Parallel Bible results for "2 samuel 23"

2 Samuel 23

The Message Bible MSG

1 These are David's last words: The voice of the son of Jesse, the voice of the man God took to the top, Whom the God of Jacob made king, and Israel's most popular singer!

2 God's Spirit spoke through me, his words took shape on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke to me, Israel's Rock-Mountain said, "Whoever governs fairly and well, who rules in the Fear-of-God,

4 Is like first light at daybreak without a cloud in the sky, Like green grass carpeting earth, glistening under fresh rain.

5 And this is just how my regime has been, for God guaranteed his covenant with me, Spelled it out plainly and kept every promised word - My entire salvation, my every desire.

6 But the devil's henchmen are like thorns culled and piled as trash;

7 Better not try to touch them; keep your distance with a rake or hoe. They'll make a glorious bonfire!

8 This is the listing of David's top men. Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite. He was chief of the Three. He once put his spear to work against eight hundred - killed them all in a day.

9 Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite was the next of the elite Three. He was with David when the Philistines poked fun at them at Pas Dammim. When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated.

10 But Eleazar stood his ground and killed Philistines right and left until he was exhausted - but he never let go of his sword! A big win for God that day. The army then rejoined Eleazar, but all there was left to do was the clean-up.

11 Shammah son of Agee the Hararite was the third of the Three. The Philistines had mustered for battle at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils. Israel fled before the Philistines

12 , but Shammah took his stand at the center of the field, successfully defended it, and routed the Philistines. Another great victory for God!

13 One day during harvest, the Three parted from the Thirty and joined David at the Cave of Adullam. A squad of Philistines had set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 While David was holed up in the Cave, the Philistines had their base camp in Bethlehem

15 David had a sudden craving and said, "Would I ever like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem!"

16 So the Three penetrated the Philistine lines, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David wouldn't drink it; he poured it out as an offering to God,

17 saying, "There is no way, God, that I'll drink this! This isn't mere water, it's their life-blood - they risked their very lives to bring it!" So David refused to drink it. This is the sort of thing that the Three did.

18 Abishai brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah was the head of the Thirty. He once got credit for killing three hundred with his spear, but he was never named in the same breath as the Three.

19 He was the most respected of the Thirty and was their captain, but never got included among the Three

20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a vigorous man who accomplished a great deal. He once killed two lion cubs in Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion.

21 Another time he killed a formidable Egyptian. The Egyptian was armed with a spear and Benaiah went against him with nothing but a walking stick; he seized the spear from his grip and killed him with his own spear

22 These are the things that Benaiah son of Jehoiada is famous for. But neither did he ever get ranked with the Three.

23 He was held in greatest respect among the Thirty, but he never got included with the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24 "The Thirty" consisted of: Asahel 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; Sibbecai the Hushathite;

28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;

29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the badlands of Gaash;

31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite; Jashen the Gizonite;

33 Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Urite;

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, commander of the army of Hagrites

37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, weapon bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;

38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite

39 Uriah the Hittite. Thirty-seven, all told.

New Century Version NCV

1 These are the last words of David. This is the message of David son of Jesse. The man made great by the Most High God speaks. He is the appointed king of the God of Jacob; he is the sweet singer of Israel:

2 "The Lord's Spirit spoke through me, and his word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me: 'Whoever rules fairly over people, who rules with respect for God,

4 is like the morning light at dawn, like a morning without clouds. He is like sunshine after a rain that makes the grass sprout from the ground.

5 "This is how God has cared for my family. God made a lasting agreement with me, right and sure in every way. He will accomplish my salvation and satisfy all my desires.

6 "But all evil people will be thrown away like thorns that cannot be held in a hand.

7 No one can touch them except with a tool of iron or wood. They will be thrown in the fire and burned where they lie."

8 These are the names of David's warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite, was head of the Three. He killed eight hundred men at one time.

9 Next was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. Eleazar was one of the three soldiers who were with David when they challenged the Philistines. The Philistines were gathered for battle, and the Israelites drew back.

10 But Eleazar stayed where he was and fought the Philistines until he was so tired his hand stuck to his sword. The Lord gave a great victory for the Israelites that day. The troops came back after Eleazar had won the battle, but only to take weapons and armor from the enemy.

11 Next there was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines came together to fight in a vegetable field. Israel's troops ran away from the Philistines,

12 but Shammah stood in the middle of the field and fought for it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord gave a great victory.

13 Once, three of the Thirty, David's chief soldiers, came down to him at the cave of Adullam during harvest. The Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and some of the Philistines were in Bethlehem

15 David had a strong desire for some water. He said, "Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!"

16 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine army and took water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out before the Lord,

17 saying, "May the Lord keep me from drinking this water! It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives!" So David refused to drink it. These were the brave things that the three warriors did.

18 Abishai, brother of Joab son of Zeruiah, was captain of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He became as famous as the Three

19 and was more honored than the Three. He became their commander even though he was not one of them

20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed two of the best warriors from Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day.

21 Benaiah killed a large Egyptian who had a spear in his hand. Benaiah had a club, but he grabbed the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear

22 These were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He was as famous as the Three.

23 He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David made him leader of his bodyguards.

24 The following men were among the Thirty: Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

25 Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;

26 Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;

27 Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;

28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;

29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;

31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan

33 son of Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar 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; the son of Hagri

37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah;

38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite

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