David's Last Words
Study note
These are described as the last official words of David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the sweet singer of Israel. David spoke of how the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him, comparing a righteous ruler to the sunrise on a cloudless morning. He expressed confidence that God's covenant with his family was firm and sure, even though his house had not been perfect. He warned that the wicked would be thrown away like thorns.
1 These are David's final words. David son of Jesse speaks -- the man who was lifted to greatness, anointed by the God of Jacob, the beloved songwriter of Israel. Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
2 "The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me. His message rested on my tongue." The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
3 "The God of Israel spoke to me. The Rock of Israel declared: 'When a ruler leads people fairly and governs with reverence for God,'" The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
4 "'he is like the dawn breaking on a clear morning, like sunshine after rain that makes the grass spring up from the earth.'" And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
5 "My family stands right with God. He made a lasting covenant with me, planned out perfectly in every detail. He will bring about everything I hope for. He will give me all I wish for." Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
6 "But wicked people are like thornbushes that must be thrown away. No one can grab them with bare hands." But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
7 "Anyone who touches them needs an iron tool or a spear handle. They will be completely burned up where they lie." But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
The Three Mighty Warriors
Study note
David had an elite group of warriors. The three greatest included Josheb-basshebeth, who killed eight hundred men in one battle; Eleazar, who stood his ground fighting Philistines until his hand froze to his sword; and Shammah, who stood alone in a field of lentils and defended it when everyone else ran away. These three once broke through Philistine lines to get water from the well at Bethlehem because David expressed a longing for it. But David refused to drink it and poured it out as an offering to the Lord, saying it was the blood of the men who risked their lives.
8 Here are the names of David's greatest warriors. Josheb-basshebeth held the top rank among the Three. He once raised his spear and killed 800 men in a single fight. These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
9 Second among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. He was with David when they stood against the Philistines who had massed for battle. The Israelite troops had retreated, And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
10 But Eleazar held his ground and kept fighting the Philistines until his hand cramped and locked onto his sword. The Lord gave a great victory that day. The rest of the army came back only to take the gear from the fallen enemy. He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
11 Third was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at a lentil field, and the Israelite troops ran away. And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But Shammah planted himself in the middle of that field and defended it, slaying the Philistines. The Lord brought about a great victory. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
13 At harvest time, three of the top Thirty warriors went down to find David at the cave of Adullam. A Philistine army was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
14 David was in his fortress at the time, and a Philistine outpost held Bethlehem. And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
15 David sighed and said, "I wish someone could bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!" And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
16 The three warriors smashed through the Philistine defenses, drew water from the Bethlehem well, and brought it back to David. But David would not drink it. Instead, he poured it on the ground as an offering to the Lord. And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17 He said, "Lord, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives to get it." So he refused to drink. These were the kinds of things the three mighty warriors did. And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
Abishai and Benaiah
Study note
Abishai, Joab's brother, was the commander of the second group of three mighty warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was known for remarkable feats. He killed two mighty warriors of Moab, went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day, and killed a huge Egyptian warrior by snatching the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killing him with it. David put Benaiah in charge of his personal bodyguard.
18 Abishai, Joab's brother and son of Zeruiah, led another group of three. He once fought against 300 men with his spear and killed them all. He earned a reputation equal to the top Three. And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.
19 He was the most honored among this second group of three and served as their leader, though he did not rank among the top Three. Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a courageous fighter from Kabzeel who accomplished amazing feats. He struck down two of Moab's greatest champions. On a snowy day, he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
21 He also defeated a massive Egyptian soldier who was holding a spear. Benaiah went at him with only a club, wrestled the spear from the Egyptian's grip, and killed him with his own weapon. And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
22 These were the exploits that made Benaiah son of Jehoiada famous. His reputation matched that of the top Three. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
23 He held higher rank than any of the Thirty, though he was not counted among the top Three. David appointed him to lead his personal bodyguard. He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
David's Thirty Mighty Warriors
Study note
This section lists David's thirty elite warriors, a military honor roll of the bravest men who served him. The list includes men from various tribes and backgrounds, showing that David's appeal crossed tribal lines. Notably, the last name on the list is Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba's husband. His inclusion among David's most honored warriors makes David's betrayal of him even more tragic. The total count is thirty-seven named warriors.
24 The list of the Thirty included Asahel, Joab's brother. It also named Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem. Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,
25 Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod; Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez from Pelet; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer from Anathoth; Mebunnai from Hushah; Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon from the Ahohite clan; Maharai from Netophah; Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin; Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah from Pirathon; Hiddai from the valleys of Gaash; Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
31 Abi-albon from Beth-arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim; Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan; Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Shammah from Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar; Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh; Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Beth-arab; Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani from the tribe of Gad; Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth, who carried Joab's armor; Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira from the Ithrite clan; Gareb from the Ithrite clan; Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
39 and Uriah the Hittite. The total count was thirty-seven warriors. Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.