1These are the last words of David:aMeaning of much of this poem (vv. 1–7) uncertain. The utterance of David son of Jesse,The utterance of the man set on high,bset on high 4QSamᵃ reads “God raised up.” The anointed of the God of Jacob,The favorite of the songs of Israel:cThe favorite of the songs of Israel Or “The favorite of the Mighty One of Israel”; cf. Exod. 15.2. In contrast to others “The sweet singer of Israel.”
2The spirit of GOD has spoken through me,God’s message is on my tongue;
3The God of Israel has spoken,The Rock of Israel said concerning me:“He who rules over people justly,He who rules indin So many Heb. mss. Most mss. and the printed editions lack “in.” awe of God
4Is like the light of morning at sunrise,A morning without clouds—Through sunshine and rain[Bringing]eThrough sunshine and rain / [Bringing] Meaning of Heb. uncertain. vegetation out of the earth.”
5Is not my House established before God?For I have been granted an eternal pact,Drawn up in full and secured.Will [God] not cause all my successAnd [my] every desire to blossom?
6But the wicked shall allBe raked aside like thorns;For no one will pick them up by hand.
7Whoever touches themMust be armed with ironAnd the shaft of a spear;And they must be burned up on the spot.
8These are the namesfA number of these names, with variations, are found in 1 Chron. 11 and 27. of David’s warriors: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, the chief officer—he is Adino the Eznite; [he wielded his spear]g[he wielded his spear] Preserved in 1 Chron. 11.11; similarly some Septuagint mss. of 2 Sam. against eight hundred and slew themhand slew them Lit. “slain.” on one occasion.
9Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodo son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines gathered there for battle. Israel’s force retreated,
10but he held his ground. He struck down Philistines until his arm grew tired and his hand stuck to his sword; and GOD wrought a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him—but only to strip [the slain].
11Next to him was Shammah son of Age the Ararite. The Philistines had gathered in forceiin force Meaning of Heb. uncertain. where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the troops fled from the Philistines.
12But [Shammah] took his stand in the middle of the plot and defended it, and he routed the Philistines. Thus GOD wrought a great victory.
13Once, during the harvest,jOnce, during the harvest Meaning of Heb. uncertain. three of the thirty chiefs went down to David at the cavekcave See note at 1 Sam. 22.1. of Adullam, while a force of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14David was then in the stronghold,lthe stronghold See note at 1 Sam. 22.1. and a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
15David felt a craving and said, “If only I could get a drink of water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem!”
16So the three warriors got through the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem, and they carried it back. But when they brought it to David he would not drink it, and he poured it out as a libation to GOD.
17For he said, “GOD forbid that I should do this! Can [I drink]m[I drink] So Septuagint and 1 Chron. 11.19. the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
18Abishai, the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah, was head of another three.nanother three Two Heb. mss. and Syriac read “the thirty”; cf. vv. 23–24. He once wielded his spear against three hundred and slew them.oand slew them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
19He won a name among the three;pthree Emendation yields “thirty.” since he was the most highly regarded among the three,qthree See previous note. he became their leader. However, he did not attain to the three.
20Benaiah son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel, was a brave soldierra brave soldier Heb. “the son of a brave soldier.” who performed great deeds. He killed the two [sons] of Ariel of Moab.sHe killed the two [sons] of Ariel of Moab Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Once, on a snowy day, he went down into a pit and killed a lion.
21He also killed an Egyptian,tan Egyptian Or “an Egyptian opponent.” a hugeuhuge Meaning of Heb. uncertain. 1 Chron. 11.23 reads “a giant of a man.” man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, yet [Benaiah] went down against him with a club, wrenched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; and he won a name among the threevthree See first note at v. 19. warriors.
23He was highly regarded among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.wbodyguard Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
24Among the thirty were Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo [from] Bethlehem,
25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
30Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of Nahale-gaash,
31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba of Shaalbon, sons of Jashen, Jonathan,xJashen, Jonathan Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
33Shammah the Ararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Ararite,
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite—the arms-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah—
38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.ythirty-seven in all Septuagint and 1 Chron. 11 differ from the foregoing lists in vv. 8–38, and from each other in the number and forms of the names.