New American Standard Bible 1995

2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Song

1Now theseוְאֵ֛לֶּהve.'E.lehH428are the lastהָאַֽחֲרֹנִ֑יםha.'a.cha.ro.NimH314wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of Davidדָוִ֖דda.VidH1732.Davidדָּוִ֣דda.VidH1732the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jesseיִשַׁ֗יyi.ShaiH3448declaresנְאֻ֧םne.'UmH5002,The manהַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ha.Ge.verH1397who was raisedהֻ֣קַםHu.kamH6965on highעָ֔ל'AlH5920declaresוּנְאֻ֤םu.ne.'UmH5002,The anointedמְשִׁ֙יחַ֙me.Shi.achH4899of the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,And the sweetוּנְעִ֖יםu.ne.'ImH5273psalmistזְמִר֥וֹתze.mi.RotH2158of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478,

2“The Spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068spokeדִּבֶּר־di.ber-H1696by me,And His wordוּמִלָּת֖וֹu.mi.la.ToH4405was on my tongueלְשׁוֹנִֽי׃le.sho.NiH3956.

3The Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478saidאָמַר֙'a.MarH559,The Rockצ֣וּרtzurH6697of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478spokeדִבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696to me, ‘He who rulesמוֹשֵׁל֙mo.ShelH4910over menבָּאָדָ֔םba.'a.DamH120righteouslyצַדִּ֕יקtza.DikH6662,Who rulesמוֹשֵׁ֖לmo.ShelH4910in the fearיִרְאַ֥תyir.'AtH3374of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430,

4Is as the lightוּכְא֥וֹרu.khe.'orH216of the morningבֹּ֖קֶרBo.kerH1242whenthe sunשָׁ֑מֶשׁSha.meshH8121risesיִזְרַח־yiz.rach-H2224,A morningבֹּ֚קֶרBo.kerH1242withoutלֹ֣אlo'H3808cloudsעָב֔וֹתa.VotH5645, Whenthe tenderH1877grassH1877springsout of the earthמֵאָֽרֶץ׃me.'A.retzH776,ThroughH4480sunshineמִנֹּ֥גַהּmi.No.gahH5051afterH4480rainמִמָּטָ֖רmi.ma.TarH4306.’

5TrulyH3588is not my houseבֵּיתִ֖יbei.TiH1004soכֵ֥ןkhenH3651with Godאֵ֑ל'ElH410? ForHe has madeשָׂ֣םsamH7760an everlastingעוֹלָ֜םo.LamH5769covenantבְרִ֨יתve.RitH1285with me,Orderedעֲרוּכָ֤ה'a.ru.KhahH6186in allH3605thingsH3605,and securedוּשְׁמֻרָ֔הu.she.mu.RahH8104;For allH3605my salvationיִשְׁעִ֥יyish.'IH3468and allH3605mydesireחֵ֖פֶץChe.fetzH2656,Will He not indeedH3588make itgrowיַצְמִֽיחַ׃yatz.Mi.achH6779?

6But the worthlessוּבְלִיַּ֕עַלu.ve.li.Ya.'alH1100,everyH3605oneH3605of them will be thrustH5074awayמֻנָ֖דmu.NadH5074like thornsכְּק֥וֹץke.KotzH6975,Becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588they cannotלֹ֥אlo'H3808be takenיִקָּֽחוּ׃yi.Ka.chuH3947in handבְיָ֖דve.YadH3027;

7But the manוְאִישׁ֙ve.'IshH376who touchesיִגַּ֣עyi.Ga'H5060them Must bearmedיִמָּלֵ֥אyi.ma.Le'H4390with ironבַרְזֶ֖לvar.ZelH1270and the shaftוְעֵ֣ץve.'EtzH6086of a spearחֲנִ֑יתcha.NitH2595, Andthey will be completelyשָׂר֥וֹףsa.RofH8313burnedיִשָּׂרְפ֖וּyi.sa.re.FuH8313with fireוּבָאֵ֕שׁu.va.'EshH784in theirplaceבַּשָּֽׁבֶת׃ פba.Sha.vetH7675.”

His Mighty Men

8Theseאֵ֛לֶּה'E.lehH428are the namesשְׁמ֥וֹתshe.MotH8034of the mightyH1368menH1368whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834Davidלְדָוִ֑דle.da.VidH1732had: Josheb-basshebethH3429a Tahchemoniteתַּחְכְּמֹנִ֣י׀tach.ke.mo.NiH8461,chiefרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218of thecaptainsהַשָּׁלִשִׁ֗יha.sha.li.ShiH7991, he was calledAdinoעֲדִינ֣וֹa.di.NoH5722the Ezniteהָֽעֶצְנִ֔יha.'etz.niH6112,becauseעַל־'al-H5921of eightשְׁמֹנֶ֥הshe.mo.NehH8083hundredמֵא֛וֹתme.'otH3967slainחָלָ֖לcha.LalH2491by himat oneאֶחָֽת׃ ס'e.chadH259timeבְּפַ֥עַםbe.Fa.'amH6471;

9and afterוְאַחֲרָ֛יוve.'a.cha.roH310him was Eleazarאֶלְעָזָ֥ר'el.'a.ZarH499the sonH1121ofDodoדֹּד֖וֹdo.diH1734theAhohiteאֲחֹחִ֑י'a.cho.ChiH266,one of the threeבִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֨הbish.lo.ShahH7969mightyH1368menH1368with Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732when theydefiedבְּחָֽרְפָ֤םbe.cha.re.FamH2778the Philistinesבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּיםba.pe.lish.timH6430who were gatheredנֶאֶסְפוּ־ne.'es.fu-H622thereשָׁ֣םshamH8033to battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֔הla.mil.cha.MahH4421and the menאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478hadwithdrawnוַֽיַּעֲל֖וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927.

10He aroseקָם֩kamH6965and struckוַיַּ֨ךְvai.YakhH5221the Philistinesבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜יםba.pe.lish.TimH6430untilעַ֣ד׀ כִּֽי־'ad ki-H5704 H3588his handH3027was wearyיָגְעָ֣הya.ge.'AhH3021andclungוַתִּדְבַּ֤קva.tid.BakH1692to the swordהַחֶ֔רֶבha.Che.revH2719, andthe Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068broughtH6213aboutH6213a greatגְדוֹלָ֖הge.do.LahH1419victoryתְּשׁוּעָ֥הte.shu.'AhH8668that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117;and the peopleוְהָעָ֛םve.ha.'AmH5971returnedיָשֻׁ֥בוּya.Shu.vuH7725afterאַחֲרָ֖יו'a.cha.RavH310him onlyאַךְ־'akh-H389to stripלְפַשֵּֽׁט׃ סle.fa.ShetH6584the slain.

11Now afterוְאַחֲרָ֛יוve.'a.cha.RavH310him was ShammahH8048the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Ageeאָגֵ֖א'a.Ge'H89aHarariteהָרָרִ֑יha.ra.RiH2043.And the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֜יםfe.lish.TimH6430were gatheredוַיֵּאָסְפ֨וּvai.ye.'a.se.FuH622into a troopH2422whereH8033thereH8033was a plotחֶלְקַ֤תchel.KatH2513of groundהַשָּׂדֶה֙ha.sa.DehH7704fullמְלֵאָ֣הme.le.'AhH4392of lentilsעֲדָשִׁ֔ים'a.da.ShimH5742,and the peopleוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971fledנָ֖סnasH5127from the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃fe.lish.TimH6430.

12But he tookH3320his standוַיִּתְיַצֵּ֤בvai.yit.ya.TzevH3320in the midstבְּתוֹךְ־be.tokh-H8432of the plotהַֽחֶלְקָה֙ha.chel.KahH2513,defendedוַיַּצִּילֶ֔הָvai.ya.tzi.Le.haH5337it and struckוַיַּ֖ךְvai.YakhH5221the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430; andthe Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068broughtH6213aboutH6213a greatגְדוֹלָֽה׃ סge.do.LahH1419victoryתְּשׁוּעָ֥הte.shu.'AhH8668.

13Then threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֜הshe.lo.shimH7969of the thirtyמֵהַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣יםme.ha.she.lo.ShimH7970chiefH7218menH7218wentH3381downוַיֵּרְד֨וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381and cameוַיָּבֹ֤אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732in the harvestקָצִיר֙ka.TzirH7105timeH7105to thecaveמְעָרַ֖תme.'a.RatH4631of Adullamעֲדֻלָּ֑ם'a.du.LamH5725,while the troopH2422of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430was campingחֹנָ֖הcho.NahH2583inthe valleyבְּעֵ֥מֶקbe.'E.mekH6010of Rephaimרְפָאִֽים׃re.fa.'ImH7497.

14Davidוְדָוִ֖דve.da.VidH1732was thenאָ֣ז'azH227in the strongholdבַּמְּצוּדָ֑הba.me.tzu.DahH4686,while the garrisonוּמַצַּ֣בu.ma.TzavH4673of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430was thenאָ֖ז'azH227in BethlehemH1035.

15Davidדָוִ֖דda.VidH1732hadH183a cravingH183and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “OhH4310that someoneH4310would giveיַשְׁקֵ֣נִיyash.Ke.niH8248me waterמַ֔יִםMa.yimH4325to drinkH8248from the wellמִבֹּ֥ארmi.BorH877of BethlehemH1035whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834is by the gateבַּשָּֽׁעַר׃ba.Sha.'arH8179!”

16So the threeשְׁלֹ֨שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969mightyH1368menH1368brokeH1234throughH1234the campבְּמַחֲנֵ֣הbe.ma.cha.NehH4264of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםfe.lish.TimH6430,and drewוַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־vai.yish.'a.vu-H7579waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325from the wellמִבֹּ֤ארmi.BorH877of BethlehemH1035whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834was by the gateבַּשַּׁ֔עַרba.Sha.'arH8179,and tookוַיִּשְׂא֖וּvai.yis.'UH5375itand broughtוַיָּבִ֣אוּvai.ya.Vi.'uH935itto Davidדָּוִ֑דda.VidH1732.Nevertheless he wouldאָבָה֙'a.VahH14not drinkלִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔םlish.to.TamH8354it, butpouredוַיַּסֵּ֥ךְvai.ya.SekhH5258it out to the Lordלַֽיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068;

17and he saidוַיֹּ֡אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Be it farחָלִילָה֩cha.li.LahH2486from me, O Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068,that I should doמֵעֲשֹׂ֣תִיme.'a.So.tiH6213thisH2088. Shall I drinkthe bloodהֲדַ֤םha.DamH1818of the menH376who wentהַהֹלְכִ֣יםha.ho.le.KhimH1980in jeopardyof their livesבְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔םbe.naf.sho.TamH5315?”Therefore he wouldאָבָ֖ה'a.VahH14not drinkלִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑םlish.to.TamH8354it. TheseH428thingsאֵ֣לֶּה'E.lehH428the threeשְׁלֹ֖שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969mightyH1368menH1368didעָשׂ֔וּ'a.SuH6213.

18Abishaiוַאֲבִישַׁ֞יva.'a.vi.ShaiH52,the brotherאֲחִ֣י׀'a.ChiH251of Joabיוֹאָ֣בyo.'AvH3097,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zeruiahצְרוּיָ֗הtze.ru.YahH6870, waschiefרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218of thethirtyH7992.And he swungעוֹרֵ֣רo.RerH5782his spearחֲנִית֔וֹcha.ni.ToH2595againstעַל־'al-H5921threeH7969hundredמֵא֖וֹתme.'otH3967and killedחָלָ֑לcha.LalH2491them,and had a nameשֵׁ֖םshemH8034as well as the threeH7969.

19He was mostמִן־min-H4480honoredנִכְבָּ֔דnikh.BadH3513of the thirtyהַשְּׁלֹשָׁה֙ha.she.lo.ShahH7969,therefore he becameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961their commanderלְשָׂ֑רle.SarH8269;however, he did not attainבָֽא׃ סVa'H935to the threeהַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖הha.she.lo.ShahH7969.

20ThenBenaiahוּבְנָיָ֨הוּu.ve.na.Ya.huH1141the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Jehoiadaיְהוֹיָדָ֧עye.ho.ya.Da'H3077,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of a valiantחַ֛יִלchaiH2428manאִֽישׁ־'ish-H376ofKabzeelמִֽקַּבְצְאֵ֑לmi.kav.tze.'ElH6909,who had done mightyרַב־rav-H7227deedsפְּעָלִ֖יםpe.'a.LimH6467,killedהִכָּ֗הhi.KahH5221thetwoשְׁנֵ֤יshe.NeiH8147sons ofArielאֲרִאֵל֙'a.ri.'ElH739of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124.He also wentH3381downיָרַ֞דya.RadH3381and killedוְהִכָּ֧הve.hi.KahH5221a lionH743in the middleבְּת֥וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of a pitH877on a snowyהַשָּֽׁלֶג׃ha.Sha.legH7950dayבְּי֥וֹםbe.YomH3117.

21Hekilledהִכָּה֩hi.KahH5221an Egyptianמִצְרִ֜יmitz.RiH4713,an impressiveמַרְאֶ֗הmar.'EhH4758manH376.Now the Egyptianהַמִּצְרִי֙ha.mitz.RiH4713hada spearחֲנִ֔יתcha.NitH2595in his handוּבְיַ֤דu.ve.YadH3027,but he wentH3381downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to him with a clubבַּשָּׁ֑בֶטba.Sha.vetH7626and snatchedוַיִּגְזֹ֤לvai.yig.ZolH1497the spearהַחֲנִית֙ha.cha.NitH2595from the Egyptian’sהַמִּצְרִ֔יha.mitz.RiH4713handמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027and killedוַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּvai.ya.har.Ge.huH2026him with his own spearבַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃ba.cha.ni.ToH2595.

22Theseאֵ֣לֶּה'E.lehH428thingsBenaiahבְּנָיָ֖הוּbe.na.Ya.huH1141the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jehoiadaיְהוֹיָדָ֑עye.ho.ya.Da'H3077didעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213,and had a nameשֵׁ֖םshemH8034as well as the threeבִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥הbish.lo.ShahH7969mightyH1368menH1368.

23He was honoredנִכְבָּ֔דnikh.BadH3513amongמִן־min-H4480the thirtyהַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣יםha.she.lo.ShimH7970,but he did not attainבָ֑אVa'H935to the threeהַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖הha.she.lo.ShahH7969.And Davidדָוִ֖דda.VidH1732appointedוַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּvay.si.Me.huH7760him overH413his guardמִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃ סmish.ma'.ToH4928.

24AsahelH6214the brotherאֲחִֽי־'a.chi-H251of Joabיוֹאָ֖בyo.'AvH3097was among the thirtyבַּשְּׁלֹשִׁ֑יםba.she.lo.ShimH7970;Elhananאֶלְחָנָ֥ן'el.cha.NanH445the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Dodoדֹּד֖וֹdo.DoH1734of BethlehemH1035,

25Shammahשַׁמָּה֙sha.MahH8048theHaroditeהַֽחֲרֹדִ֔יha.cha.ro.DiH2733,Elikaאֱלִיקָ֖א'e.li.Ka'H470the Haroditeהַחֲרֹדִֽי׃ סha.cha.ro.DiH2733,

26Helezחֶ֚לֶץChe.letzH2503the Paltiteהַפַּלְטִ֔יha.pal.TiH6407,Iraעִירָ֥א'i.Ra'H5896the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Ikkeshעִקֵּ֖שׁ'i.KeshH6142theTekoiteהַתְּקוֹעִֽי׃ סha.te.ko.'IH8621,

27Abiezerאֲבִיעֶ֙זֶר֙'a.vi.'E.zerH44theAnathothiteהָֽעַנְּתֹתִ֔יha.'a.ne.to.TiH6069,Mebunnaiמְבֻנַּ֖יme.vu.NaiH4012the Hushathiteהַחֻשָׁתִֽי׃ סha.chu.sha.TiH2843,

28Zalmonצַלְמוֹן֙tzal.mOnH6756the Ahohiteהָֽאֲחֹחִ֔יha.'a.cho.ChiH266,Maharaiמַהְרַ֖יmah.RaiH4121theNetophathiteהַנְּטֹפָתִֽי׃ סha.ne.to.fa.TiH5200,

29Helebחֵ֥לֶבChe.levH2460the sonבֶּֽן־ben-H1121of Baanahבַּעֲנָ֖הba.'a.NahH1196the Netophathiteהַנְּטֹפָתִ֑י סha.ne.to.fa.TiH5200,Ittaiאִתַּי֙'i.TaiH863the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ribaiרִיבַ֔יri.VaiH7380ofGibeahמִגִּבְעַ֖תmi.giv.'AtH1390of the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Benjaminבִנְיָמִֽן׃ סvin.ya.MinH1144,

30Benaiahבְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙be.na.Ya.huH1141aPirathoniteפִּרְעָ֣תֹנִ֔יpir.'A.to.NiH6553,Hiddaiהִדַּ֖יhi.DaiH1914of the brooksמִנַּ֥חֲלֵיmi.Na.cha.leiH5158ofGaashגָֽעַשׁ׃ סGa.'ashH1608,

31Abi-albonH45the Arbathiteהָֽעַרְבָתִ֔יha.'ar.va.TiH6164,Azmavethעַזְמָ֖וֶת'az.Ma.vetH5820theBarhumiteH978,

32Eliahbaאֶלְיַחְבָּא֙'el.yach.Ba'H455theShaalboniteהַשַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔יha.Sha.'al.vo.NiH8170,the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Jashenיָשֵׁ֖ןya.ShenH3464,Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ סye.ho.na.TanH3083,

33Shammahשַׁמָּה֙sha.MahH8048the Harariteהַֽהֲרָרִ֔יha.ha.ra.RiH2043,Ahiamאֲחִיאָ֥ם'a.chi.'AmH279the sonH1121of Shararשָׁרָ֖רsha.RarH8325the Arariteהָארָרִֽי׃ סha.ra.RiH2043,

34Elipheletאֱלִיפֶ֥לֶט'e.li.Fe.letH467the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahasbaiאֲחַסְבַּ֖י'a.chas.BaiH308,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofthe Maacathiteהַמַּֽעֲכָתִ֑י סha.ma.'a.kha.TiH4602,Eliamאֱלִיעָ֥ם'e.li.'AmH463the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofAhithophelאֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל'a.chi.To.felH302the Giloniteהַגִּלֹנִֽי׃ סha.gi.lo.NiH1526,

35Hezroחֶצְרַי֙chetz.roH2695theCarmelite, Paaraiפַּעֲרַ֖יpa.'a.RaiH6474the Arbiteהָאַרְבִּֽי׃ סha.'ar.BiH701,

36Igalיִגְאָ֤לyig.'AlH3008the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Nathanנָתָן֙na.TanH5416ofZobahמִצֹּבָ֔ה סmi.tzo.VahH6678,Baniבָּנִ֖יba.NiH1137the Gaditeהַגָּדִֽי׃ סha.ga.DiH1425,

37Zelekצֶ֖לֶקTze.lekH6768the Ammoniteהָעַמֹּנִ֑י סha.'a.mo.NiH5984,Naharaiנַחְרַי֙nach.RaiH5171theBeerothiteהַבְּאֵ֣רֹתִ֔יha.be.'E.ro.TiH886,armorכְּלֵ֖יke.LeiH3627bearersנֹשֵׂ֕אno.se.'ei'H5375of Joabיוֹאָ֥בyo.'AvH3097the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zeruiahצְרֻיָֽה׃ סtze.ru.YahH6870,

38Iraעִירָא֙'i.Ra'H5896theIthriteהַיִּתְרִ֔יhai.yit.RiH3505,Garebגָּרֵ֖בga.RevH1619the Ithriteהַיִּתְרִֽי׃ סhai.yit.RiH3505,

39Uriahאֽוּרִיָּה֙'u.ri.YahH223the Hittiteהַֽחִתִּ֔יha.chi.TiH2850;thirty-sevenשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ פshe.lo.Shim ve.shiv.'AhH7970 H7651in allכֹּ֖לkolH3605.

David’s Last Song

His Mighty Men

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23