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1 These are the last words of David:
“The declaration of David son of Jesse, the declaration of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the pleasant singer of Israel’s songs:
2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me;
his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘One who rules over people justly, who rules in the fear of God,
4 is like the light of morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’
5 Is not my house so with God?
For he has made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered in every respect and secure.
Will he not cause all my salvation and all my desire to spring up?
6 But the worthless are all like thorns cast aside, for they cannot be taken by hand.
7 Anyone who touches them must arm himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they will be utterly burned with fire where they lie.”
8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite, chief of the Three. He was Adino the Eznite, who struck down eight hundred at one time.
9 After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of an Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty warriors with David when they defied the Philistines who had gathered there for battle, while the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He stood and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and clung to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to plunder.
11 After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered in a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the middle of the plot, defended it and struck down the Philistines. The LORD brought about a great victory.
13 Three of the thirty chiefs went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam, while a troop of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 The three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem and brought it to David. But he would not drink it; he poured it out to the LORD. 17 He said, “Far be it from me, LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty warriors did.
18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He raised his spear against three hundred and struck them down, and he had a name among the three. 19 He was the most honored of the three and became their commander, but he did not attain to the Three.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man, was from Kabzeel and did great deeds. He struck down two champions of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 21 He struck down an Egyptian, a man of imposing appearance. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down against him with a staff, seized the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he had a name among the three mighty warriors. 23 He was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. David put him over his bodyguard.
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was among the Thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem; 25 Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26 Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
27 Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
29 Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
31 Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
33 Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, son of a Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezrai the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, armor-bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.