1 Un šie ir Dāvida pēdējie vārdi - Dāvida, Isaja dēla, vārdi. Tā teica tas vīrs, kas bija ticis diženi paaugstināts, Jēkaba Dieva svaidītais, Israēla dziesminieks: 2 "Tā Kunga Gars runā ar manu muti, un Viņa vārds ir uz manas mēles. 3 Israēla Dievs ir pats runājis ar mani, Israēla klints man ir sacījusi: pār cilvēkiem valda taisnīgi tas, kas valda Dieva bijībā,- 4 Viņš ir kā rīta gaisma, kā rīta saule, kas atspīd skaidrā rītā, kad pēc lietus zaļā zelmeņa asni dīgst no zemes. 5 Vai tāds pats nav mans nams kopā ar Dievu? Dievs pats taču ir slēdzis ar mani mūžīgu derību, kas ir pilnīga un droša visās lietās; jo visai manai glābšanai un visām manām cerībām - vai Viņš neliks tām plaukt? 6 Bet ļaundari ir kā ērkšķi, ko nomet, jo tos neviens nevar rokā saturēt, 7 un ikviens, kas tiem pieskaras, lai pienācīgi apbruņojas ar dzelzi un lai rīkojas veikli ar šķēpa kātu un tos sadedzina ar uguni tanī vietā, kur tie auguši!" 8 Šie ir to varonīgo vīru vārdi, kas bijuši Dāvidam. Jošeb-Bašebets, tahkemonietis, trijotnes galvenais, visizcilākais, kas, savu šķēpu pacēlis, vienā reizē nodūra astoņi simti ienaidnieku. 9 Un pēc viņa trijotnē nākamais bija Ēleāzars, Dodo dēls, Ahohija dēladēls, viņš bija kopā ar Dāvidu, un tie sakāva filistiešus toreiz, kad viņi bija sapulcējušies karam un israēlieši jau atkāpās; 10 viņš cēlās un kāva filistiešus, kamēr viņa roka piekusa un pielipa pie zobena. Un Tas Kungs deva tanī dienā lielu uzvaru; un tie ļaudis atkal atgriezās, lai nogalinātos aplaupītu. 11 Nākošais pēc viņa bija Šamma, hararieša Ages dēls. Kādreiz filistieši bija sapulcējušies pie Lehijas, un tur kādā tīrumā auga daudz lēcu; kad tauta bēga no filistiešiem, 12 tad viņš viens pats stājās tīruma vidū, noturējās tanī un kāva filistiešus, un Tas Kungs viņam deva lielu uzvaru. 13 Reiz šie trīs no trīsdesmit vadoņiem ieradās pļaujas laikā pie Dāvida Adullāmas alā, un tanī pašā laikā filistiešu pulki bija uzcēluši savas teltis Refaima līdzenumā. 14 Dāvids tolaik atradās kalnos nocietinātā vietā, bet filistiešu karavīri bija novietoti Bētlemē. 15 Un Dāvidam bija ienākusi prātā pārgalvīga doma, un viņš sacīja: "Kas man atnesīs ūdeni no tās akas, kura atrodas Bētlemē pie pilsētas vārtiem?" 16 Tad šie trīs varonīgie vīri izlauzās cauri filistiešu nometnei, pasmēla ūdeni no akas Bētlemē pie vārtiem un atnesa to Dāvidam. Bet viņš to negribēja dzert un izlēja kā dzeramo upuri Tam Kungam. 17 Un viņš teica: "Lai Tas Kungs mani pasargā, ka es tā kaut ko darītu! Vai tad tās nav to vīru asinis, kuri bija nogājuši, savu dzīvību netaupīdami?" Un viņš to negribēja dzert. Tādus darbus šie trīs varonīgie vīri bija darījuši. 18 Bet Abišajs, Joāba brālis, Cerujas dēls, bija galvenais tiem trīsdesmit vīriem; viņš savu šķēpu vicināja pār trīs simti vīriem un tos nokāva, un viņam bija vārds starp tiem trīsdesmit. 19 Starp tiem trīsdesmit viņš bija visaugstākais, un tāpēc viņš kļuva tiem par virsnieku; tomēr tiem trim viņš līdzināties nespēja. 20 Benaja, Jojadas dēls, drosmīgs vīrs, kas lielus darbus darījis, bija no Kabceēlas; viņš nogalināja abus Ariēla dēlus, Moāba varoņus; viņš reiz devās alā un nokāva lauvu kādā dienā, kad sniegs bija uzkritis. 21 Viņš arī nogalināja milzīga auguma ēģiptieti, un šī ēģiptieša rokā bija šķēps; bet viņš pie tā gāja ar nūju, izsita šķēpu no ēģiptieša rokas un to nodūra ar viņa paša šķēpu. 22 To visu izdarīja Benaja, Jojadas dēls, un viņam bija vārds starp tiem trīsdesmit varonīgajiem vīriem. 23 Viņš bija augsti cienīts no visiem trīsdesmit, bet tiem trim viņš līdzināties nespēja. Un Dāvids viņu nolika savas miesassardzes priekšgalā. 24 Arī Asahēls, Joāba brālis, bija starp šiem trīsdesmit un Ēlhanans, Dodo dēls, no Bētlemes; 25 Šamma no Harodas; Elika no Harodas; 26 Halecs, Paltija dēls; Īra, Ikeša dēls, no Tekojas; 27 Abiēzers no Anatotas; Mebunajs no Hušas; 28 Salmons, Aho dēls; Marajs no Netofas; 29 Halebs, Baānas dēls, no Netofas; Itajs, Ribaja dēls, no Gibeas Benjamīna ciltī; 30 Benaja no Piratonas; Hidajs no Gaāšas upju novadiem; 31 Abialbons no Arabas tuksneša; Asmavets no Bahurimas; 32 Eljaba no Šaālbonas; arī gunietis Jāzens; 33 Jonatāns, Šammas dēls, no Harāras; Ahiāms, Šarara dēls, no Harāras; 34 Ēlifelets, Ahasebaja dēls, no Bet-Maāhas; Ēliāms, Ahitofela dēls, no Gilonas; 35 Hecrajs no Karmela; Paārajs no Arbas; 36 Īgals, Nātāna dēls, no Cobas; Banijs no Gadas; 37 amonietis Celeks; Naharajs no Beērotas, Joāba, Cerujas dēla, ieroču nesējs; 38 Īra no Tatīras; Garebs no Tatīras; 39 un hetietis Ūrija, pavisam kopā trīsdesmit septiņi vīri.
David's Last Words
1 David son of Jesse was the man whom God made great, whom the God of Jacob chose to be king, and who was the composer of beautiful songs for Israel. These are David's last words:
2 The spirit of the Lord speaks through me;
his message is on my lips.
3 The God of Israel has spoken;
the protector of Israel said to me:
“The king who rules with justice,
who rules in obedience to God,
4 is like the sun shining on a cloudless dawn,
the sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain.”
5 And that is how God will bless my descendants,
because he has made an eternal covenant with me,
an agreement that will not be broken,
a promise that will not be changed.
That is all I desire;
that will be my victory,
and God will surely bring it about.
6 But godless people are like thorns that are thrown away;
no one can touch them barehanded.
7 You must use an iron tool or a spear;
they will be burned completely.
David's Famous Soldiers
(1 Chronicles 11.10-41)8 These are the names of David's famous soldiers: the first was Josheb Basshebeth from Tachemon, who was the leader of “The Three”; he fought with his spear against eight hundred men and killed them all in one battle.
9 The second of the famous three was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. One day he and David challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites fell back, 10 but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so cramped that he could not let go of his sword. The Lord won a great victory that day. After it was over, the Israelites returned to where Eleazar was and stripped the armor from the dead.
11 The third of the famous three was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of peas. The Israelites fled from the Philistines, 12 but Shammah stood his ground in the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. The Lord won a great victory that day.
13 Near the beginning of harvest time three of “The Thirty” went down to Adullam Cave, where David was, while a band of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley. 14 At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem. 15 David grew homesick and said, “How I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!” 16 The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp, drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out as an offering to the Lord 17 and said, “Lord, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!” So he refused to drink it.
Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.
18 Joab's brother Abishai (their mother was Zeruiah) was the leader of “The Famous Thirty.” He fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and became famous among “The Thirty.” 19 He was the most famous of “The Thirty” and became their leader, but he was not as famous as “The Three.”
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was another famous soldier; he did many brave deeds, including killing two great Moabite warriors. He once went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man who was armed with a spear. Benaiah attacked him with his club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with it. 22 Those were the brave deeds of Benaiah, who was one of “The Thirty.” 23 He was outstanding among them, but was not as famous as “The Three.” David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24-39 Other members of “The Thirty” included:
Asahel, Joab's brother
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem
Shammah and Elika from Harod
Helez from Pelet
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa
Abiezer from Anathoth
Mebunnai from Hushah
Zalmon from Ahoh
Maharai from Netophah
Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin
Benaiah from Pirathon
Hiddai from the valleys near Gaash
Abialbon from Arabah
Azmaveth from Bahurim
Eliahba from Shaalbon
The sons of Jashen
Jonathan
Shammah from Harar
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Gilo
Hezro from Carmel
Paarai from Arab
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah
Bani from Gad
Zelek from Ammon
Naharai from Beeroth, Joab's armorbearer
Ira and Gareb from Jattir
Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven famous soldiers in all.
