The big picture
2 Samuel 23 opens in verse 1 with “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 20 with “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many…”, and closes in verse 39 with “Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.” Repeated or prominent terms include David, Philistines, slew, spear, LORD. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 392 Samuel 23:1-8
1–8: These be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the…
2 Samuel 23:1–8 opens with “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up…” and reaches “These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David’s final words and separate portraits of the mighty men’s costly acts of courage, with particular weight carried by David, Israel, morning.
Context that brings the passage to life
“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…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
2 Samuel 23:1-8
King James Version1Now 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,
2The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
3The 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.
4And 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.
5Although 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.
6But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
7But 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.
8These 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.
2 Samuel 23:9-16
9–16: After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three…
2 Samuel 23:9–16 opens with “And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David…” and reaches “And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David’s final words and separate portraits of the mighty men’s costly acts of courage, with particular weight carried by Philistines, David, Beth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where…” Naming Philistines and Agee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Samuel 23:9-16
King James Version9And 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:
10He 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.
11And 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.
12But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD 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 pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
14And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
15And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
16And the three mighty men brake 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD .
2 Samuel 23:17-24
17–24: He said, Be it far from me, O LORD , that I should do this: is not this…
2 Samuel 23:17–24 opens with “And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD , that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men…” and reaches “Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David’s final words and separate portraits of the mighty men’s costly acts of courage, with particular weight carried by slew, spear, attained.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“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…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
2 Samuel 23:17-24
King James Version17And 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.
18And 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.
19Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was 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 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:
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 the name among 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,
2 Samuel 23:25-32
25–32: Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
2 Samuel 23:25–32 opens with “Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,” and reaches “Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David’s final words and separate portraits of the mighty men’s costly acts of courage, with particular weight carried by Harodite, Netophathite, Abiezer.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,” Naming Harodite and Elika keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 23:25-32
King James Version25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
2 Samuel 23:33-39
33–39: Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
2 Samuel 23:33–39 opens with “Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,” and reaches “Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David’s final words and separate portraits of the mighty men’s costly acts of courage, with particular weight carried by Hararite, Ithrite, Ahasbai.
2 Samuel 23:33-39
King James Version33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, 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, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
39Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 23:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 23:19 forms a natural hinge: “Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.”
The final note
2 Samuel 23:39 leaves the reader with “Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words David, Philistines, slew, spear, LORD, mighty help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why repeat the details of the property?
The description establishes a recognized, witnessed holding for the family.
How do grief and promise coexist?
Abraham mourns fully while securing a burial place in the land associated with the promise.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.