2 Samuel 23:1-12

New International Version

David’s Last Words

23 These are the last words of David:

“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
the utterance of the man exalted^(A) by the Most High,
the man anointed^(B) by the God of Jacob,
the hero of Israel’s songs:

²“The Spirit^(C) of the Lord spoke through me;
    his word was on my tongue.
³The God of Israel spoke,
    the Rock^(D) of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,^(E)
    when he rules in the fear^(F) of God,^(G)
⁴he is like the light^(H) of morning^(I) at sunrise^(J)
    on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain^(K)
    that brings grass from the earth.’

⁵“If my house were not right with God,
    surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,^(L)
    arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
    and grant me my every desire.
⁶But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,^(M)
    which are not gathered with the hand.
⁷Whoever touches thorns
    uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
    they are burned up where they lie.”

David’s Mighty Warriors^(N)

⁸These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:^(O)

Josheb-Basshebeth,^[a]^(P) a Tahkemonite,^[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed^[c] in one encounter.

⁹Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai^(Q) the Ahohite.^(R) As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim^[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, ¹⁰but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

¹¹Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. ¹²But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

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Footnotes

2 Samuel 23:8 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts suggest Ish-Bosheth, that is, Esh-Baal (see also 1 Chron. 11:11 Jashobeam).
2 Samuel 23:8 Probably a variant of Hakmonite (see 1 Chron. 11:11)
2 Samuel 23:8 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:11); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Three; it was Adino the Eznite who killed eight hundred men
2 Samuel 23:9 See 1 Chron. 11:13; Hebrew gathered there.