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2 Samuel 23

ARC · Chapter 23/24

1E estas são as ultimas palavras de David: Diz David, filho de Jessé, e diz o homem que foi levantado em altura, o ungido do Deus de Jacob, e o suave em psalmos d'Israel:

2O espirito do Senhor fallou por mim, e a sua palavra esteve em minha bocca.

3Disse o Deus d'Israel, a Rocha d'Israel a mim me fallou: Haverá um justo que domine sobre os homens, que domine no temor de Deus.

4E será como a luz da manhã, quando sae o sol, da manhã sem nuvens, quando pelo seu resplandor e pela chuva a herva brota da terra.

5Ainda que a minha casa não seja tal para com Deus, comtudo estabeleceu comigo um concerto eterno, que em tudo será bem ordenado e guardado, pois toda a minha salvação e todo o meu prazer está n'elle, apezar de que ainda não o faz brotar.

6Porém os filhos de Belial todos serão como os espinhos que se lançam fóra, porque se lhes não pode pegar com a mão.

7Mas qualquer que os tocar se armará de ferro e da haste de uma lança; e a fogo serão totalmente queimados no mesmo logar.

8Estes são os nomes dos valentes que David teve: Joseb-bashebeth, filho de Tachemoni, o principal dos capitães: este era Adino, o esnita, que se oppozera a oitocentos, e os feriu d'uma vez.

9E depois d'elle Eleazar, filho de Dodó, filho de Ahohi, entre os tres valentes que estavam com David quando provocaram os philisteos que ali se ajuntaram á peleja, e quando d'Israel os homens subiram.

10Este se levantou, e feriu os philisteos, até lhe cançar a mão e ficar a mão pegada á espada: e n'aquelle dia o Senhor obrou um grande livramento; e o povo voltou atraz d'elle, sómente a tomar o despojo.

11E depois d'elle Samma, filho de Agé, o hararita, quando os philisteos se ajuntaram n'uma multidão, onde havia um pedaço de terra cheio de lentilhas, e o povo fugira de diante dos philisteos.

12Este pois se poz no meio d'aquelle pedaço de terra, e o defendeu, e feriu os philisteos: e o Senhor obrou um grande livramento.

13Tambem tres dos trinta cabeças desceram, e vieram no tempo da sega a David, á caverna de Adullam: e a multidão dos philisteos acampara no valle de Rephaim.

14David estava então n'um logar forte, e a guarnição dos philisteos estava então em Beth-lehem.

15E teve David desejo, e disse: Quem me déra beber da agua da cisterna de Beth-lehem, que está junto á porta!

16Então aquelles tres valentes romperam pelo arraial dos philisteos, e tiraram agua da cisterna de Beth-lehem, que está junto á porta, e a tomaram, e a trouxeram a David; porém elle não a quiz beber, mas derramou-a perante o Senhor,

17E disse: Guarda-me, ó Senhor, de que tal faça; beberia eu o sangue dos homens que foram a risco da sua vida? De maneira que não a quiz beber: isto fizeram aquelles tres valentes.

18Tambem Abisai, irmão de Joab, filho de Zeruia, era cabeça de tres; e este alçou a sua lança contra trezentos feridos: e tinha nome entre os tres.

19Porventura este não era o mais nobre d'entre estes tres? pois era o primeiro d'elles; porém aos primeiros tres não chegou.

20Tambem Benaia, filho de Joiada, filho d'um homem valoroso de Cabseel, grande em obras, este feriu dois fortes leões de Moab; e desceu elle, e feriu um leão no meio d'uma cova, no tempo da neve.

21Tambem este feriu um homem egypcio, homem de respeito: e na mão do egypcio havia uma lança, porém elle desceu a elle com um cajado, e arrancou a lança da mão do egypcio, e o matou com a sua propria lança.

22Estas coisas fez Benaia, filho de Joiada, pelo que teve nome entre tres valentes.

23D'entre os trinta elle era o mais nobre, porém aos tres primeiros não chegou: e David o poz sobre os seus guardas.

24Asael, irmão de Joab, estava entre os trinta, que eram: El-hanan, filho de Dodó, de Beth-lehem,

25Samma, harodita, Elika, harodita,

26Heles, paltita, Ira, filho de Ikkes, tekoita,

27Abiezer, anathothita, Mebunnai, hsathita,

28Zalmon, ahohita, Maharai, netophathita,

29Heleb, filho de Baena, netophathita, Ittai, filho de Ribai, de Gibeah dos filhos de Benjamin,

30Benaia, pirhathonita, Hiddai, do ribeiro de Gaás,

31Abi-albon, arbathita, Azmaveth, barhumita,

32Eliaba, saalbonita, os filhos de Jasen e Jonathan,

33Samma, hararita, Ahiam, filho de Sarar, ararita,

34Eliphelet, filho de Ahasbai, filho d'um maacathita, Eliam, filho de Achitophel, gilonita,

35Hesrai, carmelita, Paarai, arbita,

36Ighal. filho de Nathan, de Zoba, Bani, gadita,

37Zelek, ammonita, Naharai, beerothita, o que trazia as armas de Joab, filho de Zeruia,

38Ira, jethrita, Gareb, jethrita,

39Urias, hetheo: trinta e sete por todos.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

David's poetic 'last words' about just rule are recorded, followed by a detailed list of his mightiest warriors ('the thirty'), including the heroic feat of three men who risked their lives to bring David water from a besieged well.

Explanation

This chapter serves as a tribute both to David's final words of wisdom and to the men who made his reign possible — a reminder that no great leader rules alone. David's act of pouring out the water brought at such great risk, rather than drinking it, shows reverence: he considers that water too sacred, bought with the risk of blood, to be consumed casually. It is a lesson about recognizing and honoring others' sacrifice rather than taking it for granted.

Fun facts

  • Uriah the Hittite — Bathsheba's husband, killed on David's orders in chapter 11 — appears in this roll of honor among the 37 mighty warriors, making his betrayal all the more tragic in light of his proven loyalty.
  • Benaiah, one of the warriors listed, killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day — a feat so remarkable that Solomon later appointed him commander of the whole army (1 Kings 2:35).

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 2 Samuel 23:1This introduces David’s last words, described as the anointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet psalmist of Israel — a kind of final poetic testament.
  2. 2 Samuel 23:2David declares that the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him, and God’s word was on his tongue.
  3. 2 Samuel 23:3God, the Rock of Israel, reveals that there will be a just ruler, one who rules in the fear of God — an ideal of leadership that points beyond David himself.
  4. 2 Samuel 23:4This just ruler is compared to the morning light without clouds, which makes the grass spring up from the earth after rain — an image of blessing and life.
  5. 2 Samuel 23:5Even acknowledging that his own house is not perfect before God, David trusts in the everlasting covenant God made with him, the source of all his hope and joy.
  6. 2 Samuel 23:6In contrast, the wicked are compared to discarded thorns, which no one can hold in their hand.
  7. 2 Samuel 23:7Whoever touches these thorns must arm himself with iron, and in the end they are completely burned where they lie.
  8. 2 Samuel 23:8This begins the list of David’s mightiest warriors: the chief among them killed eight hundred men at one time.
  9. 2 Samuel 23:9Eleazar is remembered for standing firm with David when the Israelites provoked the Philistines gathered for battle.
  10. 2 Samuel 23:10Eleazar fought until his hand grew numb, clinging to the sword, and the Lord gave a great victory that day, with the people returning only to gather the spoil.
  11. 2 Samuel 23:11Shammah is remembered for another battle, when the Philistines gathered in a field of lentils and the people of Israel fled before them.
  12. 2 Samuel 23:12Shammah stood alone in the middle of the field, defended that piece of ground, and the Lord granted another great victory.
  13. 2 Samuel 23:13Three of the thirty chief warriors go down to the cave of Adullam to find David, while the Philistines camped in the valley of Rephaim.
  14. 2 Samuel 23:14At that time David was in a stronghold, and a Philistine garrison occupied Bethlehem.
  15. 2 Samuel 23:15David expresses a simple longing: to drink water from the well of Bethlehem, near the gate of his hometown.
  16. 2 Samuel 23:16David refuses to drink the water brought by his three mightiest warriors, who had fetched it by breaking through the enemy camp, and pours it out as an offering — to him, drinking something obtained at such risk would be like drinking the blood of the men who had risked their lives for it.
  17. 2 Samuel 23:17David refuses to drink the water, saying it would be like drinking the blood of the men who had risked their lives for it, and pours it out as an offering to the Lord.
  18. 2 Samuel 23:18Abishai, Joab’s brother, is also singled out as a leader among the warriors, having killed three hundred men single-handedly with his spear.
  19. 2 Samuel 23:19Despite his fame, Abishai did not reach the level of the three mightiest warriors mentioned before him.
  20. 2 Samuel 23:20Benaiah is remembered for extraordinary feats: he killed two mighty warriors of Moab and went down into a pit to kill a lion on a day of snow.
  21. 2 Samuel 23:21Benaiah also killed an impressive Egyptian warrior, disarming him with a staff and using the man’s own spear to kill him.
  22. 2 Samuel 23:22These feats earned Benaiah a place of distinction among David’s mightiest warriors.
  23. 2 Samuel 23:23Benaiah was the most respected among the thirty warriors, though he too did not reach the first three, and David placed him in charge of his personal guard.
  24. 2 Samuel 23:24A longer list of David’s thirty mighty warriors begins, including Asahel, Joab’s brother, and Elhanan of Bethlehem.
  25. 2 Samuel 23:25These names are part of the list of the Thirty, David’s most respected group of warriors — a roster of heroes that closes, in all, with thirty-seven names.
  26. 2 Samuel 23:26Helez and Ira join the list of the Thirty; Ira, of Tekoa, is from the same town as the wise woman Joab brought to reconcile David with Absalom.
  27. 2 Samuel 23:27Two more names from the list of David’s Thirty mighty men — Anathoth, the home of Abiezer, is the same town from which the prophet Jeremiah would come, centuries later.
  28. 2 Samuel 23:28Two more warriors from the list of the Thirty — Netophah, the home of Maharai, was known for supplying elite soldiers to David’s army.
  29. 2 Samuel 23:29The list continues with Heleb son of Baanah, of Netophah, and Ittai son of Ribai, of Gibeah, of the tribe of Benjamin.
  30. 2 Samuel 23:30This Benaiah is different from Benaiah son of Jehoiada, commander of David’s guard, mentioned a few verses earlier — same name, different warrior.
  31. 2 Samuel 23:31Two more names from the long list of David’s Thirty warriors — soldiers from towns scattered across the whole territory of Israel.
  32. 2 Samuel 23:32This Jonathan shares his name with Saul’s son, David’s great friend — but here he is just another soldier from the group of the Thirty mighty men.
  33. 2 Samuel 23:33The list continues with Shammah of Harar, and Ahiam son of Sharar, also of Harar.
  34. 2 Samuel 23:34The list includes Eliphelet, grandson of a Maachathite, and Eliam son of Ahithophel — the same counselor who betrayed David alongside Absalom.
  35. 2 Samuel 23:35Two more warriors, from Carmel and from Arba, round out the list of the Thirty — almost none of these names appear anywhere else in the Bible.
  36. 2 Samuel 23:36This Nathan, father of Igal, is not the prophet who confronted David about Bathsheba — he is simply another man with the same name, common at the time.
  37. 2 Samuel 23:37The list continues with Zelek the Ammonite, and Naharai of Beeroth, who carried Joab’s armor.
  38. 2 Samuel 23:38Ira and Gareb close out almost the entire list of the Thirty — only one more name remains, the last and most surprising of all: Uriah the Hittite.
  39. 2 Samuel 23:39Uriah the Hittite appears in the final list of David’s thirty mightiest warriors — the same man David had killed in chapter 11. Closing the list with this name is a quiet irony in the text, reminding the reader who Uriah really was before he became a victim.

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