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2 Samuel 23
1Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2"The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
4shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.'
5Most certainly my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he doesn't make it grow.
6But all of the ungodly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can't be taken with the hand,
7But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."
8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.
9After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.
10He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil.
11After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
12But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory.
13Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
14David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"
16The three mighty men broke through the army 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: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.
17He said, "Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn't it the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
18Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
19Wasn't he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the [first] three.
20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
21He killed 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 killed him with his own spear.
22These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.
23He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the [first] three. David set him over his guard.
24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
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Abi-Albon: One of David's Heroes 2 Samuel 23:31
Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Abiezer: One of David's Heroes 2 Samuel 23:27
Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Abishai: One of David's Chief Men 2 Samuel 23:18
Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.
Adino: One of David's Valiant Men 2 Samuel 23:8
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.
Adullam: A Cave Near the Dead Sea: David Takes Refuge In 2 Samuel 23:13
At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
Agee: Father of Shammah 2 Samuel 23:11
And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.
Ahasbai: Father of Eliphelet 2 Samuel 23:34
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Ahiam: One of David's Heroes 2 Samuel 23:33
son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
Ahijah: One of David's Heroes: Also Called Eliam 2 Samuel 23:34
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Anathoth: City of Refuge in Benjamin: Birthplace of Abiezer 2 Samuel 23:27
Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Armies: March in Ranks: A Promotion 2 Samuel 23:8–39
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.
Asahel: Nephew of David, and One of his Captains 2 Samuel 23:24
Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Azmaveth: One of David's Heroes 2 Samuel 23:31
Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Baanah: Father of Heleb 2 Samuel 23:29
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,
Bani: A Gadite 2 Samuel 23:36
Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
Benaiah: An Ephraimite, and Distinguished Warrior 2 Samuel 23:30
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,
Benaiah: Son of Jehoiada, Commander of the Cherethites and Pelethites: A Distinguished Warrior 2 Samuel 23:20–23
And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. / He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. / These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men.
Bethlehem: A City Southwest of Jerusalem: Taken and Held by the Philistines 2 Samuel 23:14–16
At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. / David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” / So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,
Brooks: Gaash 2 Samuel 23:30
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,
Captain: David's Captains, or Chief Heroes 2 Samuel 23:1
These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:
Cave of Adullam 2 Samuel 23:13
At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
Christian Minister: Promises To, Joys of 2 Samuel 23:6, 7
But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand. / The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”
Citizens: Loyal: David's Soldiers 2 Samuel 23:15, 16
David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” / So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,
Clouds: (A Morning Without) of Wise Rulers 2 Samuel 23:3, 4
The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, / is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’
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2 Samuel 23:1-7 Verses 1-7
These words of David are very worthy of regard. Let those who have had long experience of God's goodness, and the pleasantness of heavenly wisdom, when they come to finish their course, bear their testimony to the truth of the promise. David avows his Divine inspiration, that the Spirit of God spake by him. He, and other holy men, spake and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. In many things he had his own neglect and wrong conduct to blame. But David comforted himself that the Lord had made with him an everlasting covenant. By this he principally intended the covenant of mercy and peace, which the Lord made with him as a sinner, who believed in the promised Saviour, who embraced the promised blessing, who yielded up himself to the Lord, to be his redeemed servant. Believers shall for ever enjoy covenant blessings; and God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, shall be for ever glorified in their salvation. Thus pardon, righteousness, grace, and eternal life, are secured as the gift of God through Jesus Christ. There is an infinite fulness of grace and all blessings treasured up in Christ, for those who seek his salvation. This covenant was all David's salvation, he so well knew the holy law of God and the extent of his own sinfulness, that he perceived what was needful for his own case in this salvation. It was therefore all his desire. In comparison, all earthly objects lost their attractions; he was willing to give them up, or to die and leave them, that he might enjoy full happiness, Ps 73:24-28. Still the power of evil, and the weakness of his faith, hope, and love, were his grief and burden. Doubtless he would have allowed that his own slackness and want of care were the cause; but the hope that he should soon be made perfect in glory, encouraged him in his dying moments.
2 Samuel 23:8-39 Verses 8-39
David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.