New American Standard Bible 1995

2 Samuel 23:8-23

8 1These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the 2captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; 9and after him was Eleazar the son of 3Dodo the 4Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they 5defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had 6withdrawn. 10 7He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and 8clung to the sword, and 9the Lord brought about a great 10victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

11Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a 11Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered 12into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and 13the Lord brought about a great 14victory.

13Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the 15cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in 16the valley of Rephaim. 14David was then 17in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 18David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” 16 19So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but 20poured it out to the Lord; 17and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. 21Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

18 22Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was 23chief of the 24thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred 25and killed them, and had a name as well as the three. 19He was most honored of the thirty, therefore he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.

20Then 26Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of 27Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, 28killed the 29two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 21He 30killed an Egyptian, 31an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22These things 32Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 23He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.

Read all of 2 Samuel 23

Notes

1. 2 Samuel 23:8 1 Chr 11:11-47 ↩
2. 2 Samuel 23:8 Or three ↩
3. 2 Samuel 23:9 1 Chr 27:4 ↩
4. 2 Samuel 23:9 1 Chr 8:4 ↩
5. 2 Samuel 23:9 Lit reproached ↩
6. 2 Samuel 23:9 Lit gone up ↩
7. 2 Samuel 23:10 1 Chr 11:13 ↩
8. 2 Samuel 23:10 Lit his hand clung ↩
9. 2 Samuel 23:10 1 Sam 11:13; 19:5 ↩
10. 2 Samuel 23:10 Lit salvation ↩
11. 2 Samuel 23:11 2 Sam 23:33 ↩
12. 2 Samuel 23:11 Possibly, at Lehi ↩
13. 2 Samuel 23:12 2 Sam 23:10 ↩
14. 2 Samuel 23:12 Lit salvation ↩
15. 2 Samuel 23:13 1 Sam 22:1 ↩
16. 2 Samuel 23:13 2 Sam 5:18 ↩
17. 2 Samuel 23:14 1 Sam 22:4, 5 ↩
18. 2 Samuel 23:15 1 Chr 11:17 ↩
19. 2 Samuel 23:16 1 Chr 11:18 ↩
20. 2 Samuel 23:16 Gen 35:14 ↩
21. 2 Samuel 23:17 Lev 17:10 ↩
22. 2 Samuel 23:18 2 Sam 10:10, 14; 18:2 ↩
23. 2 Samuel 23:18 1 Chr 11:20, 21 ↩
24. 2 Samuel 23:18 So two Heb mss and Syriac; M.T. three ↩
25. 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit slain ones ↩
26. 2 Samuel 23:20 2 Sam 8:18; 20:23 ↩
27. 2 Samuel 23:20 Josh 15:21 ↩
28. 2 Samuel 23:20 Lit smote ↩
29. 2 Samuel 23:20 Or two lion-like heroes ↩
30. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit smote ↩
31. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit a man of appearance ↩
32. 2 Samuel 23:22 2 Sam 23:20 ↩

Notes

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23