The Last Words of King David |
2 Samuel 23:1-39 The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
These [are] [some of:] the last words said [by] [king] David. David, the son of Jesse, who was raised up on high, & [is] the anointed of the God of Jacob, [a.k.a. Israel,] & the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord [spoke] by me, & His Word was [on] my tongue. |
The God of Israel, the Rock of Israel, [spoke] to me & said, He [who rules] over men must be just, [a.k.a. fair or honest,] ruling in the fear, [a.k.a. respect,] of [the Lord] God. He shall be [like] the light of the morning, when the sun [rises,] even a morning without clouds; & [like] the tender grass [sprouting] [up,] out of the earth [in the] clear [sunshine] after [the] rain. |
Although my house [may] not be [this way] with God, [still] He [has] made with me an everlasting covenant, [a.k.a. contract,] [orderly, & without doubt;] this is all for my salvation, & [it’s] all my desire, although He [may] not make it grow. |
But the [rebellious, wicked men] shall all be [like thorns thrown] away, because they can’t be [gathered] with hands. But the man [who] shall touch them must be [clothed in armor of] iron & [have] the [shaft] of a spear. And they shall be [completely] burned with fire in the same place. |
These [are] the names of the mighty men, whom David had: The Tachmonite [who] sat in the seat, [as] chief, [a.k.a. leader,] among [the] captains; the same [person] was Adino, the Eznite. He [lifted] up his spear against 800 [men,] whom he [killed] at 1 time. |
After him was Eleazar, [Dodo’s] son, [a.k.a. Dodai,] the Ahohite. [He was] 1 of the 3 mighty men with David, when they [challenged] the Philistines [who] were gathered together there to battle, [when] the men of Israel [had] gone away. |
He arose, & [attacked] the Philistines until his hand was [tired, & it stuck] to the sword. The Lord [brought about] a great victory that day; & the people returned after him, [but] only to [plunder.] And after him, was Shammah, [Agee’s] son, the Hararite. |
The Philistines were gathered together into a troop [at a field] full of [lentils,] & the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the [middle of the field,] & defended it, & [struck down] the Philistines. And the Lord [brought about] a great victory. |
[During] harvest time, 3 of the 30 chief [men] went down, & came to David [into] the Cave of Adullam. And the [Philistine troops] pitched [their tents] in the Valley of Rephaim. Then, David was in [a stronghold, [a.k.a. a strong safe place,] & the garrison of [Philistine] [troops stationed,] were in Bethlehem. |
And [king] David longed [for water,] & said, Oh, that [someone] would give me a drink of water [from] the Well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the 3 mighty men [broke] through the [Philistine army,] & drew water out of the Well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, & took it to David. |
[Still, king David] wouldn’t drink [it,] but poured it out to the Lord. And [king David] said, Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should [drink] this. Isn’t this [at the expense of] the blood of the men [who risked] their lives? Therefore, he wouldn’t drink it. |
These 3 mighty men did these [heroic] things: Abishai, [Joab’s] brother, [who was] [Zeruiah’s] son, & was [the leader] among [the] 3. He lifted up his spear against 300, & [struck them down,] & [gained fame] among [the] 3. |
Wasn’t he the most [honorable] of [the] 3? Therefore, he was their captain, [although] he [didn’t achieve] [the level of fame of] the 1st 3. And Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, [was] the son of a valiant man, [from] Kabzeel, who had done many [acts] [of bravery.] |
He [struck down] 2 lion-like men of Moab, & he also went down in the snow, & [killed] a lion in the midst of a pit. And [Benaiah killed] a [large] Egyptian, [who] had a spear in his hand, but [Benaiah] went down to him with [only] a staff, [a.k.a. walking stick,] & [snatched] the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, & [killed] him with his own spear. |
[Although] Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, did these things, & had [a famous] name among the 3 mighty men, he was more [honorable] than the 30, but he [didn’t attain] [the level of fame] of the 1st 3. And David [put] him over his [guards.] Asahel, [Joab’s other] brother was 1 of the 30. [The others were:] Elhanan, [Dodo’s] son [from] Bethlehem; |
Shammah, the Harodite; Elika, the Harodite; Helez, the Paltite; Ira, [Ikkesh’s] son, the Tekoite; Abiezer, the Anethothite; Mebunnai, the Hushathite; Zalmon, the Ahohite; Maharai, the Netophathite; Heleb, [Baanah’s] son, a Netophathite; |
Ittai, [Ribai’s] son [from] Gibeah of the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Benjamin; Benaiah, the Pirathonite; Hiddai [from] the Brooks of Gaash; Abi Albon, the Arbathite; Azmaveth, the Barhumite; |
Eliahba, the Shaalbonite. [From] the sons of Jashen [were:] Jonathan; Shammah, the Hararite [a.k.a. Ararite;] Ahiam, [Sharar’s] son, the Hararite [a.k.a. Ararite;] Eliphelet, [Ahasbai’s] son, [who was] the son of the Maachathite; |
Eliam, [Ahithophel’s] son, the Gilonite; Hezrai, the Carmelite; Paarai, the Arbite; Igal, [Nathan’s] son, [from] Zobah; Bani, the Gadite; Zelek, the Ammonite; Nahari, the Beerothite, [who was] armor bearer to Joab, [Zeruiah’s] son; Ira, an Ithrite; Gareb, an Ithrite; Uriah, the Hittite: 37 [men] in all. |