2 Samuel 23: Last Words and Mighty Men
David's final words rest on God's everlasting covenant, followed by a roll call of the warriors who served him.
2 Samuel 23 (WEB)
1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2 “The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
4 shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’
5 Most certainly my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn’t make it grow.
6 But all of the ungodly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand,
7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.”
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.
9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.
10 He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take plunder.
11 After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory.
13 Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
14 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 David longed, and said, “Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
16 The three mighty men broke through the army 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: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.
17 He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t it the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
19 Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn’t attain to the three.
20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
21 He killed 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 killed him with his own spear.
22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.
23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard.
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
2 Samuel 23 (KJV)
1 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,
2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
7 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.
8 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.
9 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:
10 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.
11 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.
12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.
13 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.
14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth–lehem.
15 And 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!
16 And 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
20 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:
21 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.
22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth–lehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
31 Abi–albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
2 Samuel 23 (ASV)
1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised on high saith, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2 The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, And his word was upon my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, That ruleth in the fear of God,
4 He shall beas the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, A morning without clouds, Whenthe tender grassspringeth out of the earth, Through clear shining after rain.
5 Verily my house is not so with God; Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things, and sure: For it is all my salvation, and allmydesire, Although he maketh it not to grow.
6 But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with the hand;
7 But 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.
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.
9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an 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.
10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword; and Jehovah wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil.
11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. 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.
12 But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and Jehovah wrought a great victory.
13 And three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
14 And David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
16 And 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: but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah.
17 And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, 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.
18 And 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.
19 Was he not most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he slew the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
21 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.
22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.
23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armorbearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
Summary
These are the last recorded words of David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, who declares that the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him. He sets forth an oracle on righteous rule: one who rules justly, in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, a cloudless dawn that makes the tender grass spring up after rain. David confesses that his own house is not yet what it should be, yet he rests on God's everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, the whole of his salvation and desire. The ungodly, by contrast, are like thorns to be thrust away and burned. The chapter then catalogs David's mighty men: the chief captains who slew hundreds, Eleazar whose hand froze to his sword, and Shammah who held a field alone. It tells of three heroes who broke through the Philistine lines to fetch water from Bethlehem's well, which David refused to drink, pouring it out to the Lord as too costly. Benaiah's exploits are recounted, and the long list ends, tellingly, with Uriah the Hittite, a name that recalls David's gravest sin.
Key Figures
- David — The dying king and psalmist, whose final words exalt righteous rule and rest his hope on God's everlasting, ordered, and sure covenant.
- The three mighty men — David's foremost warriors, including those who risked their lives to bring him water from Bethlehem's well, which he poured out to the Lord.
- Benaiah — A valiant son of Jehoiada who slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day and an armed Egyptian, set by David over his guard.
- Uriah the Hittite — The last name on the honor roll, a faithful warrior whose mention recalls the great sin of David against him and Bathsheba.
Key Verse
2 Samuel 23:5 (WEB)
Most certainly my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn’t make it grow.
Lessons Learned
- A faithful life rests its final hope not on its own record but on God's sure covenant.
- Righteous, God-fearing leadership is a refreshing blessing, like sunlight after rain.
- God honors costly devotion, and true worship is willing to pour out what it most treasures.
- The honor roll ending with Uriah reminds us that even great saints carry the memory of grave failures.
- Our hope rests on God's covenant, not our record. David admits his house is flawed yet clings to God's “everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure” (2 Samuel 23:5, WEB). Assurance comes from God's faithfulness, not ours.
- Righteous rule blesses like the dawn. One who rules justly is “as the light of the morning… a morning without clouds” (2 Samuel 23:4, WEB). Godly leadership brings life and refreshment to those under it.
- True worship pours out what is costly. David refuses to drink the water won at the risk of men's lives, but “poured it out to Yahweh” (2 Samuel 23:16, WEB). Devotion gives God what is most precious.
- Grace remembers and redeems our failures. The list ends with “Uriah the Hittite” (2 Samuel 23:39, WEB), a quiet reminder of David's sin even amid his honors. God's mercy does not erase the past but covers it.
- What does David's oracle teach about the character and effect of righteous, God-fearing leadership?
- On what does David rest his hope at the end of his life, and why is that significant?
- Why does David refuse to drink the water his men risked their lives to bring, and what does his response reveal about worship?
- What might it signify that the roll of mighty men ends with the name of Uriah the Hittite?
- As you consider the end of your own life, where is your hope anchored—in your own record, or in God's covenant faithfulness?
- David likens the just, God-fearing ruler to a cloudless sunrise that makes the grass spring up after rain (23:3-4). Righteous leadership is life-giving and refreshing to a people, in contrast to the thorns of the ungodly. It sets a standard ultimately fulfilled in the righteous reign of Christ.
- Knowing his house is not what it should be, David rests entirely on God's everlasting, ordered, and sure covenant as his salvation and desire (23:5). It is significant that the great king's final confidence lies not in his achievements but in God's unbreakable promise—a gospel posture.
- David counts the water as the very blood of the men who risked their lives, too sacred for his own pleasure, so he offers it to God (23:16-17). His act reveals worship that gives back to the Lord what is most costly, refusing to treat sacrifice cheaply.
- Uriah's name closes the honor roll, an unmistakable reminder of the man David wronged in his sin with Bathsheba (23:39). Scripture does not airbrush the record; the memory stands as both a warning and a testimony to the mercy that forgave even this. Let the group sit with that sober grace.
- This is a personal-application question. David's deepest assurance was God's covenant, not his own faithfulness. Invite members to examine honestly where their ultimate hope rests and to anchor it in God's promises secured in Christ. As leader, offer comfort that our standing depends on his sure covenant, not our flawed record.