The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Samuel 23

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

2 Samuel chapter 23 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Now these are the last words of David: The saying of David the son of Jesse, and the saying of the man raised on high, the…” — the complete text of all 39 verses is below, free to read online.

1Now these are the last words of David: The saying of David the son of Jesse, and the saying of the man raised on high, the anointed of the G-d of Jacob, and the sweet singer of Israel:

2The spirit of HaShem spoke by me, and His word was upon my tongue.

3The G-d of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'Ruler over men shall be the righteous, even he that ruleth in the fear of G-d,

4And as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds; when through clear shining after rain, the tender grass springeth out of the earth.'

5For is not my house established with G-d? for an everlasting covenant He hath made with me, ordered in all things, and sure; for all my salvation, and all my desire, will he not make it to grow?

6But the ungodly, they are as thorns thrust away, all of them, for they cannot be taken with the hand;

7But the man that toucheth them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite; he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

9And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they jeoparded their lives against the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away;

10he stood firm, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand did cleave unto the sword; and HaShem wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

11And after him was Shammah the son of Age the Ararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

12But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and HaShem wrought a great victory.

13And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

14And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

15And David longed, and said: 'Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!'

16And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto HaShem.

17And he said: 'Be it far from me, O HaShem, that I should do this; shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?' therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

18And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three.

19He was most honourable of the three; therefore he was made their captain; howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

20And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he smote the two altar-hearths of Moab; he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow;

21and he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man; 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 slew him with his own spear.

22These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.

23He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem;

25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite;

26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;

27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite;

28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

29Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin;

30Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of Nahale-gaash;

31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite;

32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;

33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite;

34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;

35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite;

36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite;

37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armour-bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah;

38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite;

39Uriah the Hittite. Thirty and seven in all.

39 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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