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.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואלה
42
דברי
216
דוד
14
האחרנים
314
נאם
91
דוד
14
בןישי
372
ונאם
97
הגבר
210
הקם
145
על
100
משיח
358
אלהי
46
יעקב
182
ונעים
176
זמרות
653
ישראל
541
II Samuel 23:2
Gematria: 1436
רוחיהוהדברביומלתועללשוני
The spirit of GOD has spoken through me,God’s message is on my tongue;
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
Word-by-Word Analysis
אמר
241
אלהי
46
ישראל
541
לי
40
דבר
206
צור
296
ישראל
541
מושל
376
באדם
47
צדיק
204
מושל
376
יראת
611
אלהים
86
II Samuel 23:4
Gematria: 3234
וכאורבקריזרחשמשבקרלאעבותמנגהממטרדשאמארץ
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.”
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 successAnd [my] every desire to blossom?
Word-by-Word Analysis
כילאכן
131
ביתי
422
עםאל
141
כי
30
ברית
612
עולם
146
שם
340
לי
40
ערוכה
301
בכל
52
ושמרה
551
כיכלישעי
470
וכלחפץ
234
כילא
61
יצמיח
158
II Samuel 23:6
Gematria: 754
ובליעלכקוץמנדכלהםכילאבידיקחו
But the wicked shall allBe raked aside like thorns;For no one will pick them up by hand.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ובליעל
148
כקוץ
216
מנד
94
כלהם
95
כילא
61
ביד
16
יקחו
124
II Samuel 23:7
Gematria: 3676
ואישיגעבהםימלאברזלועץחניתובאששרוףישרפובשבתפ
Whoever touches themMust be armed with ironAnd the shaft of a spear;And they must be burned up on the spot.
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.
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,
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].
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.
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וירדו
226
שלשים
680
שלשה
635
מהשלשים
725
ראש
501
ויבאו
25
אלקציר
431
אלדוד
45
אלמערת
741
עדלם
144
וחית
424
פלשתים
860
חנה
63
בעמק
212
רפאים
331
II Samuel 23:14
Gematria: 1671
ודודאזבמצודהומצבפלשתיםאזביתלחם
David was then in the stronghold,lthe stronghold See note at 1 Sam. 22.1. and a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ודוד
20
אז
8
במצודה
147
ומצב
138
פלשתים
860
אז
8
בית
412
לחם
78
II Samuel 23:15
Gematria: 3175
ויתאוהדודויאמרמיישקנימיםמבארביתלחםאשרבשערס
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!”
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.
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.
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואבישי
329
אחי
19
יואב
19
בןצרויה
363
הוא
12
ראש
501
השלשי
645
השלשה
640
והוא
18
עורר
476
אתחניתו
875
עלשלש
730
מאות
447
חלל
68
ולושם
382
בשלשה
637
II Samuel 23:19
Gematria: 2291
מןהשלשההכינכבדויהילהםלשרועדהשלשהלאבאס
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.
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.
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
והואהכה
48
אתאיש
712
מצרי
340
אשר
501
איש
311
מראה
246
וביד
22
המצרי
345
חנית
468
וירד
220
אליו
47
בשבט
313
ויגזל
56
אתהחנית
874
מיד
54
המצרי
345
ויהרגהו
235
בחניתו
476
II Samuel 23:22
Gematria: 1920
אלהעשהבניהובןיהוידעולושםבשלשההגברים
Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; and he won a name among the threevthree See first note at v. 19. warriors.
Word-by-Word Analysis
אלה
36
עשה
375
בניהו
73
בןיהוידע
157
ולושם
382
בשלשה
637
הגברים
260
II Samuel 23:23
Gematria: 2890
מןהשלשיםנכבדואלהשלשהלאבאוישמהודודאלמשמעתוס
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
מןהשלשים
775
נכבד
76
ואלהשלשה
677
לאבא
34
וישמהו
367
דוד
14
אלמשמעתוס
947
II Samuel 23:24
Gematria: 1881
עשהאלאחייואבבשלשיםאלחנןבןדדוביתלחםס
Among the thirty were Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo [from] Bethlehem,
Word-by-Word Analysis
עשהאל
406
אחייואב
38
בשלשים
682
אלחנן
139
בןדדו
66
בית
412
לחםס
138
II Samuel 23:25
Gematria: 1061
שמההחרדיסאליקאהחרדיס
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
שמה
345
החרדיסאליקא
429
החרדיס
287
II Samuel 23:26
Gematria: 1836
חלץהפלטיסעיראבןעקשסהתקועיס
Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
Word-by-Word Analysis
חלץ
128
הפלטיסעירא
475
בןעקשסהתקועיס
1233
II Samuel 23:27
Gematria: 2170
אביעזרהענתתיסמבניהחשתיס
Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
אביעזר
290
הענתתיסמבני
1097
החשתיס
783
II Samuel 23:28
Gematria: 1177
צלמוןהאחחיסמהריהנטפתיס
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
צלמון
216
האחחיסמהרי
347
הנטפתיס
614
II Samuel 23:29
Gematria: 2307
חלבבןבענההנטפתיסאתיבןריבימגבעתבניבנימןס
Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
Word-by-Word Analysis
חלב
40
בןבענה
179
הנטפתיסאתי
1025
בןריבי
274
מגבעת
515
בני
62
בנימןס
212
II Samuel 23:30
Gematria: 1533
בניהופרעתניסהדימנחליגעשס
Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of Nahale-gaash,
Word-by-Word Analysis
בניהו
73
פרעתניסהדי
889
מנחלי
138
געשס
433
II Samuel 23:31
Gematria: 1766
אביעלבוןהערבתיסעזמותהברחמיס
Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
אביעלבון
171
הערבתיסעזמות
1270
הברחמיס
325
II Samuel 23:32
Gematria: 1582
אליחבאהשעלבניסבניישןיהונתןס
Eliahba of Shaalbon, sons of Jashen, Jonathan,xJashen, Jonathan Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Word-by-Word Analysis
אליחבא
52
השעלבניסבני
589
ישן
360
יהונתןס
581
II Samuel 23:33
Gematria: 2113
שמהההרריסאחיאםבןשררהארריס
Shammah the Ararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Ararite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
שמה
345
ההרריסאחיאם
540
בןשרר
752
הארריס
476
II Samuel 23:34
Gematria: 1840
אליפלטבןאחסביבןהמעכתיסאליעםבןאחיתפלהגלניס
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
אליפלט
160
בןאחסבי
133
בןהמעכתיסאליעם
808
בןאחיתפל
581
הגלניס
158
II Samuel 23:35
Gematria: 1615
חצרוחצריהכרמליספעריהארביס
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
חצרו
304
חצרי
308
הכרמליספערי
725
הארביס
278
II Samuel 23:36
Gematria: 937
יגאלבןנתןמצבהסבניהגדיס
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
יגאל
44
בןנתן
552
מצבהסבני
259
הגדיס
82
II Samuel 23:37
Gematria: 2549
צלקהעמניסנחריהבארתינשאינשאכלייואבבןצריהס
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite—the arms-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah—
Word-by-Word Analysis
צלק
220
העמניסנחרי
503
הבארתי
618
נשאי
361
נשא
351
כלי
60
יואב
19
בןצריהס
417
II Samuel 23:38
Gematria: 1856
עיראהיתריסגרבהיתריס
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
Word-by-Word Analysis
עירא
281
היתריסגרב
890
היתריס
685
II Samuel 23:39
Gematria: 1838
אוריההחתיכלשלשיםושבעהפ
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.