2 Samuel 23

1These are the last words of David:

David’s Mighty Men

(1 Chronicles 11:10–47)

8These are the names of David’s mighty men:

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite2 was chief of the Three.3 He wielded his spear against4 eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. 9Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo5 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, 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. 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. 12But 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.

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. 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. 15David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

16So 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, 17saying, “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.

18Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three,6 and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. 19Was he not more honored than the Three?7 And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

20And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor8 from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions9 of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 21He also struck down 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. 22These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men. 23He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

24Now these were members of the Thirty:10

Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai11 the Hushathite, 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29Heled12 son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai13 son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, 30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai14 from the brooks15 of Gaash, 31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen,16 33Jonathan son of Shammah17 the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar18 the Hararite, 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39and Uriah the Hittite.

There were thirty-seven in all.