David’s Last Words
1These are David’s last words: “The declaration of David son of Jesse, the declaration of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet singer of Israel: 2The Spirit of Yahweh spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: Whoever rules over people with justice, ruling in the fear of God, 4is like the light of morning at sunrise, a cloudless dawn, the glisten of rain on sprouting grass after the rain. 5For is not my house so with God? Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secured — will he not make all my salvation and all my desire flourish? 6But the worthless are all like thorns thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand. 7Whoever touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are burned completely with fire on the spot.”
The Mighty Men’s Feats
8These are the names of David’s mighty men: sitting in the seat was the Tahchemonite, chief of the three — he was Adino the Eznite — who wielded his spear against eight hundred, slain at one time. 9Next was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David. They defied the Philistines gathered there for battle, when the men of Israel retreated, 10but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day, and the troops came back after him only to strip the dead. 11Next was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered at a plot of ground full of lentils, and the troops fled before them, 12but he took his stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So Yahweh brought about a great victory.
Water from the Well of Bethlehem
13Three of the thirty chiefs went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. 15David longed for water and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!” 16So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead he poured it out to Yahweh. 17He said, “Far be it from me, Yahweh, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” And he would not drink it. These are the things the three mighty men did.
Abishai and Benaiah
18Abishai, Joab’s brother, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and so he gained a name among the three. 19Was he not the most honored of the thirty? So he became their commander, but he did not attain to the three. 20Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, a man of many deeds. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he also went down and struck down a lion inside a pit on a day of snow. 21He also struck down an Egyptian, an impressive man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down against him with a club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22These are the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and so he gained a name among the three mighty men. 23He was honored above the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
The Roster of the Thirty
24Among the thirty were Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem; 25Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite; 26Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; 27Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite; 28Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite; 29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites; 30Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash; 31Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite; 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan; 33Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite; 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite; 35Hezrai the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite; 36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah; Bani the Gadite; 37Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah; 38Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite; 39and Uriah the Hittite — thirty-seven in all.
