Open English Translation 2SA Chapter 23

23 These are David’s final words:

“The message from Yeshai’s son David—

≈a message from the man who rose through the ranks—

who was selected by Yakob’s God—

singer of Israel’s pleasant songs.

2 Yahweh’s spirit spoke through me.

≈His message came out of my mouth.

3 Israel’s God spoke to me.

≈The rock of Israel told me.

The one who rules people with justice,

≥rules out of his respect for God.

4 He’s like the rising sun bringing the morning light—

a cloudless morning.

Glistening after the rain that grows fresh grass from the soil.

5 My household is aligned with God,

because he made a perpetual agreement with me—

all arranged and secured.

He’ll make my salvation and every desire grow. ???

6 But evil people are like thorns—

they’re all thrown away.

because they injure your hands.

7 Anyone who wants to move them

must use a metal tool or a wooden stick.

They they’ll be incinerated right there.”

8 These are the names of David’s top warriors:

Yoshev-Bashshevet the Tahkemonite was the head of ‘The Three’. One time he attacked and killed eight hundred men with his spear.

9 Next after him was Eleazar, the son of Ahohi’s son Dodo. Once he was among the three powerful warriors with David when they taunted the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. The Israeli warriors retreated back up their hill, 10 but Eleazar moved forward and attacked the Philistines until his arm became weak, and his hand cramped around his sword. Yahweh achieved a great victory that day, and the other warriors only returned afterwards to plunder the dead.

11 Then there was Agge’s son Shamma, the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there happened to be a field full of lentils. The Israelis fled from the Philistines 12 but Shamma remained there in the middle of the field and killed many Philistines. So the field was saved, and Yahweh achieved a great victory.

13 Once as it was approaching harvest time, three of ‘The Thirty’ went to where David had been staying at Adullam’s cave. There was a Philistine unit camped in the Refaim valley. 14 At the time, David was in the fortress, and there was another Philistine unit in Beyt-Lehem. 15 David was thirsty one day and asked, “Who’ll get me a drink of water from the Beyt-Lehem well by the gate?” 16 So the three powerful warriors broke through the Philistine camp and got water from the Beyt-Lehem well near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he wouldn’t drink it—pouring it out instead as an offering to Yahweh, 17 saying, “Far be it for me, Yahweh, to drink this—the blood of the men who risked their lives.” So he wasn’t willing to drink it.

Those were some of the things done by ‘The Three’ powerful warriors.

18 Yoav’s brother Abishai (Tseruyah’s sons) was the head over ‘The Three’. Once he was used his spear to kill three hundred fighters, so he was more famous than ‘The Three’. 19 He was more honoured than ‘The Three’ and became their leader even though he wasn’t one of ‘The Three’.

20 Yehoyada’s son Benayah from Kavtsael was a man of military prowess with many deeds to his name. Once he killed ‘The Two’ from Moab, and another time he went down in a pit on a snowy day and killed the lion in the pit. 21 He also killed an impressive Egyptian warrior with a spear, even though Benayah only held a staff. First he snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, then he killed him with his own spear. 22 Those were some of the things that Benayah did. He became famous alongside ‘The Three’. 23 (He was more honoured than ‘The Thirty’ but never entered ‘The Three’.) David appointed him over his bodyguard.

24 The following were among ‘The Thirty’:

• Yoav’s other brother Asahel,
• Dodo’s son Elhanan from Beyt-Lehem,
• 25 Shammah and Elika the Harodites,
• 26 Helets the Paltite,
• Ikkesh’s son Ira the Tekoite,
• 27 Aviezer the Anatotite,
• Mevunnai the Hushatite,
• 28 Tsalmon the Ahohite,
• Maharai the Netofatite,
• 29 Baanah’s son Helev the Netofatite,
• Rivai’s son Ittai from Gibeah (in Benyamin),
• 30 Benayah the Piratonite,
• Hiddai from the Gaash valleys,
• 31 Avi-Albon the Arbatite,
• Azmavet the Barhumite,
• 32 Elyahba the Shaalvonite,
• Yashen’s sons,
• Yonatan,
• 33 Shammah the Hararite,
• Sharar’s son Ahiam the Hararite,
• 34 Ahasbai’s son Elifelet the Maacatite,
• Ahitofel’s son Eliam the Gilonite,
• 35 Hezrai the Carmelite,
• Paarai the Arbite,
• 36 Natan’s son Yigal from Tsovah,
• Bani the Gadite,
• 37 Tselek the Ammonite,
• Naharai the Beerotite who carried the weapons for Tseruyah’s son Yoav,
• 38 the Yitrites Ira and Garev,
• 39 and Uriyyah the Hittite.

There were thirty-seven of them in total.