聖經365恩典之旅

本日經文提要(本日進度: 撒母耳記下 21:1~24:25)


.大衛年間有饑荒，一連三年，大衛就求問耶和華，耶和華如何說?
.當耶和華救大衛脫離一切仇敵和掃羅之手的日子，他向耶和華念了甚麼詩來感謝祂?



撒下21:1大衛年間有饑荒，一連三年，大衛就求問耶和華。耶和華說：這饑荒是因掃羅，和他流人血之家，殺死基遍人。
撒下21:2原來這基遍人不是以色列人，乃是亞摩利人中所剩的，以色列人曾向他們起誓，不殺滅他們，掃羅卻為以色列人和猶大人發熱心，想要殺滅他們。大衛王召了他們來，
撒下21:3問他們說：我當為你們怎樣行呢，可用甚麼贖這罪，使你們為耶和華的產業祝福呢。
撒下21:4基遍人回答說：我們和掃羅與他家的事並不關乎金銀，也不要因我們的緣故殺一個以色列人。大衛說：你們怎樣說：我就為你們怎樣行。
撒下21:5他們對王說：那從前謀害我們，要滅我們，使我們不得再住以色列境內的人，
撒下21:6現在願將他的子孫七人交給我們，我們好在耶和華面前，將他們懸掛在耶和華揀選掃羅的基比亞。王說：我必交給你們。
撒下21:7王因為曾與掃羅的兒子約拿單指著耶和華起誓結盟，就愛惜掃羅的孫子，約拿單的兒子米非波設，不交出來。
撒下21:8卻把愛雅的女兒利斯巴給掃羅所生的兩個兒子，亞摩尼，米非波設，和掃羅女兒米甲的姐姐給米何拉人巴西萊兒子亞得列所生的五個兒子，
撒下21:9交在基遍人的手裡，基遍人就把他們在耶和華面前，懸掛在山上，這七人就一同死亡，被殺的時候，正是收割的日子，就是動手割大麥的時候。
撒下21:10愛雅的女兒利斯巴用麻布，在磐石上搭棚，從動手收割的時候，直到天降雨在屍身上的時候，日間不容空中的雀鳥落在屍身上，夜間不讓田野的走獸前來蹧踐。
撒下21:11有人將掃羅的妃嬪愛雅女兒利斯巴所行的這事告訴大衛。
撒下21:12大衛就去，從基列雅比人那裡將掃羅和他兒子約拿單的骸骨搬了來，是因非利士人從前在基利波殺掃羅，將屍身懸掛在伯珊的街市上，基列雅比人把屍身偷了去。
撒下21:13大衛將掃羅和他兒子約拿單的骸骨從那裡搬了來，又收斂被懸掛七人的骸骨。
撒下21:14將掃羅和他兒子約拿單的骸骨葬在便雅憫的洗拉，在掃羅父親基士的墳墓裡。眾人行了王所吩咐的，此後神垂聽國民所求的。
撒下21:15非利士人與以色列人打仗，大衛帶領僕人下去，與非利士人接戰，大衛就疲乏了。
撒下21:16偉人的一個兒子以實比諾要殺大衛，他的銅槍重三百舍客勒，又佩著新刀。
撒下21:17但洗魯雅的兒子亞比篩幫助大衛，攻打非利士人，將他殺死。當日跟隨大衛的人向大衛起誓，說：以後你不可再與我們一同出戰，恐怕熄滅以色列的燈。
撒下21:18後來以色列人在歌伯與非利士人打仗，戶沙人西比該殺了偉人的一個兒子撒弗。
撒下21:19又在歌伯與非利士人打仗，伯利恆人雅雷俄珥金的兒子伊勒哈難殺了迦特人歌利亞，這人的槍杆粗如織布的機軸。
撒下21:20又在迦特打仗，那裡有一個身量高大的人，手腳都是六指，共有二十四個指頭，他也是偉人的兒子。
撒下21:21這人向以色列人罵陣，大衛的哥哥示米亞的兒子約拿單就殺了他。
撒下21:22這四個人是迦特偉人的兒子，都死在大衛和他僕人的手下。

撒下22:1當耶和華救大衛脫離一切仇敵和掃羅之手的日子，他向耶和華念這詩，
撒下22:2說：耶和華是我的巖石，我的山寨，我的救主，
撒下22:3我的神，我的磐石，我所投靠的，他是我的盾牌，是拯救我的角，是我的高臺，是我的避難所，我的救主阿，你是救我脫離強暴的。
撒下22:4我要求告當讚美的耶和華，這樣，我必從仇敵手中被救出來。
撒下22:5曾有死亡的波浪環繞我，匪類的急流，使我驚懼。
撒下22:6陰間的繩索纏繞我，死亡的網羅臨到我。
撒下22:7我在急難中求告耶和華，向我的神呼求，他從殿中聽了我的聲音，我的呼求入了他的耳中。
撒下22:8那時因他發怒，地就搖撼戰抖，天的根基也震動搖撼。
撒下22:9從他鼻孔冒煙上騰，從他口中發火焚燒，連炭也了。
撒下22:10他又使天下垂，親自降臨，有黑雲在他腳下。
撒下22:11他坐著基路伯飛行，在風的翅膀上顯現。
撒下22:12他以黑暗，和聚集的水，天空的厚雲，為他四圍的行宮。
撒下22:13因他面前的光輝炭都了。
撒下22:14耶和華從天上打雷，至高者發出聲音。
撒下22:15他射出箭來，使仇敵四散，發出閃電，使他們擾亂。
撒下22:16耶和華的斥責一發，鼻孔的氣一出，海底就出現，大地的根基也顯露。
撒下22:17他從高天伸手抓住我，把我從大水中拉上來。
撒下22:18他救我脫離我的勁敵，和那些恨我的人，因為他們比我強盛。
撒下22:19我遭遇災難的日子，他們來攻擊我，但耶和華是我的倚靠。
撒下22:20他又領我到寬闊之處，他救拔我，因他喜悅我。
撒下22:21耶和華按著我的公義報答我，按著我手中的清潔賞賜我。
撒下22:22因為我遵守了耶和華的道，未曾作惡離開我的神。
撒下22:23他的一切典章，常在我面前，他的律例，我也未曾離棄。
撒下22:24我在他面前作了完全人，我也保守自己遠離我的罪孽。
撒下22:25所以耶和華按我的公義，按我在他眼前的清潔，賞賜我。
撒下22:26慈愛的人，你以慈愛待他，完全的人，你以完全待他。
撒下22:27清潔的人，你以清潔待他，乖僻的人，你以彎曲待他。
撒下22:28困苦的百姓，你必拯救，但你的眼目，察看高傲的人，使他降卑。
撒下22:29耶和華阿，你是我的燈，耶和華必照明我的黑暗。
撒下22:30我藉著你衝入敵軍，藉著我的神跳過牆垣。
撒下22:31至於神，他的道是完全的，耶和華的話，是煉淨的，凡投靠他的，他便作他們的盾牌。
撒下22:32除了耶和華，誰是神呢，除了我們的神，誰是磐石呢。
撒下22:33神是我堅固的保障，他引導完全人行他的路。
撒下22:34他使我的腳，快如母鹿的蹄，又使我在高處安穩。
撒下22:35他教導我的手，能以爭戰，甚至我的膀臂能開銅弓。
撒下22:36你把你的救恩給我作盾牌，你的溫和使我為大。
撒下22:37你使我腳下的地步寬闊，我的腳未曾滑跌。
撒下22:38我追趕我的仇敵，滅絕了他們，未滅以先，我沒有歸回。
撒下22:39我滅絕了他們，打傷了他們，使他們不能起來，他們都倒在我的腳下。
撒下22:40因為你曾以力量束我的腰，使我能爭戰，你也使那起來攻擊我的，都服在我以下。
撒下22:41你又使我的仇敵，在我面前轉背逃跑，叫我能以剪除那恨我的人。
撒下22:42他們仰望，卻無人拯救，就是呼求耶和華，他也不應允。
撒下22:43我搗碎他們，如同地上的灰塵，踐踏他們四散在地，如同街上的泥土。
撒下22:44你救我脫離我百姓的爭競，保護我作列國的元首，我素不認識的民，必事奉我。
撒下22:45外邦人要投降我，一聽見我的名聲，就必順從我。
撒下22:46外邦人要衰殘，戰戰兢兢的出他們的營寨。
撒下22:47耶和華是活神，願我的磐石，被人稱頌，願神，那拯救我的磐石，被人尊崇。
撒下22:48這位神就是那為我伸冤，使眾民服在我以下的。
撒下22:49你救我脫離仇敵，又把我舉起，高過那些起來攻擊我的，你救我脫離強暴的人。
撒下22:50耶和華阿，因此我要在外邦中稱謝你，歌頌你的名。
撒下22:51耶和華賜極大的救恩給他所立的王，施慈愛給他的受膏者，就是給大衛和他的後裔，直到永遠。

撒下23:1以下是大衛末了的話。耶西的兒子大衛得居高位，是雅各神所膏的，作以色列的美歌者說：
撒下23:2耶和華的靈藉著我說：他的話在我口中。
撒下23:3以色列的神，以色列的磐石，曉諭我說：那以公義治理人民的，敬畏神執掌權柄，
撒下23:4他必像日出的晨光，如無雲的清晨，雨後的晴光，使地發生嫩草。
撒下23:5我家在神面前並非如此，神卻與我立永遠的約，這約凡事堅穩，關乎我的一切救恩，和我一切所想望的，他豈不為我成就麼。
撒下23:6但匪類都必像荊棘被丟棄，人不敢用手拿他。
撒下23:7拿他的人必帶鐵器和槍杆，終久他必被火焚燒。
撒下23:8大衛勇士的名字，記在下面，他革捫人約設巴設，又稱伊斯尼人亞底挪，他是軍長的統領，一時擊殺了八百人。
撒下23:9其次是亞合人朵多的兒子以利亞撒。從前非利士人聚集要打仗，以色列人迎著上去，有跟隨大衛的三個勇士向非利士人罵陣，其中有以利亞撒。
撒下23:10他起來擊殺非利士人，直到手臂疲乏，手粘住刀把，那日耶和華使以色列人大獲全勝，眾民在以利亞撒後頭專奪財物。
撒下23:11其次是哈拉人亞基的兒子沙瑪。一日非利士人聚集成群，在一塊長滿紅豆的田裡，眾民就在非利士人面前逃跑。
撒下23:12沙瑪卻站在那田間，擊殺非利士人，救護了那田，耶和華使以色列人大獲全勝。
撒下23:13收割的時候，有三十個勇士中的三個人，下到亞杜蘭洞見大衛，非利士的軍兵在利乏音谷安營。
撒下23:14那時大衛在山寨，非利士人的防營在伯利恆。
撒下23:15大衛渴想，說：甚願有人將伯利恆城門旁井裡的水打來給我喝。
撒下23:16這三個勇士就闖過非利士人的營盤，從伯利恆城門旁的井裡打水，拿來奉給大衛，他卻不肯喝，將水奠在耶和華面前，
撒下23:17說：耶和華阿，這三個人冒死去打水，這水好像他們的血一般，我斷不敢喝，如此大衛不肯喝，這是三個勇士所作的事。
撒下23:18洗魯雅的兒子約押的兄弟亞比篩是這三個勇士的首領。他舉槍殺了三百人，就在三個勇士裡得了名。
撒下23:19他在這三個勇士裡，是最尊貴的，所以作他們的首領，只是不及前三個勇士。
撒下23:20有甲薛勇士耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅行過大能的事，他殺了摩押人亞利伊勒的兩個兒子，又在下雪的時候下坑裡去，殺了一個獅子。
撒下23:21又殺了一個強壯的埃及人，埃及人手裡拿著槍，比拿雅只拿著棍子下去，從埃及人手裡奪過槍來，用那槍將他殺死。
撒下23:22這是耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅所行的事，就在三個勇士裡得了名。
撒下23:23他比那三十個勇士都尊貴，只是不及前三個勇士。大衛立他作護衛長。
撒下23:24三十個勇士裡有約押的兄弟亞撒黑，伯利恆人朵多的兒子伊勒哈難。
撒下23:25哈律人沙瑪，哈律人以利加，
撒下23:26帕勒提人希利斯，提哥亞人益吉的兒子以拉，
撒下23:27亞拿突人亞比以謝，戶沙人米本乃，
撒下23:28亞合人撒們，尼陀法人瑪哈萊，
撒下23:29尼陀法人巴拿的兒子希立，便雅憫族基比亞人利拜的兒子以太，
撒下23:30比拉頓人比拿雅，迦實溪人希太，
撒下23:31伯亞拉巴人亞比亞本，巴魯米人押斯瑪弗，
撒下23:32沙本人以利雅哈巴，雅善兒子中的約拿單，
撒下23:33哈拉人沙瑪，哈拉人沙拉的兒子亞希暗，
撒下23:34瑪迦人亞哈拜的兒子以利法列，基羅人亞希多弗的兒子以連，
撒下23:35迦密人希斯萊，亞巴人帕萊，
撒下23:36瑣巴人拿單的兒子以甲，迦得人巴尼，
撒下23:37亞捫人洗勒，比錄人拿哈萊，是給洗魯雅的兒子約押拿兵器的，
撒下23:38以帖人以拉，以帖人迦立，
撒下23:39赫人烏利亞，共有三十七人。

撒下24:1耶和華又向以色列人發怒，就激動大衛，使他吩咐人去數點以色列人和猶大人。
撒下24:2大衛就吩咐跟隨他的元帥約押說：你去走遍以色列眾支派，從但直到別是巴，數點百姓，我好知道他們的數目。
撒下24:3約押對王說：無論百姓多少，願耶和華你的神再加增百倍，使我主我王親眼得見，我主我王何必喜悅行這事呢。
撒下24:4但王的命令勝過約押和眾軍長，約押和眾軍長，就從王面前出去，數點以色列的百姓。
撒下24:5他們過了約但河，在迦得谷中城的右邊亞羅珥安營，與雅謝相對。
撒下24:6又到了基列，和他停合示地，又到了但雅安，繞到西頓，
撒下24:7來到推羅的保障，並希未人和迦南人的各城，又到猶大南方的別是巴。
撒下24:8他們走遍全地，過了九個月零二十天就回到耶路撒冷。
撒下24:9約押將百姓的總數奏告於王，以色列拿刀的勇士有八十萬，猶大有五十萬。
撒下24:10大衛數點百姓以後，就心中自責，禱告耶和華，說：我行這事大有罪了，耶和華阿，求你除掉僕人的罪孽，因我所行的甚是愚昧。
撒下24:11大衛早晨起來，耶和華的話臨到先知迦得，就是大衛的先見，說：
撒下24:12你去告訴大衛說：耶和華如此說：我有三樣災，隨你選擇一樣，我好降與你。
撒下24:13於是迦得來見大衛，對他說：你願意國中有七年的饑荒呢，是在你敵人面前逃跑，被追趕三個月呢，是在你國中有三日的瘟疫呢，現在你要揣摩思想，我好回覆那差我來的。
撒下24:14大衛對迦得說：我甚為難，我願落在耶和華的手裡，因為他有豐盛的憐憫，我不願落在人的手裡。
撒下24:15於是耶和華降瘟疫與以色列人，自早晨到所定的時候，從但直到別是巴，民間死了七萬人。
撒下24:16天使向耶路撒冷伸手要滅城的時候，耶和華後悔，就不降這災了，吩咐滅民的天使說：夠了，住手罷。那時耶和華的使者在耶布斯人亞勞拿的禾場那裡。
撒下24:17大衛看見滅民的天使，就禱告耶和華，說：我犯了罪，行了惡，但這群羊作了甚麼呢。願你的手攻擊我，和我的父家。
撒下24:18當日迦得來見大衛，對他說：你上去，在耶布斯人亞勞拿的禾場上，為耶和華築一座壇。
撒下24:19大衛就照著迦得奉耶和華名所說的話，上去了。
撒下24:20亞勞拿觀看，見王和他臣僕前來，就迎接出去，臉伏於地，向王下拜，
撒下24:21說：我主我王為何來到僕人這裡呢。大衛說：我要買你這禾場，為耶和華築一座壇，使民間的瘟疫止住。
撒下24:22亞勞拿對大衛說：我主我王，你喜悅用甚麼，就拿去獻祭，看哪，這裡有牛，可以作燔祭，有打糧的器具，和套牛的軛，可以當柴燒。
撒下24:23王阿，這一切我亞勞拿都奉給你，又對王說：願耶和華你的神悅納你。
撒下24:24王對亞勞拿說：不然，我必要按著價值向你買，我不肯用白得之物作燔祭，獻給耶和華我的神。大衛就用五十舍客勒銀子，買了那禾場與牛。
撒下24:25大衛在那裡為耶和華築了一座壇，獻燔祭和平安祭。如此耶和華垂聽國民所求的，瘟疫在以色列人中就止住了。

 

 

 

 

2 Samuel 21 

The Gibeonites Avenged

21 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”

4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.

5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one.”

So the king said, “I will give them to you.”

7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,[a] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

Wars Against the Philistines
15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels[b] and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”

18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair[c] the Bethlehemite killed the brother of[d] Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.

20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

 

2 Samuel 22

David’s Song of Praise

22 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3     my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
    from violent people you save me.
4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and have been saved from my enemies.
5 The waves of death swirled about me;
    the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death confronted me.
7 “In my distress I called to the Lord;
    I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
    my cry came to his ears.
8 The earth trembled and quaked,
    the foundations of the heavens[c] shook;
    they trembled because he was angry.
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
    consuming fire came from his mouth,
    burning coals blazed out of it.
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
    dark clouds were under his feet.
11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
    he soared[d] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
    the dark[e] rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
    bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven;
    the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
    with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
    and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the Lord,
    at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
    according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
    I am not guilty of turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;
    I have not turned away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless before him
    and have kept myself from sin.
25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
    according to my cleanness[f] in his sight.
26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
    to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
    but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
    but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You, Lord, are my lamp;
    the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop[g];
    with my God I can scale a wall.
31 “As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
33 It is God who arms me with strength[h]
    and keeps my way secure.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You make your saving help my shield;
    your help has made[i] me great.
37 You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.
38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
    I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
    they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle;
    you humbled my adversaries before me.
41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
    and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
    to the Lord, but he did not answer.
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
    I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples;
    you have preserved me as the head of nations.
People I did not know now serve me,
45     foreigners cower before me;
    as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
46 They all lose heart;
    they come trembling[j] from their strongholds.
47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
    Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
48 He is the God who avenges me,
    who puts the nations under me,
49     who sets me free from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
    from a violent man you rescued me.
50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing the praises of your name.
51 “He gives his king great victories;
    he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
    to David and his descendants forever.”

 

2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Words

23 These are the last words of David:

“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
    the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,
the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
    the hero of Israel’s songs:
2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;
    his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke,
    the Rock of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,
    when he rules in the fear of God,
4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise
    on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
    that brings grass from the earth.’
5 “If my house were not right with God,
    surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,
    arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
    and grant me my every desire.
6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,
    which are not gathered with the hand.
7 Whoever touches thorns
    uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
    they are burned up where they lie.”
David’s Mighty Warriors
8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:

Josheb-Basshebeth,[a] a Tahkemonite,[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed[c] in one encounter.

9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24 Among the Thirty were:
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite,
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27 Abiezer from Anathoth,
Sibbekai[f] the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heled[g] son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hiddai[h] from the ravines of Gaash,
31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan 33 son of[i] Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar[j] the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezro the Carmelite,
Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,
the son of Hagri,[k]
37 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite
39 and Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.