2 Samuel 23:1-8

1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said , and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said ,

2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said , the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth , even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure : for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow .

6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away , because they cannot be taken with hands:

7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place .

8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat , chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

2 Samuel 23:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. fenced: Heb. filled
• [b]. The Tachmonite...: or, Joshebbassebet the Tachmonite, head of the three