וְאֵ֛לֶּה דִּבְרֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד הָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים נְאֻ֧ם דָּוִ֣ד בֶּן־יִשַׁ֗י וּנְאֻ֤ם הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ הֻ֣קַם עָ֔ל מְשִׁ֙יחַ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּנְעִ֖ים זְמִר֥וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ These are the last words of David:
aMeaning of much of this poem (vv. 1–7) uncertain. The utterance of David son of Jesse,
The utterance of the man set on high,bset on high 4QSamᵃ reads “God raised up.”
The anointed of the God of Jacob,
The favorite of the songs of Israel:cThe favorite of the songs of Israel Or “The favorite of the Mighty One of Israel”; cf. Exod. 15.2. In contrast to others “The sweet singer of Israel.”
ר֥וּחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֶּר־בִּ֑י וּמִלָּת֖וֹ עַל־לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃ The spirit of GOD has spoken through me,
God’s message is on my tongue;
אָמַר֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִ֥י דִבֶּ֖ר צ֣וּר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מוֹשֵׁל֙ בָּאָדָ֔ם צַדִּ֕יק מוֹשֵׁ֖ל יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃ The God of Israel has spoken,
The Rock of Israel said concerning me:
“He who rules over people justly,
He who rules indin So many Heb. mss. Most mss. and the printed editions lack “in.” awe of God
וּכְא֥וֹר בֹּ֖קֶר יִזְרַח־שָׁ֑מֶשׁ בֹּ֚קֶר לֹ֣א עָב֔וֹת מִנֹּ֥גַהּ מִמָּטָ֖ר דֶּ֥שֶׁא מֵאָֽרֶץ׃ Is like the light of morning at sunrise,
A morning without clouds—
Through sunshine and rain
[Bringing]eThrough sunshine and rain / [Bringing] Meaning of Heb. uncertain. vegetation out of the earth.”
כִּי־לֹא־כֵ֥ן בֵּיתִ֖י עִם־אֵ֑ל כִּי֩ בְרִ֨ית עוֹלָ֜ם שָׂ֣ם לִ֗י עֲרוּכָ֤ה בַכֹּל֙ וּשְׁמֻרָ֔ה כִּי־כׇל־יִשְׁעִ֥י וְכׇל־חֵ֖פֶץ כִּי־לֹ֥א יַצְמִֽיחַ׃ Is not my House established before God?
For I have been granted an eternal pact,
Drawn up in full and secured.
Will [God] not cause all my success
And [my] every desire to blossom?
וּבְלִיַּ֕עַל כְּק֥וֹץ מֻנָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֑הַם כִּי־לֹ֥א בְיָ֖ד יִקָּֽחוּ׃ But the wicked shall all
Be raked aside like thorns;
For no one will take them in his hand.
וְאִישׁ֙ יִגַּ֣ע בָּהֶ֔ם יִמָּלֵ֥א בַרְזֶ֖ל וְעֵ֣ץ חֲנִ֑ית וּבָאֵ֕שׁ שָׂר֥וֹף יִשָּׂרְפ֖וּ בַּשָּֽׁבֶת׃ {פ}
Whoever touches them
Must arm himself with iron
And the shaft of a spear;
And they must be burned up on the spot.
אֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת הַגִּבֹּרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֑ד יֹשֵׁ֨ב בַּשֶּׁ֜בֶת תַּחְכְּמֹנִ֣י ׀ רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׁלִשִׁ֗י ה֚וּא עֲדִינ֣וֹ (העצנו) [הָֽעֶצְנִ֔י] עַל־שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֛וֹת חָלָ֖ל בְּפַ֥עַם (אחד) [אֶחָֽת]׃ {ס} These are the namesfA number of these names, with variations, are found in 1 Chron. 11 and 27. of David’s warriors: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, the chief officer—he is Adino the Eznite; [he wielded his spear]g[he wielded his spear] Preserved in 1 Chron. 11.11; similarly some Septuagint mss. of 2 Sam. against eight hundred and slew themhand slew them Lit. “slain.” on one occasion.
וְאַחֲרָ֛ו אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּן־[דֹּד֖וֹ] (דדי) בֶּן־אֲחֹחִ֑י בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה (גברים) [הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים] עִם־דָּוִ֗ד בְּחָרְפָ֤ם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ נֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodo son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines gathered there for battle. Israel’s force retreated,
ה֣וּא קָם֩ וַיַּ֨ךְ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים עַ֣ד ׀ כִּֽי־יָגְעָ֣ה יָד֗וֹ וַתִּדְבַּ֤ק יָדוֹ֙ אֶל־הַחֶ֔רֶב וַיַּ֧עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֛ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וְהָעָ֛ם יָשֻׁ֥בוּ אַחֲרָ֖יו אַךְ־לְפַשֵּֽׁט׃ {ס} but he held his ground. He struck down Philistines until his arm grew tired and his hand stuck to his sword; and GOD wrought a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him—but only to strip [the slain].
וְאַחֲרָ֛יו שַׁמָּ֥ה בֶן־אָגֵ֖א הָרָרִ֑י וַיֵּאָסְפ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לַחַיָּ֗ה וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֞ם חֶלְקַ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ מְלֵאָ֣ה עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וְהָעָ֥ם נָ֖ס מִפְּנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ Next to him was Shammah son of Age the Ararite. The Philistines had gathered in forceiin force Meaning of Heb. uncertain. where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the troops fled from the Philistines.
וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֤ב בְּתוֹךְ־הַחֶלְקָה֙ וַיַּצִּילֶ֔הָ וַיַּ֖ךְ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֖ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃ {ס} But [Shammah] took his stand in the middle of the plot and defended it, and he routed the Philistines. Thus GOD wrought a great victory.
וַיֵּרְד֨וּ (שלשים) [שְׁלֹשָׁ֜ה] מֵהַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים רֹ֗אשׁ וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ אֶל־קָצִיר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת עֲדֻלָּ֑ם וְחַיַּ֣ת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֹנָ֖ה בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃ Once, during the harvest,jOnce, during the harvest Meaning of Heb. uncertain. three of the thirty chiefs went down to David at the cavekcave See note at 1 Sam. 22.1. of Adullam, while a force of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
וְדָוִ֖ד אָ֣ז בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה וּמַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָ֖ז בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃ David was then in the stronghold,lthe stronghold See note at 1 Sam. 22.1. and a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
וַיִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה דָוִ֖ד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבֹּ֥אר בֵּֽית־לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃ {ס} David felt a craving and said, “If only I could get a drink of water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem!”
וַיִּבְקְעוּ֩ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֙יִם֙ מִבֹּ֤אר בֵּֽית־לֶ֙חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹ֤א אָבָה֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיַּסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַיהֹוָֽה׃ So the three warriors got through the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem, and they carried it back. But when they brought it to David he would not drink it, and he poured it out as a libation to GOD.
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִ֩ילָה֩ לִּ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה מֵעֲשֹׂ֣תִי זֹ֗את הֲדַ֤ם הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃ {ס} For he said, “GOD forbid that I should do this! Can [I drink]m[I drink] So Septuagint and 1 Chron. 11.19. the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
וַאֲבִישַׁ֞י אֲחִ֣י ׀ יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֗ה ה֚וּא רֹ֣אשׁ (השלשי) [הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֔ה] וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בַּשְּׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ Abishai, the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah, was head of another three.nanother three Two Heb. mss. and Syriac read “the thirty”; cf. vv. 23–24. He once wielded his spear against three hundred and slew them.oand slew them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה֙ הֲכִ֣י נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וְעַד־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָֽא׃ {ס} He won a name among the three;pthree Emendation yields “thirty.” since he was the most highly regarded among the three,qthree See previous note. he became their leader. However, he did not attain to the three.
וּבְנָיָ֨הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־[חַ֛יִל] (חי) רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽקַּבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠ה֠וּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־[הָאֲרִ֛י] (האריה) בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבֹּ֖אר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃ Benaiah son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel, was a brave soldierra brave soldier Heb. “the son of a brave soldier.” who performed great deeds. He killed the two [sons] of Ariel of Moab.sHe killed the two [sons] of Ariel of Moab Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Once, on a snowy day, he went down into a pit and killed a lion.
וְהֽוּא־הִכָּה֩ אֶת־אִ֨ישׁ מִצְרִ֜י (אשר) [אִ֣ישׁ] מַרְאֶ֗ה וּבְיַ֤ד הַמִּצְרִי֙ חֲנִ֔ית וַיֵּ֥רֶד אֵלָ֖יו בַּשָּׁ֑בֶט וַיִּגְזֹ֤ל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ מִיַּ֣ד הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃ He also killed an Egyptian,tan Egyptian Or “an Egyptian opponent.” a hugeuhuge Meaning of Heb. uncertain. 1 Chron. 11.23 reads “a giant of a man.” man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, yet [Benaiah] went down against him with a club, wrenched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
אֵ֣לֶּה עָשָׂ֔ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃ Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; and he won a name among the threevthree See first note at v. 19. warriors.
מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים נִכְבָּ֔ד וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖ד אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃ {ס} He was highly regarded among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.wbodyguard Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
עֲשָׂהאֵ֥ל אֲחִֽי־יוֹאָ֖ב בַּשְּׁלֹשִׁ֑ים אֶלְחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־דֹּד֖וֹ בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃ {ס} Among the thirty were Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo [from] Bethlehem,
שַׁמָּה֙ הַחֲרֹדִ֔י {ס} אֱלִיקָ֖א הַחֲרֹדִֽי׃ {ס} Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
חֶ֚לֶץ הַפַּלְטִ֔י {ס} עִירָ֥א בֶן־עִקֵּ֖שׁ {ס} הַתְּקוֹעִֽי׃ {ס} Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
אֲבִיעֶ֙זֶר֙ הָעַנְּתֹתִ֔י {ס} מְבֻנַּ֖י הַחֻשָׁתִֽי׃ {ס} Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
צַלְמוֹן֙ הָאֲחֹחִ֔י {ס} מַהְרַ֖י הַנְּטֹפָתִֽי׃ {ס} Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
חֵ֥לֶב בֶּֽן־בַּעֲנָ֖ה הַנְּטֹפָתִ֑י {ס} אִתַּי֙ בֶּן־רִיבַ֔י מִגִּבְעַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִֽן׃ {ס} Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ פִּרְעָ֣תֹנִ֔י {ס} הִדַּ֖י מִנַּ֥חֲלֵי גָֽעַשׁ׃ {ס} Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of Nahale-gaash,
אֲבִֽי־עַלְבוֹן֙ הָעַרְבָתִ֔י {ס} עַזְמָ֖וֶת הַבַּרְחֻמִֽי׃ {ס} Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
אֶלְיַחְבָּא֙ הַשַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔י {ס} בְּנֵ֥י יָשֵׁ֖ן יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ {ס} Eliahba of Shaalbon, sons of Jashen, Jonathan,xJashen, Jonathan Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
שַׁמָּה֙ הַהֲרָרִ֔י {ס} אֲחִיאָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁרָ֖ר הָארָרִֽי׃ {ס} Shammah the Ararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Ararite,
אֱלִיפֶ֥לֶט בֶּן־אֲחַסְבַּ֖י בֶּן־הַמַּעֲכָתִ֑י {ס} אֱלִיעָ֥ם בֶּן־אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל הַגִּלֹנִֽי׃ {ס} Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
(חצרו) [חֶצְרַי֙] הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֔י {ס} פַּעֲרַ֖י הָאַרְבִּֽי׃ {ס} Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
יִגְאָ֤ל בֶּן־נָתָן֙ מִצֹּבָ֔ה {ס} בָּנִ֖י הַגָּדִֽי׃ {ס} Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
צֶ֖לֶק הָעַמֹּנִ֑י {ס} נַחְרַי֙ הַבְּאֵ֣רֹתִ֔י (נשאי) [נֹשֵׂ֕א] כְּלֵ֖י יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרֻיָֽה׃ {ס} Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite—the arms-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah—
עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י {ס} גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ {ס} Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַחִתִּ֔י כֹּ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ {פ}
Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.ythirty-seven in all Septuagint and 1 Chron. 11 differ from the foregoing lists in vv. 8–38, and from each other in the number and forms of the names.