2 Samuel23
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2“Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
4shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’
5Isn’t my house so with God? Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation and all my desire. Won’t he make it grow?
6But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand.
7The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They will be utterly burned with fire in their place.”
8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time.
9After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away.
10He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take plunder.
11After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
12But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory.
13Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
14David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
16The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David; but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.
17He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
18Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
19Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he wasn’t included as one of the three.
20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow.
21He killed a huge Egyptian, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.
23He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard.
24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty: Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 23.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's last words. (1–7). David's mighty men. (8–39).
vv1-7
These words of David are very worthy of regard. Let those who have had long experience of God's goodness, and the pleasantness of heavenly wisdom, when they come to finish their course, bear their testimony to the truth of the promise. David avows his Divine inspiration, that the Spirit of God spake by him. He, and other holy men, spake and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. In many things he had his own neglect and wrong conduct to blame. But David comforted himself that the Lord had made with him an everlasting covenant. By this he principally intended the covenant of mercy and peace, which the Lord made with him as a sinner, who believed in the promised Saviour, who embraced the promised blessing, who yielded up himself to the Lord, to be his redeemed servant. Believers shall for ever enjoy covenant blessings; and God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, shall be for ever glorified in their salvation. Thus pardon, righteousness, grace, and eternal life, are secured as the gift of God through Jesus Christ. There is an infinite fulness of grace and all blessings treasured up in Christ, for those who seek his salvation. This covenant was all David's salvation, he so well knew the holy law of God and the extent of his own sinfulness, that he perceived what was needful for his own case in this salvation. It was therefore all his desire. In comparison, all earthly objects lost their attractions; he was willing to give them up, or to die and leave them, that he might enjoy full happiness, Ps 73:24–28. Still the power of evil, and the weakness of his faith, hope, and love, were his grief and burden. Doubtless he would have allowed that his own slackness and want of care were the cause; but the hope that he should soon be made perfect in glory, encouraged him in his dying moments.
vv8-39
David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.
Key Words
אֵלֶּה: these or those
אַחֲרוֹן: hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
נְאֻם: an oracle
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשַׁי: Jishai, David's father
גֶּבֶר: properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
עַל: properly, the top; specifically, the highest (i.e. God); also (adverb) aloft, to Jehovah
Cross References
2 Samuel 23Parallel account of the three mighty men bringing David water from the well of Bethlehem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Verifies David's claim of divine inspiration; holy men of God spoke as moved by the Holy Ghost.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The foundational Davidic covenant promise of an everlasting kingdom and house that is "ordered" and "sure."
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Records David's initial anointing by Samuel, marking him as the "anointed of the God of Jacob."
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Messianic portrait of a righteous ruler coming down like rain upon the mown grass.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Refers to the "everlasting covenant" as the "sure mercies of David."
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel listing of Jashobeam/Adino, correcting "eight hundred" to "three hundred" in some texts.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the historical setting of the cave of Adullam, where David fled.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The promised righteous Branch who will reign wisely and execute justice on the earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the description of the sons of Belial as thorns that cannot be easily touched.
Supported by JFB
Benaiah's identity and service over David's royal guard (the Cherethites and Pelethites).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Benaiah's act of slaying the Egyptian with his own spear, mirroring David slaying Goliath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Uriah the Hittite ends the list, emphasizing David's tragic betrayal of a loyal hero.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The path of the just compared to the shining morning light growing brighter.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes David's deathbed sentiment that God is his sole desire and salvation.
Supported by Matthew Henry