Thematic Bible




2 Samuel 23:1 (show verse)

These are the last words of David:

The declaration of David son of Jesse,
the declaration of the man raised on high,
the one anointed by the God of Jacob,
the favorite singer of Israel:

2 Samuel 23:2 (show verse)

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,
His word was on my tongue.

2 Samuel 23:3 (show verse)

The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me,
“The one who rules the people with justice,
who rules in the fear of God,

2 Samuel 23:4 (show verse)

is like the morning light when the sun rises
on a cloudless morning,
the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”

2 Samuel 23:5 (show verse)

Is it not true my house is with God?
For He has established an everlasting covenant with me,
ordered and secured in every detail.
Will He not bring about
my whole salvation and my every desire?

2 Samuel 23:6 (show verse)

But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside;
they can never be picked up by hand.

2 Samuel 23:7 (show verse)

The man who touches them
must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.
They will be completely burned up on the spot.

2 Samuel 23:8 (show verse)

These are the names of David’s warriors:

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers. He wielded his spear against 800 men that he killed at one time.

2 Samuel 23:9 (show verse)

After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle,

2 Samuel 23:10 (show verse)

but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.

2 Samuel 23:11 (show verse)

After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines,

2 Samuel 23:12 (show verse)

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.

2 Samuel 23:13 (show verse)

Three of the 30 leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim.

2 Samuel 23:14 (show verse)

At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

2 Samuel 23:15 (show verse)

David was extremely thirsty and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!”

2 Samuel 23:16 (show verse)

So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord.

2 Samuel 23:17 (show verse)

David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

2 Samuel 23:18 (show verse)

Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three.

2 Samuel 23:19 (show verse)

Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.

2 Samuel 23:20 (show verse)

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

2 Samuel 23:21 (show verse)

He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear.

2 Samuel 23:22 (show verse)

These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors.

2 Samuel 23:23 (show verse)

He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

2 Samuel 23:24 (show verse)

Among the Thirty were:

Joab’s brother Asahel,
Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

2 Samuel 23:25 (show verse)

Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite,

2 Samuel 23:26 (show verse)

Helez the Paltite,
Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

2 Samuel 23:27 (show verse)

Abiezer the Anathothite,
Mebunnai the Hushathite,

2 Samuel 23:28 (show verse)

Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,

2 Samuel 23:29 (show verse)

Heleb son of Baanah the Netophahite,
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,

2 Samuel 23:30 (show verse)

Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash,

2 Samuel 23:31 (show verse)

Abi-albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,

2 Samuel 23:32 (show verse)

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan son of

2 Samuel 23:33 (show verse)

Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

2 Samuel 23:34 (show verse)

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

2 Samuel 23:35 (show verse)

Hezro the Carmelite,
Paarai the Arbite,

2 Samuel 23:36 (show verse)

Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,
Bani the Gadite,

2 Samuel 23:37 (show verse)

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

2 Samuel 23:38 (show verse)

Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,

2 Samuel 23:39 (show verse)

and Uriah the Hittite.

There were 37 in all.