2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Song

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: ^[a]

2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.

3 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,

4 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.’

5 Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?

6 But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.

7 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.”

David’s Mighty Men

8 These are the names of David’s mighty men: ¹ Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite ^[b] was chief of the Three. ^[c] He wielded his spear against ^[d] eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

9 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo ^[e] 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,

10 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.

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.

12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

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.

14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

16 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,

17 saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, ^[f] and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

19 Was he not more honored than the Three? ^[g] And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

20 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor ^[h] from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions ^[i] of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.

21 He also struck down 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.

22 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men.

23 He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

24 Now these were members of the Thirty: ^[j] Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

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

27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai ^[k] the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heled ^[l] son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai ^[m] son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai ^[n] from the brooks ^[o] of Gaash,

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, ^[p] Jonathan

33 son of Shammah ^[q] the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar ^[r] the Hararite,

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

35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

2 Samuel 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

David's last words. (1-7) David's mighty men. (8-39)

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, ( Psalms 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.

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.

Cross References

• 1. (1 Chronicles 11:10–47)

Footnotes

• [a]. Or the hero of the songs of Israel or the favorite of the Strong One of Israel
• [b]. Tahchemonite is probably a variant of Hachmonite; see 1 Chronicles 11:11.
• [c]. Or chief among the captains
• [d]. Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:11); Hebrew He was called Adino the Eznite because of
• [e]. Dodo is a variant of Dodai; see 1 Chronicles 27:4.
• [f]. Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac the Thirty
• [g]. Hebrew; Syriac the Thirty
• [h]. Or Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of Ishhai
• [i]. Or two sons of Ariel
• [j]. Literally In the Thirty (were):
• [k]. Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Sibbecai; see 2 Samuel 21:18 and 1 Chronicles 11:29.
• [l]. Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chronicles 11:30); most MT manuscripts Heleb
• [m]. Ittai is a variant of Ithai; see 1 Chronicles 11:31.
• [n]. Hiddai is a variant of Hurai; see 1 Chronicles 11:32.
• [o]. Or from the ravines
• [p]. Jashen is a variant of Hashem; see 1 Chronicles 11:34.
• [q]. Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:34); Hebrew Jonathan, 33 Shammah
• [r]. Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Sachar; see 1 Chronicles 11:35.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 23

In this chapter are recorded the last words of David under a divine inspiration, 2Sa 23:1-7; and an account is given of his great men, famous for warlike exploits, particularly of three mighty men who did very marvellous things, 2Sa 23:8-17; and of two others next unto them, which belonged to another class of three, 2Sa 23:18-23; and then of thirty one more, 2Sa 23:24-39; who are all mentioned by name.