The last words of David. A catalogue of his valiant men.

¹ These are the last words of David. Now David, the son of Jesse, the man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, the preeminent psalmist of Israel said:

² “The Spirit of the Lord has spoken through me, and his word was spoken through my tongue.

³ The God of Israel spoke to me, the Strong One of Israel spoke, the Ruler of men, the Just Ruler, in the fear of God,

⁴ like the first light of the morning as the sun is rising, when a morning without clouds glows red, and like plants springing forth from the earth after a rainfall.¹

1. 23:4As the light, etc: So shall be the kingdom of Christ.(Challoner)

⁵ But my house is not so great with God that he should undertake an eternal covenant with me, firm and fortified in all things. For he is the entirety of my salvation and the entirety of my will. And there is nothing of this which will not spring forth.¹

1. 23:5Neither is my house, etc: As if he should say: This everlasting covenant was not due to my house: but purely owing to his bounty; who is all my salvation, and my will: that is, who has always saved me, and granted me what I beseeched of him; so that I and my house, through his blessing, have sprung up, and succeeded in all things.(Challoner)

⁶ But all prevaricators shall be plucked out like thorns, yet they are not taken away by hands.

⁷ And if anyone wishes to touch them, he must be armed with iron and a wooden lance. And they shall be set ablaze and burned to nothing.”

⁸ These are the names of the valiant of David. Sitting in the chair was the wisest leader among the three; he was like a very tender little worm in a tree, who killed eight hundred men in one attack.¹²

1. 23:8Jesbaham: The son of Hachamoni. For this was the name of this hero, as appears from 1 Chron. or Paralip. 11.(Challoner)
2. 23:8Most tender, etc: He appeared like one tender and weak, but was indeed most valiant and strong. It seems the Latin has here given the interpretation of the Hebrew name of the hero, to whom Jesbaham was like, instead of the name itself, which was Adino the Eznite, one much renowned of old for his valour.(Challoner)

⁹ After him, there was Eleazar, the son of his paternal uncle, an Ahohite, who was among the three valiant men who were with David when they chastised the Philistines, and they were gathered together in battle there.¹

1. 23:9Dodo: In Latin, Patrui ejus, which is the interpretation of the Hebrew name Dodo. The same occurs in ver. 24.(Challoner)

¹⁰ And when the men of Israel had gone up, he himself stood fast and struck down the Philistines, until his hand grew weak and stiff with the sword. And the Lord wrought a great salvation on that day. And the people who had fled returned to take up the spoils of the slain.

¹¹ And after him, there was Shammah, the son of Agee, from Hara. And the Philistines gathered together at an outpost. For a field full of lentils was in that place. And when the people had fled from the face of the Philistines,

¹² he stood fast in the middle of the field, and it was protected by him. And he struck down the Philistines. And the Lord wrought a great salvation.

¹³ And moreover, before this, the three who were leaders among the thirty descended and went to David at harvest time, in the cave of Adullam. But the camp of the Philistines was positioned in the Valley of the giants.

¹⁴ And David was in a stronghold. Moreover, there was a garrison of the Philistines at that time in Bethlehem.

¹⁵ Then David desired, and he said, “If only someone would give me a drink of the water from the cistern, which is in Bethlehem beside the gate!”

¹⁶ Therefore, the three valiant men burst into the encampment of the Philistines, and they drew water from the cistern of Bethlehem, which was beside the gate. And they brought it to David. Yet he was not willing to drink; instead, he poured it out to the Lord,

¹⁷ saying: “May the Lord be gracious to me, so that I may not do this. Should I drink the blood of these men who have set out to the peril of their own lives?” Therefore, he was not willing to drink. These things were accomplished by these three robust men.

¹⁸ Also Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was first among the three. It was he who lifted up his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed. And he was renowned among the three,

¹⁹ and he was the noblest of the three, and he was their leader. But at first he did not attain to the three.

²⁰ And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, a very strong man of great deeds, was from Kabzeel. He slew the two lions of Moab, and he descended and slew a lion in the middle of a den, in the days of snow.

²¹ He also killed an Egyptian who had a spear in his hand, a man worthy to behold. And yet he had gone down to him with only a staff. And he forced the spear from the hand of the Egyptian, and he killed him with his own spear.

²² Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, accomplished these things.

²³ And he was renowned among the three robust men, who were the most noble among the thirty. Yet truly, he did not attain to the three, until David made him his secret advisor.

²⁴ Among the thirty were: Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan, the son of his paternal uncle, from Bethlehem,

²⁵ Shammah from Harod, Elika from Harod,

²⁶ Helez from Palti, Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa,

²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai from Hushah,

²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

²⁹ Heleb, the son of Baanah, also himself a Netophathite, Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin,

³⁰ Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the Torrent Gaash,

³¹ Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Beromi,

³² Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

³³ Shammah from Orori, Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite,

³⁴ Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of Maacath, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite,

³⁵ Hezrai from Carmel, Paarai from Arbi,

³⁶ Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah, Bani from Gad,

³⁷ Zelek from Ammon, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah,

³⁸ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb also an Ithrite,

³⁹ Uriah the Hittite: altogether thirty seven