Chapter 23

  Now these [be] the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  

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  The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.  

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  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God.  

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  And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.  

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  Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure: for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to grow.  

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  But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:  

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  But the man [that] shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the [same] place.  

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  These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift up his spear] against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.  

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  And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:  

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  He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.  

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  And after him [was] Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.  

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  But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.  

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  And 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 pitched in the valley of Rephaim.  

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  And David [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines [was] then [in] Bethlehem.  

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  And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the gate!  

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  And the three mighty men brake through the host 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.  

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  And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.  

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

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  Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.  

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  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:  

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  And 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.  

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

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

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  Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,  

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  Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,  

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

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  Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,  

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  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,  

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  Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,  

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  Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,  

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  Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,  

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

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  Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,  

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  Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,  

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  Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,  

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

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  Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,  

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  Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,  

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  Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.  

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