ ‘Yahweh keep me’ he said ‘from drinking this! This is the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives.’ And so he would not drink. Such were the deeds of the three champions.

¹⁸ Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the thirty. It was he who wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed, winning himself a name among the thirty.

¹⁹ He was more famous than the thirty and became their captain, but he was no rival for the three.

²⁰ Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a hero from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits, struck down the two champions of Moab and, one snowy day, went down and killed the lion in the cistern.

²¹ He was also the man who killed an Egyptian of great stature. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down against him with a staff, tore the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed 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 more famous than the thirty, but he was no rival for the three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.

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

²⁵ Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod;

²⁶ Helez from Beth-pelet; Ira son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa;

²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah;

²⁸ Zalmon from Ahoh; Maharai from Netophah;

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

³⁰ Benaiah from Pirathon; Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash;

³¹ Abialbon from Beth-arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim;

³² Eliahba from Shaalbon; Jashen from Gimzo; Jonathan

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

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

³⁵ Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Arab;

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

³⁷ Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai, from Beeroth, armour-bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah;

³⁸ Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;

³⁹ Uriah the Hittite – thirty-seven in all.