1 Here are David's last words. He said, "I am David, the son of Jesse. God has given me a message. The Most High God has greatly honored me. The God of Jacob anointed me as king. I am Israel's singer of songs.
2 "The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me. I spoke his word with my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me, 'A king must rule over people in a way that is right. He must have respect for me when he rules.
4 Then he will be like the light of morning at sunrise when there aren't any clouds. He will be like the bright sun after rain that makes the grass grow on the earth.'
5 "Isn't my royal family right with God? Hasn't he made a covenant with me that will last forever? Every part of it was well prepared and made secure. Won't he save me completely? Won't he give me everything I long for?
6 But evil people are like thorns that are thrown away. You can't pick them up with your hands.
7 Even if you touch them, you must use an iron tool or a spear. Thorns are burned up right where they are."
8 Here are the names of David's mighty men. Josheb-Basshebeth was chief of the Three. He was a Tahkemonite. He used his spear against 800 men. He killed all of them at one time.
9 Next to him was Eleazar. He was one of the three mighty men. He was the son of Dodai, the Ahohite. Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim. That's where Israel's army made fun of the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. Then the men of Israel pulled back.
10 But Eleazar stayed right where he was. He struck the Philistines down until his hand grew tired. But he still held on to his sword. The Lord helped him win a great battle that day. The troops returned to Eleazar. They came back to him only to take what they wanted from the dead bodies.
11 Next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee. Shammah was a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at a place where there was a field full of lentils. Israel's troops ran away from them.
12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He didn't let the Philistines capture it. He struck them down. The Lord helped him win a great battle.
13 David was at the cave of Adullam. During harvest time, three of the 30 chief men came down to him there. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14 At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem.
15 David longed for water. He said, "I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well that is near the gate of Bethlehem."
16 So the three mighty men fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well that was near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.
17 "Lord, I would never drink that water!" David said. "It stands for the blood of these men. They put their lives in danger by going to Bethlehem to get it." So David wouldn't drink it. Those were some of the brave things the three mighty men did.
18 Abishai was chief over the Three. He was the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the Three were.
19 In fact, he was even more honored than the Three. He became their commander. But he wasn't included among them.
20 Benaiah was a great hero from Kabzeel. He was the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah did many brave things. He struck down two of Moab's best fighting men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day. He killed a lion there.
21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. The Egyptian was holding a spear. Benaiah went out to fight against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand. Then he killed him with it.
22 Those were some of the brave things Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did. He too was as famous as the three mighty men were.
23 He was honored more than any of the Thirty. But he wasn't included among the Three. David put him in charge of his own personal guards.
24 Here is a list of David's men who were among the Thirty. Asahel, the brother of Joab Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem
25 Shammah, the Harodite Elika, the Harodite
26 Helez, the Paltite Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa
27 Abiezer from Anathoth Mebunnai, the Hushathite
28 Zalmon, the Ahohite Maharai from Netophah
29 Heled, the son of Baanah, from Netophah Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah in Benjamin
30 Benaiah from Pirathon Hiddai from the valleys of Gaash
31 Abi-Albon, the Arbathite Azmaveth, the Barhumite
32 Eliahba, the Shaalbonite the sons of Jashen Jonathan,
33 the son of Shammah, the Hararite Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite
34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the Maacathite Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Giloh
35 Hezro from Carmel Paarai, the Arbite
36 Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah the son of Hagri
37 Zelek from Ammon Naharai from Beeroth, who carried the armor of Joab, the son of Zeruiah
38 Ira, the Ithrite Gareb, the Ithrite