2 Samuelchapter 23

A.The last words of the sweet psalmist of Israelvv. 1-7

1 These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, 4 is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’ 5 Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire? 6 But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand. 7 The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”

B.The Three who would not give groundvv. 8-12

8 These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. 9 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. 11 And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 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.

C.Water from Bethlehem's well, poured out to Godvv. 13-17

13 At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, 17 saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

D.Abishai, Benaiah, and a lion in a pit on a snowy dayvv. 18-23

18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. 19 Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. 20 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 21 He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 22 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. 23 He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

E.The Thirty, named man by man — Uriah the Hittite lastvv. 24-39

24 Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the 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, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, 33 Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, 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 of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

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Chapter summary

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'The last words of David,' introduced as the anointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet psalmist of Israel: 'the Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, and his word was upon my tongue.' The oracle describes the ruler Israel actually needs (one that ruleth over men righteously, in the fear of God, as the light of the morning when the sun riseth), then rests not on his own house but on the promise of chapter 7: an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. The rest honors his mighty men: Eleazar smiting till his hand clave unto the sword; Shammah alone in a plot of lentils; the three who broke through for water from the well of Bethlehem, which David poured out unto Jehovah; and, last of all, Uriah the Hittite.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Nathan, Gad — 2 Samuel overview

A. 1–7 The last words of the sweet psalmist of Israel
B. 8–12 The Three who would not give ground
C. 13–17 Water from Bethlehem's well, poured out to God
D. 18–23 Abishai, Benaiah, and a lion in a pit on a snowy day
E. 24–39 The Thirty, named man by man — Uriah the Hittite last

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

1 Chronicles 1115 verses
- 1 Chronicles 11:11This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time.
- 1 Chronicles 11:12Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.
- 1 Chronicles 11:13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At the place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines.
- 1 Chronicles 11:23He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.
- 1 Chronicles 11:26Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
- 1 Chronicles 11:27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
- Read 1 Chronicles 11: 9 more there →
1 Chronicles 279 verses
- 1 Chronicles 27:2Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Chronicles 27:4Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Chronicles 27:7The fourth, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Chronicles 27:9The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Chronicles 27:12The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Chronicles 27:13The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- Read 1 Chronicles 27: 3 more there →
2 Samuel 234 verses
- 2 Samuel 23:10but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.
- 2 Samuel 23:11And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.
- 2 Samuel 23:13At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
- 2 Samuel 23:33Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
- Read 2 Samuel 23 →
1 Samuel 223 verses
- 1 Samuel 22:1So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
- 1 Samuel 22:4So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
- 1 Samuel 22:14Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard who is honored in your house?
- Read 1 Samuel 22 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

2 Samuel 83 verses
- 2 Samuel 8:3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.
- 2 Samuel 8:8And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
- 2 Samuel 8:18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priestly leaders.
- Read 2 Samuel 8 →
2 Samuel 202 verses
- 2 Samuel 20:23Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
- 2 Samuel 20:26and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.
- Read 2 Samuel 20 →
Psalms 892 verses
- Psalms 89:20I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him.
- Psalms 89:36his offspring shall endure forever, and his throne before Me like the sun,
- Read Psalms 89 →
2 Samuel 72 verses
- 2 Samuel 7:8Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.
- 2 Samuel 7:14I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
- Read 2 Samuel 7 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.