The Last Words of David

1Now these are the last words of David:

The oracle of David, son of Jesse,

the oracle of the man whom God exalted,23.1 Q Ms: MT who was raised on high

the anointed of the God of Jacob,

the favourite of the Strong One of Israel:

2The spirit of the LORD speaks through me,

his word is upon my tongue.

3The God of Israel has spoken,

the Rock of Israel has said to me:

One who rules over people justly,

ruling in the fear of God,

4is like the light of morning,

like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,

gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

5Is not my house like this with God?

For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,

ordered in all things and secure.

Will he not cause to prosper

all my help and my desire?

6But the godless are23.6 Heb But worthlessness all like thorns that are thrown away;

for they cannot be picked up with the hand;

7to touch them one uses an iron bar

or the shaft of a spear.

And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.23.7 Heb in sitting

David's Mighty Men

8These are the names of the warriors whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the Three;23.8 Gk Vg Compare 1 Chr 11.11: Meaning of Heb uncertain he wielded his spear23.8 1 Chr 11.11: Meaning of Heb uncertain against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

9Next to him among the three warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. The Israelites withdrew, 10but he stood his ground. He struck down the Philistines until his arm grew weary, though his hand clung to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the people came back to him—but only to strip the dead.

11Next to him was Shammah son of Agee, the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the army fled from the Philistines. 12But he took his stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.

13Towards the beginning of harvest three of the thirty23.13 Heb adds head chiefs went down to join David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 14David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15David said longingly, ‘O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!’ 16Then the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD, 17for he said, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?’ Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.

18Now Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty.23.18 Two Heb Mss Syr: MT Three With his spear he fought against three hundred men and killed them, and won a name beside the Three. 19He was the most renowned of the Thirty,23.19 Syr Compare 1 Chr 11.25: Heb Was he the most renowned of the Three? and became their commander; but he did not attain to the Three.

20Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant warrior23.20 Another reading is the son of Ish-hai from Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he struck down two sons of Ariel23.20 Gk: Heb lacks sons of of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21And he killed an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22Such were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and won a name beside the three warriors. 23He was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24Among the Thirty were Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem; 25Shammah of Harod; Elika of Harod; 26Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa; 27Abiezer of Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite; 28Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai of Netophah; 29Heleb son of Baanah of Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites; 30Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai of the torrents of Gaash; 31Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth of Bahurim; 32Eliahba of Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen: Jonathan 33son of23.33 Gk: Heb lacks son of Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite; 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai of Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite; 35Hezro23.35 Another reading is Hezrai of Carmel; Paarai the Arbite; 36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah; Bani the Gadite; 37Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth, the armour-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah; 38Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite; 39Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.