David’s Last Song

1And these are the last words of David:

“An utterance of David son of Jesse,

and a declaration of the mighty man who was exalted on high,

the anointed of the God of Jacob,

and the sweet psalmist of Israel:†

2The Spirit of YHWH spoke by me,

and His word was on my tongue.

3The God of Israel spoke

the Rock of Israel spoke to me:

‘He who rules over men is righteous,

ruling in the fear of God,

4and as the light of the morning he rises,

a morning sun, without clouds,

by clear shining after the rain,

the tender grass of the earth.’

5For not so is my house with God;

yet an everlasting covenant

He has made with me,

ordered in all things and secure;

for this is all my salvation, and all my desire,

for will He not make it sprout?

6And the worthless, like a thorn are all thrust away,

because not in the hand can they be taken.

7And the man who touches them must be armed with iron

and the shaft of a spear;

and with the fire they are completely burned

in the place.”

David’s Mighty Men
(1 Chronicles 11:10–47)

8These are the names of the mighty men who were

unto David: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite† was chief of the three;† He wielded his spear against† eight hundred, whom he killed at one time.

9And after him was Eleazar son of Dodo,† son of Ahohi, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle and the men of Israel had retreated. 10He arose and struck the Philistines until that his hand was weary and his hand stuck to the sword; and YHWH brought about a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to plunder.

11And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines had gathered together into a troop, and there was a portion of the field full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12And he stationed himself in the middle of the field and defended it and killed the Philistines, and YHWH brought about a great salvation.

13And three of the thirty chief men went down and came at harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, and the troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of the Rephaim. 14And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15And David craved and he said, “Who will give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate?”

16And the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and they drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and they lifted it and brought it to David. And he would not drink it, and he poured it out to YHWH. 17And he said, “Far be it from me, O YHWH, that I should do this; is it the blood of the men who went with their lives?” And he would not drink it.

These things were done by the three mighty men.

18And Abishai brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three.† And He lifted his spear against three hundred, slain, and he won a name among these three. 19Of the three† was he not more honored? And he became for them as commander, and to the three he did not attain.

20And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was son of a man of valor,† great in deeds, from Kabzeel. He struck down two lion-like ones† of Moab, and He went down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21And he killed an Egyptian, who was a man of appearance, and in his hand the Egyptian had a spear. And he went down to him with a staff and wrested the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian and killed him with his own spear. 22These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he won a name among the three mighty men. 23Among the thirty he is honored, and to the three he did not attain. And David appointed him over his guard.

24Asah-el the brother of Joab was among the thirty,

Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25Shammah the Harodite,

Elika the Harodite,

26Helez the Paltite,

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27Abiezer the Anathothite,

Mebunnai† the Hushathite,

28Zalmon the Ahohite,

Maharai the Netophathite,

29Heled† son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ittai† son of Ribai from Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin,

30Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Hiddai† from the brooks† of Gaash,

31Abi-albon the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

of the sons of Jashen,†

Jonathan 33son of Shammah† the Hararite,

Ahiam son of Sharar† the Hararite,

34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maachathite,

Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35Hezro the Carmelite,

Paarai the Arbite,

36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah,

Bani the Gadite,

37Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, bearer of the weapons of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

39and Uriah the Hittite.

And in all were thirty-seven.

Footnotes:

1 Or the hero of the songs of Israel or the favorite of the Strong One of Israel
8 Tahchemonite is probably a variant of Hachmonite; see 1 Chronicles 11:11.
8 Or chief among the captains
8 Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:11); Hebrew He was Adino the Eznite because of
9 Dodo is a variant of Dodai; see 1 Chronicles 27:4.
18 Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac the Thirty
19 Hebrew; Syriac the Thirty
20 Or Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of Ishhai
20 Or two champions or two sons of Ariel
27 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Sibbecai; see 2 Samuel 21:18 and 1 Chronicles 11:29.
29 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chronicles 11:30); most MT manuscripts Heleb
29 Ittai is a variant of Ithai; see 1 Chronicles 11:31.
30 Hiddai is a variant of Hurai; see 1 Chronicles 11:32.
30 Or from the ravines
32 Jashen is a variant of Hashem; see 1 Chronicles 11:34.
33 Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:34); Hebrew Jonathan, 33 Shammah
33 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Sachar; see 1 Chronicles 11:35.