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2 Samuel · Young's Literal Translation

2 Samuel 23 Young's Literal Translation

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About YLT
  • Individual translator
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Textus Receptus
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Very literal
  • 1898
  • Public domain

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

YLT Young's Literal Translation
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 And these [are] the last words of David: — 'The affirmation of David son of Jesse — And the affirmation of the man raised up — Concerning the Anointed of the God of Jacob, And the Sweetness of the Songs of Israel:
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 Jehovah hath spoken by me, And His word [is] on my tongue.
2 “Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
3 He said — the God of Israel — to me, He spake — the Rock of Israel: He who is ruling over man [is] righteous, 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 And as the light of morning he riseth, A morning sun — no clouds! By the shining, by the rain, Tender grass of 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 — not so [is] my house with God; For — a covenant age-during He made with me, Arranged in all things, and kept; For — all my salvation, and all desire, For — He hath not caused [it] to spring up.
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 As to the worthless — As a thorn driven away [are] all of them, For — not by hand are they taken;
6 But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand.
7 And the man who cometh against them Is filled with iron and the staff of a spear, And with fire they are utterly burnt In the cessation.'
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 the mighty ones whom David hath: sitting in the seat [is] the Tachmonite, head of the captains — he [is] Adino, who hardened himself against eight hundred — wounded 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 And after him [is] Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi, of the three mighty men with David; in their exposing themselves among the Philistines — they have been gathered there to battle, and the men of Israel go up —
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 hath arisen, and smiteth among the Philistines till that his hand hath been weary, and his hand cleaveth unto the sword, and Jehovah worketh a great salvation on that day, and the people turn back after him only to strip off.
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 And after him [is] Shammah son of Agee the Hararite, and the Philistines are gathered into a company, and there is there a portion of the field full of lentiles, and the people hath fled from the presence of 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 and he stationeth himself in the midst of the portion, and delivereth it, and smiteth the Philistines, and Jehovah worketh 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 heads go down and come unto the harvest, unto David, unto the cave of Adullam, and the company of the Philistines are encamping 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 David [is] then in a fortress, and the station of the Philistines [is] then in Beth-Lehem,
14 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 and David longeth and saith, 'Who doth give me a drink of the water of the well of Beth-Lehem, which [is] by the gate?'
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 mighty ones cleave through the camp of the Philistines, and draw water out of the well of Beth-Lehem, which [is] by the gate, and take [it] up, and bring in unto David; and he was not willing to drink it, and poureth it out to Jehovah,
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 saith, 'Far be it from me, O Jehovah, to do this; is it the blood of the men who are going with their lives?' and he was not willing to drink it; these [things] did the three mighty ones.
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 brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, he [is] head of three, and he is lifting up his spear against three hundred — wounded, and he hath a name among three.
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 Of the three is he not the honoured? and he becometh their head; and unto the [first] three he hath not come.
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 son of Jehoiada (son of a man of valour, great in deeds from Kabzeel), he hath smitten two lion-like men of Moab, and he hath gone down and smitten the lion in the midst of the pit in a day 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 hath smitten the Egyptian man, a man of appearance, and in the hand of the Egyptian [is] a spear, and he goeth down unto him with a rod, and taketh violently away the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slayeth him with his own 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 [things] hath Benaiah son of Jehoiada done, and hath a name among three mighty.
22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.
23 Of the thirty he is honoured, and unto the three he came not; and David setteth him over his guard.
23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard.
24 Asahel brother of Joab [is] of the thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo 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 son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Annethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the sons 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 brooks of Gaash,
30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, [of] the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, son of the Maachathite, Eliam 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 Arbite,
35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, bearer of the weapons 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; in all thirty and seven.
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

  • Agee

    Father of Shammah the Hararite

    Called a Hararite and named as the father of Shammah, one of the Three mighty men.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:11

  • 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

  • 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

  • Azmaveth

    One of the Thirty

    Azmaveth the Barhumite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • 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

  • Bani

    One of the Thirty

    Bani the Gadite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:36

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Dodo

    Father of Elhanan

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

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Eliahba

    One of the Thirty

    Eliahba the Shaalbonite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • Eliam

    One of the Thirty

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

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:34

  • Elika

    One of the Thirty

    Elika the Harodite, listed among the Thirty.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:25

  • Eliphelet

    One of the Thirty

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

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:34

  • Gareb

    One of the Thirty

    Gareb the Ithrite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • 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

  • Hezro

    One of the Thirty

    Hezro the Carmelite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • 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

  • Igal

    One of the Thirty

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

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:36

  • 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

  • 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

  • Ira

    One of the Thirty

    Ira the Ithrite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Jonathan

    One of the Thirty

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

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 23:32

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Paarai

    One of the Thirty

    Paarai the Arbite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Shammah

    One of the Thirty

    Shammah the Harodite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • 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

  • Zalmon

    One of the Thirty

    Zalmon the Ahohite, listed among the Thirty.

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

  • Zelek

    One of the Thirty

    Zelek the Ammonite, listed among the Thirty.

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

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)