The Last Words of David
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These are thelast words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High,
the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs:
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"The spirit of te LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
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The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me:
'When one rules over men in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God,
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he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'
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"Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting
covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition
my salvation amd grant me my every desire?
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But evil men are all to be cast aside loke thorns, which are not gathered
with the hand.
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Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the saft of a spear;
they are burned up where they lie."
David's Mighty Men
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These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshobeth,
a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against
eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
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Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three
mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines
gathered at Pas Dammim, for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated,
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but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand
grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great
victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
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Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines
banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils,
Israel's troops fled from them.
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But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field.
He defended it and struck the Philistines down,
and the LORD brought about a great victory.
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During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David
at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was ecamped
in the Valley of Rephaim.
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At that time David was in the stronghold,
and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
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David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone wuld get me a drink of water
from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
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So the three mighty men broke through the Philstine lines, drew water
from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David.
But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.
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"Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men
who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
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Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.
He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed,
and so he became as famous as the Three.
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Was he not held in great honor than the Three?
He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
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Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,
who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men.
He also wet down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
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And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear
in his hand. Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear
from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.
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Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada;
he too was as famous as the three mighty men.
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He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included
among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
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Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo
from Bethlehem,
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Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
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Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkes from Tekoa,
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Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai te Hushathite,
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Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
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Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
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Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash,
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Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
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Eliahaba the Shaalbonite the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
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son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
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Eliphelet son of Abishai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
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Hezro te Carmelite, Paarai te Arbite,
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Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,
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Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, te armor-bearer of Joan son of Zeruiah,
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Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite
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and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
