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New International Version |   | |
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| | 2Sa 23:1 | These are the last words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs :
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| | 2Sa 23:2 | "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
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| | 2Sa 23:3 | The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: `When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
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| | 2Sa 23:4 | he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'
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| | 2Sa 23:5 | "Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?
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| | 2Sa 23:6 | But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand.
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| | 2Sa 23:7 | Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie."
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| | 2Sa 23:8 | These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
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| | 2Sa 23:9 | Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated,
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| | 2Sa 23:10 | but he 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.
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| | 2Sa 23:11 | 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.
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| | 2Sa 23:12 | 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.
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| | 2Sa 23:13 | During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
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| | 2Sa 23:14 | At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
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| | 2Sa 23:15 | David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
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| | 2Sa 23:16 | So the three mighty men 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.
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| | 2Sa 23:17 | "Far be it from me, O 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 men.
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| | 2Sa 23:18 | Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.
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| | 2Sa 23:19 | Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
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| | 2Sa 23:20 | Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
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| | 2Sa 23:21 | 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.
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| | 2Sa 23:22 | Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.
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| | 2Sa 23:23 | 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.
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| | 2Sa 23:24 | Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
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| | 2Sa 23:25 | Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
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| | 2Sa 23:26 | Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
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| | 2Sa 23:27 | Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
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| | 2Sa 23:28 | Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
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| | 2Sa 23:29 | Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
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| | 2Sa 23:30 | Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash,
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| | 2Sa 23:31 | Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
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| | 2Sa 23:32 | Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
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| | 2Sa 23:33 | son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
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| | 2Sa 23:34 | Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
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| | 2Sa 23:35 | Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
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| | 2Sa 23:36 | Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,
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| | 2Sa 23:37 | Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
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| | 2Sa 23:38 | Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite
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| | 2Sa 23:39 | and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
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