David's Last Song
David's last words: our Father made an everlasting covenant with his house, and a ruler in righteousness is like morning light after rain. Then the roll of his warriors — the three who broke through Philistine lines for a drink of Bethlehem water David poured out rather than drink.
23 1Now these are the last words of David. The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, anointed by the God of Jacob, our Father, Israel's beloved singer of songs: a a v1 An oracle is an inspired prophetic word; David speaks here as one moved by God's Spirit. 2The Spirit of our Father spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
3Our Father, the God of Israel, has spoken; the Rock of Israel said to me: "When one rules over people in righteousness, ruling in the fear of God,
4he is like the light of morning when the sun rises on a cloudless dawn, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.
5Is not my house like this with our Father? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not bring to fruition all my salvation and all my desire? 6But worthless men are all like thorns thrown away, for they cannot be picked up barehanded. 7The one who would touch them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are burned with fire on the spot."
David's Mighty Men
8These are the names of David's mighty warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite, chief of the three, raised his spear against 800 men, killing them at once. 9Next was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines gathered for battle there, and Israel's men retreated. 10He rose up, struck the Philistines until his hand tired and clung to the sword. Our Father won a great victory that day, and the troops returned behind him only to strip the dead. 11Next was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines massed at Lehi, in a field full of lentils, and the troops fled from them. 12But Shammah stood in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. And our Father brought a great victory.
13At harvest three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15David longed for water and said, "If only someone would give me a drink of water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem!"
16So the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and brought it to David. But he refused to drink it; he poured it out to our Father. 17He said, "Far be it from me, my Father, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?" So he would not drink it. Such were the deeds of the three warriors.
18Abishai, Joab's brother, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He raised his spear against 300, killed them, and won fame among the three. 19Was he not the most honored of the thirty? He became their commander, though not one of the three.
20Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man from Kabzeel, a man of great deeds. He struck down Moab's two mighty warriors. He went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion there. 21He also struck down an impressive Egyptian. The Egyptian held a spear, but Benaiah came at him with only a staff, wrenched the spear from his hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22These were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name among the three mighty men. 23He was more honored than the thirty, but not among the three. David put him over his bodyguard.
24Among the thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab; 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; 29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites; 30Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash; 31Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite; 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan; 33Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite; 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; 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, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah; 38Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite; 39and Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.
