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2 Samuel · Bible in Basic English

2 Samuel 23 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Now these are the last words of David. David, the son of Jesse, says, the man who was lifted up on high, the man on whom the God of Jacob put the holy oil, the loved one of Israel's songs, says:
1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2 The spirit of the Lord had voice through me, his word was on my tongue.
2 “Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said, the word of the Rock of Israel came to me: When an upright king is ruling over men, when he is ruling in the fear of God,
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
4 It is as the light of the morning, when the sun comes up, a morning without clouds; making young grass come to life from the earth.
4 shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’
5 For is not my house so with God? For he has made with me an eternal agreement, ordered in all things and certain: as for all my salvation and all my desire, will he not give it increase?
5 Isn’t my house so with God? Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation and all my desire. Won’t he make it grow?
6 But the evil-doers, all of them, will be like thorns to be pushed away, because they may not be gripped in the hand:
6 But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand.
7 But anyone touching them has to be armed with iron and the rod of a spear; and they will be burned with fire, every one of them.
7 The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They will be utterly burned with fire in their place.”
8 These are the names of David's men of war: Ishbaal the Hachmonite, chief of the three; his axe was lifted up against eight hundred put to death at one time.
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time.
9 After him was Eleazar, the son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three great fighters, who was with David in Pas-dammim when the Philistines came together there for the fight; and when the men of Israel had gone in flight,
9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away.
10 He was with David and went on fighting the Philistines till his hand became tired and stiff from gripping his sword: and that day the Lord gave a great salvation, and the people came back after him only to take the goods of the Philistines.
10 He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take plunder.
11 After him was Shammah, the son of Ela the Hararite. And the Philistines came together in Lehi, where there was a bit of land full of seed; and the people went in flight from the Philistines.
11 After him was Shammah the son of Agee, a Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he kept his place in the middle of the bit of land, and kept back their attack and overcame the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great salvation.
12 But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory.
13 And three of the thirty went down at the start of the grain-cutting, and they came to David at the strong place of Adullam; and the band of Philistines had taken up their position in the valley of Rephaim.
13 Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
14 And at that time David had taken cover in the strong place, and an armed force of the Philistines was in Beth-lehem.
14 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 And David, moved by a strong desire, said, If only someone would give me a drink of water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town!
15 David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
16 And the three men, forcing their way through the Philistine army, got water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town, and took it back to David: but he would not take it, but, draining it out, made an offering of it to the Lord.
16 The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David; but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.
17 And he said, Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this; how may I take as my drink the life-blood of men who have put their lives in danger? So he would not take it. These things did the three great men of war.
17 He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He put to death three hundred with his spear, and he got for himself a name among the thirty.
18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
19 Was he not the noblest of the thirty? so he was made their captain: but he was not equal to the first three.
19 Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he wasn’t included as one of the three.
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a fighting man of Kabzeel, had done great acts; he put to death the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down into a hole and put a lion to death in time of snow:
20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow.
21 And he made an attack on an Egyptian, a tall man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a stick, and pulling the spear out of the hands of the Egyptian, put him to death with that same spear.
21 He killed a huge Egyptian, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
22 These were the acts of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who had a great name among the thirty men of war.
22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.
23 He was honoured over the rest of the thirty, but he was not equal to the first three. And David put him over the fighting men who kept him safe.
23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard.
24 Asahel, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty; and Elhanan, the son of Dodai, of Beth-lehem,
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty: Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbecai the Hushathite,
27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heldai, the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai, the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
29 Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash,
30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
31 Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim,
31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Jashen the Gunite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Jonathan, the son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam, the son of Sharar the Hararite,
33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Archite,
35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal, the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, who had the care of the arms of Joab, son of Zeruiah,
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in number.
39 and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Abiezer

    One of the Thirty

    Abiezer the Anathothite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:27; 1 Chronicles 11:28; 1 Chronicles 27:12

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  • Ahasbai

    Father of Eliphelet the Maacathite

    Called a Maacathite and named as the father of Eliphelet, a member of the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:34

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  • Ahiam

    One of the Thirty

    Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:33; 1 Chronicles 11:35

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  • Azmaveth

    One of the Thirty

    Azmaveth the Barhumite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:31; 1 Chronicles 11:33

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  • Baanah

    Father of Heled the Netophathite

    Named as the father of Heled, one of David's mighty men.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:29; 1 Chronicles 11:30

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  • Bani

    One of the Thirty

    Bani the Gadite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:36

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  • Benaiah

    Commander of the Cherethites and Pelethites

    Son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits who killed two Moabite champions, a lion in a pit and a huge Egyptian, and whom David set over his guard and the Cherethites…

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 20:23; 2 Samuel 23:20

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  • Benaiah

    One of the Thirty

    Benaiah the Pirathonite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:30; 1 Chronicles 11:31; 1 Chronicles 27:14

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  • David

    King of Israel

    The shepherd who became Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 2:15; Matt. 1:6

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  • Dodo

    Father of Eleazar the mighty man

    Ahohite named as the father of Eleazar, one of the Three; a Dodai the Ahohite commanded David's second-month division (probably the same man).

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:9; 1 Chronicles 11:12; 1 Chronicles 27:4

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  • Eleazar

    One of the Three

    Son of Dodo the Ahohite and one of the Three, who stood his ground with David against the Philistines at Pas-dammim until his hand stuck to his sword.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:9; 2 Samuel 23:10; 1 Chronicles 11:12

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  • Elhanan

    One of the Thirty

    Son of Dodo of Bethlehem, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:26

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  • Eliahba

    One of the Thirty

    Eliahba the Shaalbonite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:32; 1 Chronicles 11:33

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  • Eliam

    One of the Thirty

    Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:34

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  • Elika

    One of the Thirty

    Elika the Harodite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:25

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  • Eliphelet

    One of the Thirty

    Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:34

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  • Gareb

    One of the Thirty

    Gareb the Ithrite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:38; 1 Chronicles 11:40

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  • Helez

    One of the Thirty

    Helez the Paltite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:26; 1 Chronicles 11:27; 1 Chronicles 27:10

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  • Hezro

    One of the Thirty

    Hezro the Carmelite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:35; 1 Chronicles 11:37

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  • Hiddai

    One of the Thirty

    Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:30; 1 Chronicles 11:32

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  • Igal

    One of the Thirty

    Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:36

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  • Ikkesh

    Father of Ira the Tekoite

    Named as the father of Ira, one of David's mighty men.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:26; 1 Chronicles 11:28; 1 Chronicles 27:9

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  • Ira

    One of the Thirty

    Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:26; 1 Chronicles 11:28; 1 Chronicles 27:9

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  • Ira

    One of the Thirty

    Ira the Ithrite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:38; 1 Chronicles 11:40

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  • Ittai

    One of the Thirty

    Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:29; 1 Chronicles 11:31

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  • Jashen

    Father of mighty men

    Named in the list of the Thirty as the father of a group of mighty men (the sons of Jashen).

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:32; 1 Chronicles 11:34

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  • Jehoiada

    Father of Benaiah

    Named as the father of Benaiah, the commander of the Cherethites and Pelethites.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Kings 1:8

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  • Jonathan

    One of the Thirty

    Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:32

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  • Maharai

    One of the Thirty

    Maharai the Netophathite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:28; 1 Chronicles 11:30; 1 Chronicles 27:13

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  • Naharai

    Joab's armor-bearer

    Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:37; 1 Chronicles 11:39

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  • Nathan

    Father of Igal of Zobah

    Named as the father of Igal, a member of the Thirty, with Zobah named beside his name.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:36

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  • Paarai

    One of the Thirty

    Paarai the Arbite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:35; 1 Chronicles 11:37

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  • Ribai

    Father of Ithai

    Named as the father of Ithai of Gibeah of the Benjamites.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:29; 1 Chronicles 11:31

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  • Shammah

    One of the Three

    Son of Agee the Hararite and one of the Three, who took his stand in a field of lentils, defended it and struck down the Philistines, and may be the Shammah the Hararite named…

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:11; 2 Samuel 23:12; 2 Samuel 23:33

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  • Shammah

    One of the Thirty

    Shammah the Harodite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:25; 1 Chronicles 11:27

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  • Sharar

    Father of Ahiam the Hararite

    Called a Hararite and named as the father of Ahiam, a member of the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:33; 1 Chronicles 11:35

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  • Sibbecai

    Killed the giant Saph

    Sibbecai the Hushathite, who killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha, in a battle with the Philistines at Gob. 1 Chronicles 11:29 lists Sibbecai where 2 Samuel 23:27 reads…

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 21:18; 2 Samuel 23:27; 1 Chronicles 11:29

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  • Zalmon

    One of the Thirty

    Zalmon the Ahohite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:28; 1 Chronicles 11:29

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  • Zelek

    One of the Thirty

    Zelek the Ammonite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:37; 1 Chronicles 11:39

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Cross references (38)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 1 Samuel 16:12–13; Psalm 89:20; 2 Samuel 7:8–9; Psalm 78:70–71; Colossians 3:16
  2. 2 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 22:43; Mark 12:36; Acts 2:25–31; Hebrews 3:7–8
  3. 3 Deuteronomy 32:4; Exodus 18:21; 2 Samuel 22:32; Psalm 72:2; Hebrews 1:8
  4. 4 Judges 5:31; Psalm 72:6; Psalm 89:36; Hosea 6:5; Malachi 4:2
  5. 5 Isaiah 55:3; Isaiah 9:6–7; 2 Samuel 7:14–16; Jeremiah 32:40; Psalm 89:28–29
  6. 6 Deuteronomy 13:13; Isaiah 33:12; Ezekiel 2:6; 2 Samuel 20:1; Genesis 3:18
  7. 7 Hebrews 6:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Samuel 22:8–10; Luke 19:27
  8. 8 1 Chronicles 11:11–47; 1 Chronicles 27:2; 1 Chronicles 27:32
  9. 9 1 Chronicles 27:4; 1 Chronicles 11:12–14; 1 Samuel 17:26; Numbers 23:7–8; 1 Samuel 17:10
  10. 10 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Samuel 11:13; Isaiah 53:12; Joshua 10:42; Joshua 11:8
  11. 11 1 Chronicles 11:27; 1 Chronicles 11:13–14; 2 Samuel 23:33
  12. 12 Proverbs 21:31; 2 Samuel 23:10; Psalm 3:8; Psalm 44:2
  13. 13 2 Samuel 5:18; 1 Samuel 22:1; 1 Chronicles 14:9; Joshua 12:15; Joshua 15:35
  14. 14 1 Samuel 22:4–5; 1 Samuel 13:4; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 12:16; 1 Samuel 22:1
  15. 15 John 4:14; Psalm 42:1–2; Isaiah 44:3; John 4:10; Isaiah 41:17
  16. 16 Genesis 35:14; 2 Corinthians 5:14; 1 Samuel 7:6; Philippians 2:17; Numbers 28:7
  17. 17 Leviticus 17:10; Mark 14:24; 1 Samuel 2:30; Judges 5:18; 1 Kings 21:3
  18. 18 2 Samuel 10:10; 2 Samuel 10:14; 1 Chronicles 11:20–21; 2 Samuel 18:2; 2 Samuel 20:10
  19. 19 Matthew 13:8; Matthew 13:23; 2 Samuel 23:13; 2 Samuel 23:16; 1 Chronicles 11:25
  20. 20 Joshua 15:21; 2 Samuel 20:23; 2 Samuel 8:18; 1 Chronicles 11:22–24; 1 Samuel 17:34–37
  21. 21 Colossians 2:15; 1 Chronicles 11:23; 1 Samuel 17:51
  22. 23 1 Chronicles 27:6; 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Samuel 22:14; 2 Samuel 8:8
  23. 24 2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 27:7; 1 Chronicles 11:26
  24. 25 1 Chronicles 11:27–28; Judges 7:1
  25. 26 2 Samuel 14:2; 1 Chronicles 27:9–10; 1 Chronicles 11:27–28
  26. 27 Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 27:12; 1 Chronicles 11:28; 1 Chronicles 11:19
  27. 28 1 Chronicles 27:13; 2 Kings 25:23; 1 Chronicles 11:30
  28. 29 1 Chronicles 27:15; Joshua 18:28; 1 Chronicles 11:30–31
  29. 30 Judges 12:15; Judges 2:9; Judges 12:13; Joshua 24:30; 1 Chronicles 27:14
  30. 31 2 Samuel 3:16; 1 Chronicles 11:32–33
  31. 32 1 Chronicles 11:34
  32. 33 1 Chronicles 11:27; 2 Samuel 23:11; 1 Chronicles 11:35
  33. 34 2 Samuel 11:3; 2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Samuel 10:6; 2 Samuel 10:8; 1 Chronicles 27:33–34
  34. 35 1 Chronicles 11:37; Joshua 15:55
  35. 36 2 Samuel 8:3; 1 Chronicles 11:38
  36. 37 2 Samuel 4:2; 1 Chronicles 11:39; 1 Chronicles 11:37
  37. 38 1 Chronicles 2:53; 2 Samuel 20:26; 1 Chronicles 11:40
  38. 39 2 Samuel 11:3; Matthew 1:6; 2 Samuel 12:9; 1 Kings 15:5; 2 Samuel 11:6–27

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Quotes verse 23:15–17 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book X, Chapters XXIX–XXXI)

    I know, too, that Esau was deceived by a longing for lentiles, and that David took blame to himself for desiring water, and that our King was tempted not by flesh but bread.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  2. Quotes verse 23:2 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture XVI)

    … for Samuel and David, we have it plainly in the Books of the Kingdoms, how by the Holy Ghost they prophesied themselves, and were rulers of the prophets;--and Samuel was called the Seer; and David says distinctly, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and in the Psalms, And take not thy Holy Spirit from me, and again, …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  3. Quotes verse 23:1 Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms (Psalm LV)

    David indeed was, as we know, a holy prophet, king of Israel, son of Jesse: but because out of his seed there came for our salvation after the flesh the Lord Jesus Christ, often under that name He is figured, and David instead of Christ is in a figure set down, because of the origin of the Flesh of the …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)