2Samuel 23
23These are the last words of David: "David, the son of Jesse, speaks—David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.H314H1697H1732H1732H1121H3448H5002H1397H6965H5920H4899H430H3290H5273H2158H3478H50022"The Spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue.H7307H3068H1696H4405H39563The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: 'The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,H430H3478H559H6697H3478H1696H4910H120H6662H4910H3374H4304is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.'H216H1242H8121H2224H1242H3808H5645H1877H776H5051H43065"Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.H1004H410H7760H5769H1285H6186H8104H3468H2656H67796But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them.H1100H6975H5074H3947H30277One must use iron tools to chop them down; they will be totally consumed by fire."H376H5060H4390H1270H6086H2595H8313H8313H784H76758These are the names of David's mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David's men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.H8034H1368H1732H8461H3427H7675H3429H7218H7991H5722H6112H8083H3967H2491H259H64719Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled.H310H499H1121H1734H266H7969H1368H1732H2778H6430H622H4421H376H3478H592710He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!H6965H5221H6430H3588H3027H3021H3027H1692H2719H3068H6213H1419H8668H3117H5971H7725H310H658411Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled,H310H8048H1121H89H2043H6430H622H2416H2513H7704H4392H5742H5971H5127H6440H643012but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.H3320H8432H2513H5337H5221H6430H3068H6213H1419H866813Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David's fighting men) went down to meet him there.H7969H7970H7970H7218H3381H935H1732H7105H4631H5725H2416H6430H2583H6010H749714David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.H1732H4686H4673H6430H103515David remarked longingly to his men, "Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem."H1732H183H559H8248H4325H953H1035H817916So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD.H7969H1368H1234H4264H6430H7579H4325H953H1035H8179H5375H935H1732H14H8354H5258H306817"The LORD forbid that I should drink this!" he exclaimed. "This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me." So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.H559H2486H3068H6213H1818H582H1980H5315H14H8354H6213H7969H136818Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.H52H251H3097H1121H6870H7218H7992H5782H2595H7969H3967H2491H8034H796919Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.H3513H7969H8269H935H796920There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.H1141H1121H3077H1121H2428H376H381H6909H7227H6467H5221H8147H739H4124H3381H5221H738H8432H953H3117H795021Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with it.H2026H4713H4758H376H4713H2595H3027H3381H7626H1497H2595H4713H3027H5221H259522Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.H6213H1141H1121H3077H8034H7969H136823He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.H3513H7970H935H7969H1732H7760H492824Other members of the Thirty included: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;H6214H251H3097H7970H445H1121H1734H103525Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod;H8048H2733H470H273326Helez from Pelon; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;H2503H6407H5896H1121H6142H862127Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah;H44H6069H4012H284328Zalmon from Ahoah; Maharai from Netophah;H6756H266H4121H520029Heled son of Baanah from Netophah; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);H2460H1121H1196H5200H863H1121H7380H1390H1121H114430Benaiah from Pirathon; Hurai from Nahale-gaash;H1141H6553H1914H5158H160831Abi-albon from Arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim;H45H6164H5820H127332Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen; JonathanH455H8170H1121H3464H308333son of Shagee from Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;H8048H2043H279H1121H8325H204334Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;H467H1121H308H1121H4602H463H1121H302H152635Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Arba;H2695H3761H6474H70136Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani from Gad;H3008H1121H5416H6678H1137H142537Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth, Joab's armor bearer;H6768H5984H5171H886H5375H3627H3097H1121H687038Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;H5896H3505H1619H350539Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.H223H2850H7970H7651
2Samuel 24
24Once again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. "Go and count the people of Israel and Judah," the LORD told him.H3254H639H3068H2734H3478H5496H1732H559H3212H4487H3478H30632So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, "Take a census of all the tribes of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—so I may know how many people there are."H4428H559H3097H8269H2428H7751H7626H3478H1835H884H6485H5971H3045H4557H59713But Joab replied to the king, "May the LORD your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this?"H3097H559H4428H3068H430H3254H5971H1992H3967H6471H5869H113H4428H7200H113H4428H2654H16974But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel.H4428H1697H2388H3097H8269H2428H3097H8269H2428H3318H6440H4428H6485H5971H34785First they crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, south of the town in the valley, in the direction of Gad. Then they went on to Jazer,H5674H3383H2583H6177H3225H5892H8432H5158H1410H32706then to Gilead in the land of Tahtim-hodshi and to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon.H935H1568H776H8483H935H1842H5439H67217Then they came to the fortress of Tyre, and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went south to Judah as far as Beersheba.H935H4013H6865H5892H2340H3669H3318H5045H3063H8848Having gone through the entire land for nine months and twenty days, they returned to Jerusalem.H7751H776H935H3389H7097H8672H2320H6242H31179Joab reported the number of people to the king. There were 800,000 capable warriors in Israel who could handle a sword, and 500,000 in Judah.H3097H5414H4557H4662H5971H4428H3478H8083H3967H505H2428H376H381H8025H2719H376H3063H2568H3967H505H37610But after he had taken the census, David's conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing."H1732H3820H5221H310H5608H5971H1732H559H3068H2398H3966H6213H3068H5674H5771H5650H3966H552811The next morning the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, who was David's seer. This was the message.H1732H6965H1242H1697H3068H5030H1410H1732H2374H55912"Go and say to David, 'This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.'"H1980H559H1732H1696H3068H5190H7969H977H259H621313So Gad came to David and asked him, "Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me."H1410H935H1732H5046H559H7651H8141H7458H935H776H5127H7969H2320H6440H6862H7291H7969H3117H1698H776H3045H7200H1697H7725H797114"I'm in a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands."H1732H559H1410H3966H6887H5307H3027H3068H7356H7227H5307H3027H12015So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.H3068H5414H1698H3478H1242H6256H4150H4191H5971H1835H884H7657H505H37616But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the death angel, "Stop! That is enough!" At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.H4397H7971H3027H3389H7843H3068H5162H7451H559H4397H7843H5971H7227H7503H3027H4397H3068H1637H728H298317When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family."H1732H559H3068H7200H4397H5221H5971H559H2398H5753H6629H6213H3027H1H100418That day Gad came to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."H1410H935H3117H1732H559H5927H6965H4196H3068H1637H728H298319So David went up to do what the LORD had commanded him.H1732H1697H1410H5927H3068H668020When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.H728H8259H7200H4428H5650H5674H728H3318H7812H4428H639H77621"Why have you come, my lord the king?" Araunah asked. David replied, "I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the LORD there, so that he will stop the plague."H728H559H113H4428H935H5650H1732H559H7069H1637H1129H4196H3068H4046H6113H597122"Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish," Araunah said to David. "Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar.H728H559H1732H113H4428H3947H5927H2896H5869H7200H1241H5930H4173H3627H1241H608623I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the LORD your God accept your sacrifice."H728H4428H5414H4428H728H559H4428H3068H430H752124But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing." So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.H4428H559H728H7069H7069H4242H5927H5930H3068H430H2600H1732H7069H1637H1241H2572H8255H370125David built an altar there to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.H1732H1129H4196H3068H5927H5930H8002H3068H6279H776H4046H6113H3478
Dublin, OH
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