Parallel Bible results for "2 samuel 23"

2 Samuel 23

New Living Translation NLT

1 These are the last words of David: “David, the son of Jesse, speaks— David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

2 “The Spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,

4 is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’

5 “Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.

6 But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them.

7 One must use iron tools to chop them down; they will be totally consumed by fire.”

8 These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three —the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.

9 Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled.

10 He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!

11 Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled,

12 but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

13 Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there.

14 David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.

15 David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.”

16 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD .

17 “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.

18 Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.

19 Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

20 There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.

21 Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.

22 Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.

23 He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.

24 Other members of the Thirty included: Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

25 Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod;

26 Helez from Pelon ; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;

27 Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah;

28 Zalmon from Ahoah; Maharai from Netophah;

29 Heled son of Baanah from Netophah; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);

30 Benaiah from Pirathon; Hurai from Nahale-gaash ;

31 Abi-albon from Arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim;

32 Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan

33 son of Shagee from Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;

34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;

35 Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Arba;

36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani from Gad;

37 Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;

38 Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;

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

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.