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2 Samuel 23

39 verses

TL;DR

David delivers his final speech, praising God and listing the loyal warriors who served him, highlighting their heroic deeds.

Summary

In the opening verses, David proclaims that the Spirit of the LORD spoke through him, extolling God's righteousness and covenant. He then names the most mighty men of his army, describing their fearsome victories over the Philistines and other enemies. The passage details specific feats of individuals such as Adino, Eleazar, Shammah, Abishai, and Benaiah, emphasizing their bravery and divine assistance. David recounts an episode at the cave of Adullam where three heroes fetch water from Bethlehem, which he offers to the Lord instead of drinking. Finally, a comprehensive list of thirty-seven warriors—many named for their tribal or familial affiliation—is presented, underscoring their unwavering loyalty and the honor they earned.

Outline
  1. David’s divine proclamation and praise of God’s covenant
  2. Enumeration of David’s chief warriors and their valorous deeds
  3. Specific heroic actions (e.g., water-fetching, battles)
  4. Complete roster of thirty‑seven loyal men
Themes
Divine inspiration and covenantHeroic loyalty and military valorHonoring God through sacrifice and service
Keywords
DavidMighty MenValhallaSpirit of the LORDCovenantPhilistinesBethlehemAdullamHeroic Deeds
People
DavidJesseJoabZeruiahAbishaiBenaiahAsahelElhananShammahTachmoniteAdino the EzniteEleazar the son of Dodo the AhohiteIra the son of Ikkesh the TekoiteAhiam the son of Sharar the HarariteEliphelet the son of AhasbaiEliam the son of Ahithophel the GiloniteHezrai the CarmelitePaarai the ArbiteIgal the son of Nathan of ZobahBani the GaditeZelek the AmmoniteNahari the BeerothiteIra an IthriteGareb an IthriteUriah the HittiteJonathanAbiezer the AnethothiteMebunnai the HushathiteZalmon the AhohiteMaharai the NetophathiteHeleb the son of BaanahIttai the son of RibaiBenaiah the PirathoniteHiddai of the brooks of GaashAbialbon the ArbathiteAzmaveth the BarhumiteEliahba the ShaalboniteShammah the HaroditeElika the HaroditeHelez the PaltiteAgee the HarariteDodo the AhohiteZeruiahJashenGideonPillarMoses
Places
AdullamBethlehemValley of RephaimGibeahthe gatethe cave of AdullamRephaimbrooks of Gaashthe valley of Rephaim
Things
Spirit of the LORDspearironstaff of a spearfirewell of BethlehemwaterlionEgyptian speararmorpits
Key Verses
  • 2 Samuel 23:1: David’s final words and the declaration that the Spirit of the LORD spoke through him
  • 2 Samuel 23:8: First listing of David’s mighty men, establishing the theme of heroic loyalty
  • 2 Samuel 23:20: Detailed account of Benaiah’s extraordinary deeds against lions and an Egyptian
  • 2 Samuel 23:33: Summarizes the comprehensive roster of thirty‑seven loyal warriors
Questions
  • What does David’s use of the phrase ‘the Spirit of the LORD spake by me’ suggest about his relationship with God?
  • How do the listed acts of the mighty men illustrate the concept of divine favor in the text?
  • Why might David refuse to drink the water he brought from Bethlehem?
  • What can we infer about David’s leadership style from the way he praises and names his warriors?
  • How does the narrative in this chapter reflect the political and military realities of Israel during David’s reign?
Sentiment

positive
The passage celebrates divine inspiration, heroic loyalty, and victorious military deeds.