2 Samuel — Chapter 23

📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 23 (KJV)

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

2 Samuel 23:1 Now these be ^Rthe 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,

Gen 49:1; Deut 33:1

2 Samuel 23:2 ^RThe Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

Matt 22:43; Mark 12:36

2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, ^Rthe Rock of Israel spake to me, ^THe that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

2 Sam 22:2,32; Deut 32:4,30-31

Be thou ruler

2 Samuel 23:4 And he shall be ^Ras 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.

Judg 5:31; Ps 89:36

2 Samuel 23:5 Although my house be not so with God; yet ^Rhe 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.

2 Sam 7:14-16; 1 Chr 17:11-14

2 Samuel 23:6 But ^Rthe sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

2 Sam 20:1; Deut 13:13

2 Samuel 23:7 But the man that shall touch them must be ^Tfenced with iron and the staff of a spear; ^Rand they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

2 Sam 22:8-10; Isa 27:4

filled

2 Samuel 23:8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: ^R^TThe Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, ^Twhom he slew at one time.

1 Chr 11:11-12; 1 Chr 27:2,32

Joshebbassebet the Tachmonite, head of the three

slain

2 Samuel 23:9 And after him was ^REleazar 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:

1 Chr 11:12-14; 1 Chr 27:4

2 Samuel 23:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and ^Rthe LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

Josh 10:10,42; Josh 11:8

2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was ^RShammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together ^Tinto a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

1 Chr 11:27

for foraging

2 Samuel 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and ^Rthe LORD wrought a great victory.

2 Sam 23:10; Ps 3:8

2 Samuel 23:13 And ^R^Tthree 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.

1 Chr 11:15-19

the three captains over the thirty

2 Samuel 23:14 And David was then in ^Ran hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

1 Sam 22:1,4-5; 1 Sam 24:22

2 Samuel 23:15 And David ^Rlonged, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

Num 11:4-5; Ps 42:1-2

2 Samuel 23:16 And ^Rthe three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, 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.

2 Sam 23:9; 1 Sam 19:5

2 Samuel 23:17 And he said, ^RBe 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.

2 Sam 20:20; Gen 44:17

2 Samuel 23:18 And ^RAbishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, ^Tand slew them, and had the name among three.

2 Sam 2:18; 2 Sam 3:30

slain

2 Samuel 23:19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit ^Rhe attained not unto the first three.

2 Sam 23:9,13,16; 1 Chr 11:25

2 Samuel 23:20 And ^RBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, ^Twho had done many acts, he slew two ^Tlionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

2 Sam 8:18; 2 Sam 20:23

great of acts

lion of God

2 Samuel 23:21 And he slew an Egyptian, ^R^Ta 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.

1 Chr 11:23

a man of countenance

2 Samuel 23:22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

2 Samuel 23:23 He was ^R^Tmore honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his ^Tguard.

1 Chr 27:6

honourable among the thirty

council: Heb. at his command

2 Samuel 23:24 ^RAsahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

2 Sam 2:18; 1 Chr 11:26

2 Samuel 23:25 ^RShammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

1 Chr 11:27-28

2 Samuel 23:26 Helez the ^RPaltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

1 Chr 11:27; 1 Chr 27:10

2 Samuel 23:27 ^RAbiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

1 Chr 11:28

2 Samuel 23:28 Zalmon the Ahohite, ^RMaharai the Netophathite,

1 Chr 11:30; 1 Chr 27:13

2 Samuel 23:29 ^RHeleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

1 Chr 11:30

2 Samuel 23:30 ^RBenaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the ^Tbrooks of Gaash,

1 Chr 11:31; 1 Chr 27:14

valleys

2 Samuel 23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

2 Samuel 23:32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of ^RJashen, Jonathan,

1 Chr 11:34

2 Samuel 23:33 ^RShammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

1 Chr 11:27

2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, ^REliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

2 Sam 11:3; 2 Sam 15:31

2 Samuel 23:35 ^RHezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

1 Chr 11:37

2 Samuel 23:36 ^RIgal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

1 Chr 11:38

2 Samuel 23:37 ^RZelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

1 Chr 11:39

2 Samuel 23:38 ^RIra an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

2 Sam 20:26; 1 Chr 2:53

2 Samuel 23:39 ^RUriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

2 Sam 11:3,6-27; 2 Sam 12:9

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

2 Samuel 23:1–7 — Justice and the fear of God

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The opening oracle presents David as Israel’s psalmist and says that the LORD’s Spirit spoke through him. Just rule and the fear of God are compared with morning light and growth after rain. David looks to an everlasting covenant despite his house’s shortcomings, while wickedness is pictured as dangerous thorns.

Key Truth: Authority is accountable to God’s standard of justice.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

2 Samuel 23:8–17 — Courage and the value of life

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The account honors warriors including Eleazar and Shammah and attributes victories to the LORD. Three men risk their lives to bring David water from Bethlehem. David pours it out to the LORD rather than treating their danger as something for his private pleasure. Their courage calls forth reverence for the cost of their service.

Key Truth: Do not casually consume the sacrifices other people make.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

2 Samuel 23:18–39 — Remembering the people who served

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Abishai and Benaiah receive particular notice, followed by a long list of warriors. Uriah the Hittite appears at the close, reminding readers that the man David wronged was among those who served him. Named people, not merely a king, carried the kingdom’s work.

Key Truth: Remember service honestly, including the people harmed by leaders.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Psalms 72:2 — This prayer for the king connects rule with righteous judgment and justice for the poor.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

Whose faithful service have you overlooked? Consider how you can honor that person’s contribution while remaining honest about failures of leadership.

Notes

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2 Samuel — Chapter 23