2 Samuel 23

1 These are the last words [final utterances, concluding statements] of David: “The oracle [divine message, prophetic utterance] of David son of Jesse [the father of David], the oracle [utterance, declaration] of the man raised on high [exalted, lifted up], the one anointed [set apart, chosen] by the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Jacob [the father of the Israelites], and the sweet [pleasant, melodious] psalmist [song writer, poet] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]: word study 2 The Spirit [breath of life, divine presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoke [to communicate, to utter] through me; His word [speech, message] was on [upon, resting on] my tongue [the instrument of speech, language]. word study 3 The God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel spoke; the Rock [a refuge] of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules [has power over] the people with justice [righteously, in fairness], who rules [exercises authority] in the fear [reverence, awe] of God [the one to be revered, Elohim], word study 4 is like the light [divine illumination, spiritual understanding] of the morning [dawn, new beginnings] at sunrise [when the sun rises, a new day breaks] of a cloudless [clear, serene] dawn, the glistening [shining, sparkling] after the rain [refreshing, rejuvenating] on the sprouting [new, tender] grass [green, lush] of the earth [land, creation].’ word study 5 Is not my house [my family, my household] right [in order, in harmony] with God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler]? For He has established [made, ordained] with me an everlasting [forever] covenant [agreement, promise], ordered [arranged, planned] and secured [kept, protected] in every part [all aspects, every detail]. Will He not bring about [cause to happen, fulfill] my full [complete, total] salvation [deliverance, rescue] and my every [all, entire] desire [pleasure, longing]? word study 6 But the worthless [sons of Belial, ungodly, evil] are all like thorns [to be thrust away, as a thorn driven away] raked aside, for they can never be gathered [taken, plucked up] by hand [with the hand, by human strength]. word study 7 The man [individual, person] who touches [reaches, strikes] them must be armed [fenced, defended] with iron [strong metal] or with the shaft [staff, rod] of a spear [lance, thrusting pole]. The fire [divine judgment, refining flame] burns [consumes, utterly destroys] them to ashes [nothing, complete destruction] in the place [location, dwelling] where they lie [are situated, remain].” word study 8 These [specific, notable] are the names [identities, reputations] of David’s [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] mighty men [strong, courageous warriors]: Josheb-basshebeth [dwelling in rest, Jashobeam] the Tahchemonite [a descendant of Hachmon] was chief [head, leader] of the Three [a group of elite warriors]. He wielded [lifted, used with great strength] his spear [a sharp, powerful weapon] against eight hundred [a large] men, whom he killed [slayed, defeated] at one time [in a single battle, instantly]. word study 9 Next in command was Eleazar [God has helped] son of Dodo [beloved, uncle] the Ahohite [a descendant of Ahoah]. As one of the three [a trio, a small group of] mighty men [strong, valiant warriors], he went with David [the beloved king] to taunt [to defy, to challenge] the Philistines [enemies of Israel, a pagan nation] who had gathered [assembled, come together] for battle [war, combat] at Pas-dammim [the place of judgment, the location of a great victory]. The men of Israel [God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel] retreated [withdrew, went back], word study 10 but Eleazar stood his ground [firmly, unwaveringly] and struck the Philistines [smote, defeated] until his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] grew weary [exhausted, toiled] and stuck to his sword [cleaved, clung tightly]. The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] brought about a great [mighty, extraordinary] victory [deliverance, salvation] that day [a period of 24 hours, a point in time]. Then the troops [people, nation] returned to him, but only to plunder [strip, take spoil] the dead [the slain, the fallen]. word study 11 And after him was Shammah [son of a brave warrior] son of Agee [a Hararite, from the mountains] the Hararite [a descendant of the people of Harar]. When the Philistines [enemies of Israel, from the region of Philistia] had banded together [gathered into a troop, assembled] near a field [plot of ground, piece of land] full of lentils [a type of legume, abundant harvest], Israel’s troops [the people, nation of Israel] fled [quickly left, escaped] from them [the Philistines, their enemies]. word study 12 But Shammah took his stand [in a strong position, firmly] in the middle [center, midst] of the field [plot, portion], defended [protected, rescued] it, and struck down [slew, smote] the Philistines [enemies, non-Hebrew people]. So the LORD [Yehovah, God] brought about [worked, made] a great [large, significant] victory [deliverance, salvation]. word study 13 At harvest time [the season of gathering, the time of reaping], three [a small group, a few] of the thirty [a select number, a group of leaders] chief men [heads, leaders, princes] went down [descended, came to a lower place] to David [the king, the leader of Israel] at the cave [a hidden place, a den] of Adullam [a town in Palestine, a place of refuge], while a company [a band, a troop] of Philistines [enemies of Israel, a group of non-Hebrews] was encamped [pitched their tents, set up camp] in the Valley [a lowland area, a region] of Rephaim [a place of giants, a valley near Jerusalem]. word study 14 At that time [then, in a past moment] David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] was in the stronghold [a fortress, a safe place], and the garrison [a military post, a station] of the Philistines [people from the region of Philistia] was at Bethlehem [the house of bread, a place of abundance]. word study 15 David [strongly desired, longed] longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would [would give me, bring me] get me a drink of water [from the cistern, well] from the well near the gate [entrance, doorway] of Bethlehem [house of bread, a place of nourishment]!” word study 16 So the three [leading] mighty men [warriors, champions] broke through [forced their way, cleaved] the Philistine [enemy, opposing] camp, drew [brought up, fetched] water from the well [cistern, spring] near the gate [entrance, doorway] of Bethlehem [house of bread, city of David], and brought it back to David [the king, leader]. But he refused [would not, was unwilling] to drink it; instead, he poured [offered, drained] it out to the LORD [Yehovah, God], word study 17 saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], to do this! Is this not the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] of the men who risked their lives [putting their souls in jeopardy]?” So he refused to drink it [declining to profane their sacrifice]. Such were the exploits [heroic deeds, mighty acts] of the three mighty men [strong warriors, champions of faith]. word study 18 Now Abishai [nephew of King David], the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah [balsam or fragrance of the Lord], was chief [head, leader] of the Three [a group of elite warriors], and he lifted his spear [a thrusting weapon, like a lance] against three hundred men [a large company, a multitude], killed them [slaying, defeating], and won a name [renown, honor, reputation] along with the Three [this esteemed group of heroes]. word study 19 Was he not more honored [most honorable, noblest of the thirty] than the Three [three greatest warriors]? And he became their commander [captain, leader, ruler], even though he was not included [did not attain, was not equal] among the Three [first three, the highest rank]. word study 20 And Benaiah [son of a valiant man] son of Jehoiada was a man [a male person, an individual] of valor [strength, might, or power] from Kabzeel [a city in southern Judah], a man of many [numerous, abundant] exploits [deeds, acts, or achievements]. He struck down [slew, defeated] two [a pair, a duo] champions [lion-like men, strong warriors] of Moab [a land and descendants of Lot], and on a snowy [covered with snow, wintry] day he went down [descended, fell] into a pit [a cistern, a hole] and killed [slew, put to death] a lion. word study 21 He also killed [slew, defeated] an Egyptian [a man of great stature, from the land of Egypt], a huge [goodly, impressive] man. Although the Egyptian had a spear [a lance, a thrusting pole] in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club [a staff, a rod], snatched the spear from his hand, and killed [slew, put to death] the Egyptian with his own spear [the Egyptian’s lance, his thrusting pole]. word study 22 These [specific, notable] were the exploits [deeds, achievements] of Benaiah [Jehovah has built, a strong warrior] son [descendant, offspring] of Jehoiada [Jehovah knows, a high priest], who won [gained, acquired] a name [reputation, honor] alongside [among, equal to] the three [a small group of] mighty men [strong, valiant warriors]. word study 23 He was most honored [renowned, highly regarded] among the Thirty [thirty great warriors], but he did not become [attain to, reach the status of] one of the Three [the first three, the most elite]. And David [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] appointed him over his guard [royal bodyguards, those who kept him safe, his privy council]. word study 24 Now these were members [included, part of] of the Thirty [a select group, an elite force]: Asahel [God-made, nephew of King David] the brother [male sibling, close relative] of Joab [Jehovah is father], Elhanan [God has graciously given] son [descendant, offspring] of Dodo [beloved, uncle] of Bethlehem [house of bread, city of David], word study 25 Shammah [a man of renown] the Harodite [from Harod, a place of trembling], Elika [my God rejects, a mighty warrior] the Harodite [of the same clan], word study 26 Helez [the warrior, descendant of Palti] the Paltite [a descendant of Palti, one who escapes], Ira [a mighty warrior, great officer] son [a descendant, offspring] of Ikkesh [the father of a mighty warrior] the Tekoite [an inhabitant of Tekoa, from the town of Judah], word study 27 Abiezer [my father is help, from the tribe of Manasseh] the Anathothite [from Anathoth, a city near Jerusalem], Mebunnai [a brave warrior, whose name means building of the Lord] the Hushathite [from the family line of Hushah, a descendant of the tribe], word study 28 Zalmon [shady, a place in Palestine] the Ahohite [a descendant of Ahoach, from the tribe of Benjamin], Maharai [a brave warrior, one of David’s mighty men] the Netophathite [an inhabitant of Netophah, near a spring or dropping place], word study 29 Heled [Heleb, a mighty warrior] son [a descendant, or offspring] of Baanah [in affliction] the Netophathite [an inhabitant of Netophah, a place of dropping or abundance], Ittai [with me] son of Ribai [a father of a brave warrior] from Gibeah [a city of Benjamin, meaning hill or mound] of the Benjamites [sons of the right hand, or favored ones], word study 30 Benaiah [a strong warrior and leader] the Pirathonite [from Pirathon town], Hiddai [for the rejoicing of Jehovah] from [of, near] the brooks [streams, valleys] of Gaash [a hill, quaking or shaking], word study 31 Abi-albon [the father of strength, El is my father] the Arbathite [from the desert house, of Beth-arabah], Azmaveth [strong unto death] the Barhumite [of Bahurim, a Bahurite], word study 32 Eliahba [God hides, divine protector] the Shaalbonite [inhabitant of Shaalbin], the sons [descendants, family] of Jashen [faithful, steadfast], Jonathan [Jehovah has given, gift of God] word study 33 son of Shammah [the brave warrior] the Hararite [mountain dweller], Ahiam [mother’s brother] son of Sharar [faithful one] the Hararite [of the mountains], word study 34 Eliphelet [God is deliverance] son of Ahasbai [father of Eliphelet] the Maacathite [from Maakah, a place of pressure], Eliam [God of the people] son of Ahithophel [my brother’s wisdom] the Gilonite [from Giloh, an inhabitant], word study 35 Hezro [Hezrai, the enclosed one] the Carmelite [inhabitant of Mount Carmel], Paarai [meaning unclear, possibly a reference to a specific location or tribe] the Arbite [from the region of Arabia, an area now known as Saudi Arabia], word study 36 Igal [He redeems, a common name] son [a descendant or grandson] of Nathan [a prophet, a giver] of Zobah [a region in Syria], Bani [built, a Gadite warrior] the Gadite [a descendant of Gad, one of Israel’s twelve sons], word study 37 Zelek [the Ammonite warrior] the Ammonite, Naharai [from Beeroth town] the Beerothite, the armor-bearer [bearer of the weapons, one who lifts] of Joab [Jehovah is father, King David’s nephew] son of Zeruiah [sister of David, balsam tree], word study 38 Ira [a mighty warrior] the Ithrite [a descendant of Jether], Gareb [meaning scourge or scorpion] the Ithrite [from Jattir town], word study 39 and Uriah [the prophet, Bathsheba’s husband] the Hittite [a descendant of Heth, from the Heth people-group]. There were thirty-seven [thirtieth in count] in all [everything, the total count]. word study