2 Samuel 23 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
These are the last words of David: The of David son of Jesse — the of the man raised up high, the one by the God of Jacob, the of Israel's songs:
"The of spoke through me — his word was on my tongue.
The God of Israel spoke, the of Israel said to me: 'When someone rules over people with justice, ruling with for God —
he is like the light of morning at sunrise, a morning without clouds— like the brightness after rain that makes the grass shine from the earth.'
"Is not my house this way with God? For he made a with me that lasts forever, ordered in every detail and secured. Won't he bring to full bloom everything that me, everything I long for?
But the — they are all like thorns thrown aside, for no one picks them up with bare hands.
Whoever touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear— and they are completely burned up where they lie."
These are the names of David's Josheb-Basshebeth the Tahkemonite was chief of the He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, killing them all in a single encounter.
Next was Eleazar son of Dodai son of Ahohi. He was one of the three elite warriors with David when they taunted the who had gathered there for battle and the Israelite troops had pulled back.
He stood his ground and struck down Philistines until his hand froze to his sword from exhaustion. Yahweh brought about a that day. The troops came back after him — but only to strip the dead.
Next was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had massed together at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines,
but he took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. Yahweh brought about a great victory.
During harvest time, three of the went down and came to David at the of while a band of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
David was in the stronghold at that time, and the Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.
David said with a craving, "If only someone could get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
So the three elite warriors 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 it out as an offering to Yahweh.
"Far be it from me, Yahweh, that I would do this!" he said. "This is the of the men who risked their lives to get it." So he would not drink it. These are the things the three elite warriors did.
Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and he had a reputation among the Three.
He was the most honored of the Thirty and became their commander, but he didn't reach the rank of the Three.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a from Kabzeel who did great things. He struck down two of Moab's best fighters. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
He also struck down a huge Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went at him with just a club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
These are the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he had a reputation among the three elite warriors.
He was more honored than the Thirty, but he didn't reach the rank of the Three. David put him in charge of his
Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash,
Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maakathite, Eliam son of the
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
Zelek the Naharai the Beerothite — the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah —
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
and the — thirty-seven in all.