2 Samuel 23

1These are the last words of David: David son of Jesse declares, the man raised on high declares—the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

2The Spirit of Yahweh spoke through me, and his word was upon my tongue.

3The God of Israel said to me, the Rock of Israel spoke: one ruling over humankind righteously, ruling in fear of God.

4like morning light when the sun rises, a cloudless morning, grass springing from the earth through brightness after rain.

5My house is not so with God, yet he has made an everlasting covenant with me, arranged in all respects and secure, for it is all my salvation and all desire, though he does not make it grow.

6But the worthless are all like thorns cast aside, because they cannot be taken with the hand.

7But any man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, and fire will utterly consume them right where they are.

8These are the names of David's mighty men: the Tachmonite who sat in the seat, chief of the three; he was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.

9After him was Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite, one of the three champions alongside David when they challenged the Philistines assembled there for combat, while Israel's men withdrew.

10He rose and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and clung to the sword, and Yahweh brought great deliverance that day; the people turned back after him only to plunder.

11After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered into a band where there was a portion of the field full of lentils, and the people fled before the Philistines.

12He took his stand in the midst of the plot and rescued it, and struck the Philistines; and Yahweh brought about a great deliverance.

13Three chiefs from the thirty went down and came to David during the harvest to the cave of Adullam, while the Philistine host was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

14David was then in the fortress, and the Philistine garrison was then in Bethlehem.

15David longed and said, "Who will give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!"

16The three champions broke through the Philistines' camp, drew water from Bethlehem's well by the gate, carried it, and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it and poured it out to Yahweh.

17He said, "Far be it from me, Yahweh, to do this—is it not the blood of the men who risked their lives?" Therefore he refused to drink it; the three mighty men did these things.

18Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief among the three. He raised his spear against three hundred and killed them, winning fame among the three.

19Was he not most honored among the three? So he became their captain, yet he did not attain the three.

20Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a vigorous man of great valor from Kabzeel who did many deeds, struck down two lionlike men of Moab; he also went down and struck down a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

21He struck a handsome Egyptian who had a spear in his hand, went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

22Benaiah son of Jehoiada performed these deeds and earned renown among the three champions.

23He ranked higher than the thirty, but did not attain the three. David appointed him over his guard.

24Asahel, Joab's brother, ranked among the thirty; Elhanan, Dodo's son from Bethlehem,

25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite.

26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite

29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin's sons.

30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash.

31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite.

32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, sons of Jashen, Jonathan

33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite.

34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.

35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite.

36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite

37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers of Joab son of Zeruiah.

38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

39Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven altogether.