World English Bible
- 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:
- “The LORD’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
- 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,
- 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.’
- 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?
- But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand.
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and the LORD worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take plunder.
- 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.
- But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD worked a great victory.
- 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.
- David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
- David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
- 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 the LORD.
- He said, “Be it far from me, LORD, 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.
- 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.
- Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he wasn’t included as one of the three.
- 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.
- 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.
- Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.
- He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard.
- Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty: Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
- Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
- Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
- Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
- Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
- Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
- Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
- Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
- Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
- Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
- Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
- Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
- Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
- Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
- Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
- and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
2 Samuel 23
“Last Words and Lasting Lives”
Opening Thought
The book of Samuel is almost finished. Before the story fades, the
Spirit lets us sit at David’s bedside and leaf through his scrapbook.
First we hear the king’s final oracle (vv 1-7). Then we scan a roll call
of warriors whose blades kept covenant hopes alive (vv 8-39). Both parts
point beyond David to the true Son of David, and they invite us to live
as people of promise while our own names are still being
written.
The Last Words of David (23:1-7)
Form and Feel
• Verse 1 calls the poem a “neʾum” (“oracle” or “utterance”). It is the
same word used for the sayings of inspired prophets (Num 24:3; Prov
30:1), hinting that David speaks now not only as king but as seer.
• Hebrew parallelism shapes every line: thought balancing thought like
the steps of a pilgrim climbing toward the light (“He who rules over men
in righteousness / who rules in the fear of God”).
• The imagery is gentle: dawn, sun, rain on grass. After a lifetime of
swords, David’s last picture of power is life-giving, not
crushing.
Theology in a Handful of Words
• “Mashiach Elohei Yaʿaqob” (“the anointed of the God of Jacob”) joins
royal title and family story. The king stands in a chain of grace that
began with a wandering shepherd.
• “Brit” (covenant) in v 5 is sure even when the house is messy. David
admits his failures, yet God’s sworn promise holds.
• “Tzaddik” (righteous) in v 3 is not only moral uprightness but
covenant faithfulness—acting for the flourishing of all under one’s
care. In David’s line that ideal will reach its peak in Jesus (Isa
9:6-7; Acts 13:34-39).
Western Ears Often Miss
Ancient Near Eastern kings loved to boast of crushing enemies like clay
pots (compare v 7). David flips the image: the unjust ruler is the
brittle clay, and God’s king is morning light. Power, in God’s economy,
serves life.
• Culture note: Pouring a libation was a costly act of worship across
the ancient Mediterranean. By turning their gift into an offering, David
declares, “Your devotion belongs to God alone. I will not treat it as my
private gain.”
• Cross-reference: Paul uses similar language about his life—“poured out
like a drink offering” (2 Tim 4:6). Christian leadership receives
sacrifice but does not consume it.
Lessons:
• God’s work is never a solo act. The appendix to David’s story is a
community.
• Outsiders belong: “Ira the Ithrite,” “Zelek the Ammonite,” “Ittai son
of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin.” The kingdom was multi-tribal and even
multi-ethnic before Pentecost.
• Unsung faithfulness matters. While the “Three” gain headlines, “the
Thirty” hold the line. Medieval preacher Bernard of Clairvaux loved this
list; he said greatness in heaven may look more like “the Thirty” than
“the Three.”
Echoes through Scripture
• Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33: Last words of Jacob and Moses—just
before God pushes the story forward. David now stands in that
tradition.
• Psalm 110; Isaiah 11:1-5; Luke 1:32-33: David’s oracle sets the theme
of the righteous, spirit-anointed ruler fulfilled in Christ.
• Hebrews 11:32-34 remembers the unnamed who “became mighty in
war.”
A Word from the Fathers and the Reformers
• Augustine: “David sees Christ in himself and all the faithful in his
mighty men.”
• Calvin: “Government is a gift of God; yet only those who rule in the
fear of God are His true ministers.”
• Wesley (in a 1759 sermon on this text): “Let us pour out every honour
we receive, lest we drink the very blood of those Christ
redeemed.”
Practicing the Passage Today
Reflect
• Where has God called you to be morning light for others?
• Whose hidden service could you name and honour this week?
Remember
• Your small act may enter God’s great story even if no one records your
name.
Respond
• Write a note of thanks to a behind-the-scenes servant at church.
• Offer one costly pleasure back to God as a “drink offering,” a sign
that all gifts are His.
Singing the Text
Consider the hymn “For All the Saints” (William Walsham How, 1864). It
celebrates both famous and forgotten warriors who now rest “in light.”
Sing stanza 3 slowly, picturing David’s dawn: “O may Thy soldiers,
faithful, true, and bold, fight as the saints who nobly fought of
old.”
Closing Prayer
Faithful God,
You kept covenant with David, and through him You brought us Jesus, the
true morning light.
Shape our leadership into gentle shelter, not hard tyranny.
Receive the water of our best efforts; let it refresh the thirsty world
and rise to You as worship.
Grant courage to be mighty in the hidden place, content to be remembered
only by You.
For Jesus’ sake. Amen.