2 Samuel 23
David’s goodbye
The shepherd’s swan song
1These are the last words of David.Here are the words of David, Jesse’s son,
Words from the man at the top.
Jacob’s God chose me for this role.
That’s why I’m Israel’s favorite subject in song.
2The LORD’s spirit is talking now.
You’re hearing his words through me,
Flowing off the tip of my tongue.
3Israel’s God has spoken to me.
Israel’s Rock of security said this:
“A king who rules with justice for all
And shows his respect for the LORD
4Is as welcome as the sunrise
Above a cloudless sky,
Or the sparkle of raindrops
On a grassy plain.”
5Isn’t this how I’ve ruled Israel?
God has given me his everlasting word.
He promises to protect me and my family
And to give us everything we ask.
6But the rotten people around us
Are like prickly thorns we don’t touch.
7We tear them out at the roots,
With spears and metal bars.
Then we throw them in the fire.
David’s top three warriors
1 Chronicles 11:10-19 8Here are the names of the warriors who fought for David.
The best of the best were three men simply known as The Three.
Ishbosheth, [1] led The Three. In a single battle, he killed 800 men with his spear. [2] He was the son of Hachmon. [3]
9Eleazar was number two of The Three. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Ahohi. He stood with David and fought the Philistines in a battle when the Israelite army ran away. 10He killed Philistines until the swing ran out of his arm. He could hold his sword alright, but he was too exhausted to fight anymore. David and his men won a huge victory. Israel’s army eventually came back, but only to rob the dead.
11Shammah was number three of The Three. He was the son of Agee from Harar. [4] He stood his ground in a field of lentils in the town of Lehi when Philistine soldiers advanced. 12When Philistines attacked, he stood there and killed them. The LORD gave him a remarkable victory. Elite warriors: The Three and The Thirty
13During harvesttime one year, The Three joined forces with David, who had camped in a defensive position at the Cave of Adullam. [5] Philistines took a position in the Valley of Rephaim. [6] 14David was staying in his defensive position when a detachment of Philistines advanced into Bethlehem and occupied the town.
15In passing, David said, “What I wouldn’t give for a drink of water from that wonderful well at Bethlehem’s city gate.”
16The Three elite warriors made it past the Philistine guards at Bethlehem. Then they drew water from the well and took it back to David. He wouldn’t drink it. He poured it on the ground as an offering of thanks to the LORD for men this devoted to him.
17He told the men, “As God is my witness, I would never have put your lives at risk for something like this.” So he didn’t drink the water. But The Three often showed this kind of extreme devotion to David. Roll call: The Thirty
1 Chronicles 11:20-47 18Abishai led The Thirty warriors. He was Joab’s brother and the son of Zeruiah. He became as famous as The Three after he killed 300 men with his spear. 19He was the most famous of The Thirty, and their commander. But he didn’t make the cut for The Three.
20Benaiah was a brave soldier, too. He was the son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel. [7] He did some great things. He killed the two lions of Moab, champion warriors. [8] And on a snowy day, he went into a lion’s pit and killed an actual lion. 21One time, Benaiah killed a huge Egyptian man. Benaiah had nothing but a walking stick. The Egyptian had a spear. But Benaiah grabbed it and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 22That’s some of the things Benaiah did to become as famous as The Three. But he never made the cut to join the squad. 23He was one of the most famous warriors among The Thirty, but he didn’t make the elite team of The Three. However, David put him in charge of his royal bodyguards.
24These are the rest of The Thirty:
Asahel, Joab’s brother
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem
25Shammah of Harod
Elika from Harod
26Helez the Paltite
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa
27Abiezer from Anathoth
Mebunnai from Hushah
28Zalmon from Ahoah
Maharai from Netophah
29Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah, in Benjamin’s tribe
30Benaiah from Pirathon
Hiddai from the streams on Mount Gaash
31Abi-albon from Arabah
Azmaveth from Bahurim
32Eliahba from Shaalbon
Jashen’s sons
Jonathan 33son of Shammah the Hararite
Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Gilo
35Hezro from Carmel
Paarai from Arba
36Igal of Nathan from Zobah
Bani the Gadite
37Zelek from Ammon
Naharai from Beeroth, who carried weapons for David’s commander, Joab the son of Zeruiah
38Ira the Ithrite
Gareb the Ithrite
39Uriah the Hittite [9]
There were 37 in The Thirty. [10] 
Footnotes
123:8Literally, the name in Hebrew is an odd one: Joshebbasshebeth. The first Jewish Bible translated into Greek, the international language in Jesus’s day, translated the name as Ishbosheth. The Hebrew name may have been the original form of “Ishbosheth,” which served as a shortened nickname. But that’s uncertain.
223:8This is one common guess about how to translate a sentence that doesn’t seem to make much sense. A more realistic guess would be that he and the men under his command destroyed what amounted to about a battalion of men.
323:8The Hachmon extended family clan was known as Hacmonites.
423:11Literally the “Hararite.” That could mean from a location known as Harar or possibly Harod, near David’s hometown of Bethlehem. Or it could refer to a clan descended from a man named Harar.
523:13Adullam was roughly 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Jerusalem. But some scholars say the Cave of Adullam wasn’t at Adullam. They identify it as a rock fortification at a village called el-Khadr, close to David’s hometown of Bethlehem.
623:13Rephaim Valley descends southwest of Jerusalem, toward the Mediterranean coast in the west and to an ancient trail between the coast and the Judean Hills. See also 2 Samuel 5:18.
723:20Kabzeel was a town in the southern boonies of Judah, near the border with the nation of Edom, also known as Idumaea.
823:20The Hebrew word is Ariel, which some Bibles translate as a person’s name. But the word means champion warrior, best of the best.
923:39Likely the doom husband of Bathsheba, whom David ordered on a suicide mission. David was trying to hide his adultery with Bathsheba and getting her pregnant. Cue the prophet Nathan. (2 Samuel 12:1).
1023:39Some names are missing. And we can’t tell how many Jashen had (23:32).
Discussion Questions
- Sorry, there are currently no questions for this chapter.
Maps/Guides
David hides from King Saul
David hides in Maon Desert
David's kingdomVideos
Ishbosheth, [1] led The Three. In a single battle, he killed 800 men with his spear. [2] He was the son of Hachmon. [3]
9Eleazar was number two of The Three. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Ahohi. He stood with David and fought the Philistines in a battle when the Israelite army ran away. 10He killed Philistines until the swing ran out of his arm. He could hold his sword alright, but he was too exhausted to fight anymore. David and his men won a huge victory. Israel’s army eventually came back, but only to rob the dead.
11Shammah was number three of The Three. He was the son of Agee from Harar. [4] He stood his ground in a field of lentils in the town of Lehi when Philistine soldiers advanced. 12When Philistines attacked, he stood there and killed them. The LORD gave him a remarkable victory.
Elite warriors: The Three and The Thirty
13During harvesttime one year, The Three joined forces with David, who had camped in a defensive position at the Cave of Adullam. [5] Philistines took a position in the Valley of Rephaim. [6] 14David was staying in his defensive position when a detachment of Philistines advanced into Bethlehem and occupied the town.15In passing, David said, “What I wouldn’t give for a drink of water from that wonderful well at Bethlehem’s city gate.”
16The Three elite warriors made it past the Philistine guards at Bethlehem. Then they drew water from the well and took it back to David. He wouldn’t drink it. He poured it on the ground as an offering of thanks to the LORD for men this devoted to him.
17He told the men, “As God is my witness, I would never have put your lives at risk for something like this.” So he didn’t drink the water. But The Three often showed this kind of extreme devotion to David.
Roll call: The Thirty
1 Chronicles 11:20-47 18Abishai led The Thirty warriors. He was Joab’s brother and the son of Zeruiah. He became as famous as The Three after he killed 300 men with his spear. 19He was the most famous of The Thirty, and their commander. But he didn’t make the cut for The Three.
20Benaiah was a brave soldier, too. He was the son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel. [7] He did some great things. He killed the two lions of Moab, champion warriors. [8] And on a snowy day, he went into a lion’s pit and killed an actual lion. 21One time, Benaiah killed a huge Egyptian man. Benaiah had nothing but a walking stick. The Egyptian had a spear. But Benaiah grabbed it and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 22That’s some of the things Benaiah did to become as famous as The Three. But he never made the cut to join the squad. 23He was one of the most famous warriors among The Thirty, but he didn’t make the elite team of The Three. However, David put him in charge of his royal bodyguards.
24These are the rest of The Thirty:
Asahel, Joab’s brother
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem
25Shammah of Harod
Elika from Harod
26Helez the Paltite
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa
27Abiezer from Anathoth
Mebunnai from Hushah
28Zalmon from Ahoah
Maharai from Netophah
29Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah, in Benjamin’s tribe
30Benaiah from Pirathon
Hiddai from the streams on Mount Gaash
31Abi-albon from Arabah
Azmaveth from Bahurim
32Eliahba from Shaalbon
Jashen’s sons
Jonathan 33son of Shammah the Hararite
Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Gilo
35Hezro from Carmel
Paarai from Arba
36Igal of Nathan from Zobah
Bani the Gadite
37Zelek from Ammon
Naharai from Beeroth, who carried weapons for David’s commander, Joab the son of Zeruiah
38Ira the Ithrite
Gareb the Ithrite
39Uriah the Hittite [9]
There were 37 in The Thirty. [10] Footnotes
123:8Literally, the name in Hebrew is an odd one: Joshebbasshebeth. The first Jewish Bible translated into Greek, the international language in Jesus’s day, translated the name as Ishbosheth. The Hebrew name may have been the original form of “Ishbosheth,” which served as a shortened nickname. But that’s uncertain.
223:8This is one common guess about how to translate a sentence that doesn’t seem to make much sense. A more realistic guess would be that he and the men under his command destroyed what amounted to about a battalion of men.
323:8The Hachmon extended family clan was known as Hacmonites.
423:11Literally the “Hararite.” That could mean from a location known as Harar or possibly Harod, near David’s hometown of Bethlehem. Or it could refer to a clan descended from a man named Harar.
523:13Adullam was roughly 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Jerusalem. But some scholars say the Cave of Adullam wasn’t at Adullam. They identify it as a rock fortification at a village called el-Khadr, close to David’s hometown of Bethlehem.
623:13Rephaim Valley descends southwest of Jerusalem, toward the Mediterranean coast in the west and to an ancient trail between the coast and the Judean Hills. See also 2 Samuel 5:18.
723:20Kabzeel was a town in the southern boonies of Judah, near the border with the nation of Edom, also known as Idumaea.
823:20The Hebrew word is Ariel, which some Bibles translate as a person’s name. But the word means champion warrior, best of the best.
923:39Likely the doom husband of Bathsheba, whom David ordered on a suicide mission. David was trying to hide his adultery with Bathsheba and getting her pregnant. Cue the prophet Nathan. (2 Samuel 12:1).
1023:39Some names are missing. And we can’t tell how many Jashen had (23:32).
Discussion Questions
- Sorry, there are currently no questions for this chapter.
Maps/Guides
David hides from King SaulDavid hides in Maon DesertDavid's kingdomVideos
20Benaiah was a brave soldier, too. He was the son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel. [7] He did some great things. He killed the two lions of Moab, champion warriors. [8] And on a snowy day, he went into a lion’s pit and killed an actual lion. 21One time, Benaiah killed a huge Egyptian man. Benaiah had nothing but a walking stick. The Egyptian had a spear. But Benaiah grabbed it and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 22That’s some of the things Benaiah did to become as famous as The Three. But he never made the cut to join the squad. 23He was one of the most famous warriors among The Thirty, but he didn’t make the elite team of The Three. However, David put him in charge of his royal bodyguards.
24These are the rest of The Thirty:
Asahel, Joab’s brother
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem
25Shammah of Harod
Elika from Harod
26Helez the Paltite
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa
27Abiezer from Anathoth
Mebunnai from Hushah
28Zalmon from Ahoah
Maharai from Netophah
29Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah, in Benjamin’s tribe
30Benaiah from Pirathon
Hiddai from the streams on Mount Gaash
31Abi-albon from Arabah
Azmaveth from Bahurim
32Eliahba from Shaalbon
Jashen’s sons
Jonathan 33son of Shammah the Hararite
Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Gilo
35Hezro from Carmel
Paarai from Arba
36Igal of Nathan from Zobah
Bani the Gadite
37Zelek from Ammon
Naharai from Beeroth, who carried weapons for David’s commander, Joab the son of Zeruiah
38Ira the Ithrite
Gareb the Ithrite
39Uriah the Hittite [9]
There were 37 in The Thirty. [10]
Footnotes
Literally, the name in Hebrew is an odd one: Joshebbasshebeth. The first Jewish Bible translated into Greek, the international language in Jesus’s day, translated the name as Ishbosheth. The Hebrew name may have been the original form of “Ishbosheth,” which served as a shortened nickname. But that’s uncertain.
This is one common guess about how to translate a sentence that doesn’t seem to make much sense. A more realistic guess would be that he and the men under his command destroyed what amounted to about a battalion of men.
The Hachmon extended family clan was known as Hacmonites.
Literally the “Hararite.” That could mean from a location known as Harar or possibly Harod, near David’s hometown of Bethlehem. Or it could refer to a clan descended from a man named Harar.
Adullam was roughly 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Jerusalem. But some scholars say the Cave of Adullam wasn’t at Adullam. They identify it as a rock fortification at a village called el-Khadr, close to David’s hometown of Bethlehem.
Rephaim Valley descends southwest of Jerusalem, toward the Mediterranean coast in the west and to an ancient trail between the coast and the Judean Hills. See also 2 Samuel 5:18.
Kabzeel was a town in the southern boonies of Judah, near the border with the nation of Edom, also known as Idumaea.
The Hebrew word is Ariel, which some Bibles translate as a person’s name. But the word means champion warrior, best of the best.
Likely the doom husband of Bathsheba, whom David ordered on a suicide mission. David was trying to hide his adultery with Bathsheba and getting her pregnant. Cue the prophet Nathan. (2 Samuel 12:1).
Some names are missing. And we can’t tell how many Jashen had (23:32).
Discussion Questions
- Sorry, there are currently no questions for this chapter.
Maps/Guides
Videos
