2 Samuel 23 in Hebrew, English & Transliteration

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Tenakh Study · 2 Samuel 23:1–39

2 Samuel, Chapter 23

שמואל ב כג

David’s last words: the Spirit of Hashem spoke by him of a just ruler who rules in the fear of God and rises like the morning sun, and of the everlasting covenant with his house. Then the roll of David’s mighty men — the first three, Avishai, Benayahu son of Yehoyada, and the thirty — including the three who brought David water from the well of Beit Lechem. The list ends with Uriyah the Chitti.

23:1Now these are the last words of David. The saying of David the son of Yishai (Jesse), and the saying of the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Ya’akov (Jacob), and the sweet singer of Israel:

Ve'eleh divrei David ha'aḥaronim ne'um David ben-Yishai une'um hagever hukam al meshiaḥ elohei Ya'akov une'im zemirot Yisra'el.

אוְאֵ֛לֶּה דִּבְרֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד הָאַֽחֲרֹנִ֑ים נְאֻ֧ם דָּוִ֣ד בֶּן־יִשַׁ֗י וּנְאֻ֚ם הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ הֻ֣קַם עָ֔ל מְשִׁ֙יחַ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וּנְעִ֖ים זְמִר֥וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

23:2“The Spirit of Hashem spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.

Ruaḥ Adonai diber-bi umilato al-leshoni.

בר֥וּחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֶּר־בִּ֑י וּמִלָּת֖וֹ עַל־לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃

23:3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘One who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

Amar elohei Yisra'el li diber tzur Yisra'el moshel ba'adam tzadik moshel yir'at Elohim.

גאָמַר֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִ֥י דִבֶּ֖ר צ֣וּר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מוֹשֵׁל֙ בָּאָדָ֔ם צַדִּ֕יק מוֹשֵׁ֖ל יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃

23:4And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth through clear shining after rain.’

Uḥe'or boker yizraḥ-shamesh boker lo avot minogah mimatar deshe me'aretz.

דוּכְא֥וֹר בֹּ֖קֶר יִזְרַח־שָׁ֑מֶשׁ בֹּ֚קֶר לֹ֣א עָב֔וֹת מִנֹּ֥גַהּ מִמָּטָ֖ר דֶּ֥שֶׁא מֵאָֽרֶץ׃

23:5For is not my house so with God? For He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure; for all my salvation and all my desire, will He not make it grow?

Ki-lo-ḥen beiti im-el ki verit olam sam li aruḥah vakol ushemurah ki-ḥol-yish'i veḥol-ḥefetz ki-lo yatzmiaḥ.

הכִּֽי־לֹא־כֵ֥ן בֵּיתִ֖י עִם־אֵ֑ל כִּי֩ בְרִ֨ית עוֹלָ֜ם שָֹ֣ם לִ֗י עֲרוּכָ֚ה בַכֹּל֙ וּשְׁמֻרָ֔ה כִּֽי־כָל־יִשְׁעִ֥י וְכָל־חֵ֖פֶץ כִּֽי־לֹ֥א יַצְמִֽיחַ׃

23:6But the worthless shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with the hand;

Uveliya'al kekotz munad kulaham ki-lo veyad yikaḥu.

ווּבְלִיַּ֕עַל כְּק֥וֹץ מֻנָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֑הַם כִּֽי־לֹ֥א בְיָ֖ד יִקָּֽחוּ׃

23:7but the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.”

Ve'ish yiga bahem yimale varzel ve'etz ḥanit uva'esh sarof yisarefu bashavet.

זוְאִישׁ֙ יִגַּ֣ע בָּהֶ֔ם יִמָּלֵ֥א בַרְזֶ֖ל וְעֵ֣ץ חֲנִ֑ית וּבָאֵ֕שׁ שָׂר֥וֹף יִשָּׂרְפ֖וּ בַּשָּֽׁבֶת׃

Commentary · 23:1–7

The last words of David

Rashi: “the last prophecy of David; and the first was the song” of chapter 22. Radak: the last of his songs, “for after this the holy spirit did not appear upon him.” The Targum calls them “the words of the prophecy of David, which he prophesied concerning the end of the world” and the consolation to come. “The man raised up on high” is, in the Talmud, the one “who raised up the yoke of repentance” (Moed Katan 16b, R. Shmuel bar Nachmani in R. Yonatan’s name). Hebrew lesson: ne’im zemirot Yisrael, “the sweet singer of Israel’s songs”: David’s last title is not king or warrior but singer.

“One who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God, and he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises.” Rabbi Abahu reads: “I rule over man; who rules over Me? The righteous, for I decree and he annuls” (Moed Katan 16b). The Targum says outright: “He would appoint for me a king, who is the Messiah, who is destined to arise and rule in the fear of Hashem,” and the kingdom is “kept for the world to come.” Ariel Cohen Alloro has taught us the Talmud’s “The Holy One will raise up for them another David” (Sanhedrin 98b, Rav Yehuda in Rav’s name, on Jeremiah 30:9). Messianic reading. “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord?” (Matthew 22:43). The morning light is “the Sun of righteousness… with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2), “the dayspring from on high” (Luke 1:78), and the sure covenant is “the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3), which Paul said were fulfilled when God raised Yeshua (Acts 13:34).

David’s mighty men

23:8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: the Tachkemoni (Tachmonite) who sat in the seat, chief of the captains; he was Adino the Etzni (Eznite), over eight hundred slain at one time.

Eleh shemot hagiborim asher leDavid yoshev bashevet Taḥkemoni rosh hashalishi hu Adino ha'Etzni al-shemoneh me'ot ḥalal befa'am eḥat.

חאֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת הַגִּבֹּרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֑ד ישֵׁ֨ב בַּשֶּׁ֜בֶת תַּחְכְּמֹנִ֣י ׀ רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׁלִשִׁ֗י ה֚וּא עֲדִינ֣וֹ הָֽעֶצְנִ֔י (כתיב הָֽעֶצְנִ֔ו) עַל־שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֛וֹת חָלָ֖ל בְּפַ֥עַם אֶחָֽת (כתיב אֶחָֽד)׃

23:9And after him was El’azar (Eleazar) the son of Dodo the son of an Achochi (Ahohite), one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Pelishtim (Philistines) who were gathered there to battle, and the men of Israel had gone up.

Ve'aḥarav El'azar ben-Dodo ben-Aḥoḥi bishloshah hagiborim im-David beḥarefam baPelishtim ne'esfu-sham lamilḥamah vaya'alu ish Yisra'el.

טוְאַחֲרָ֛יו (כתיב וְאַחֲרָ֛ו) אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּן־דֹּד֖וֹ (כתיב דֹּדֹ֖י) בֶּן־אֲחֹחִ֑י בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים (כתיב גִּבֹּרִ֜ים) עִם־דָּוִ֗ד בְּחָֽרְפָ֚ם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים נֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

23:10He arose, and struck the Pelishtim until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword; and Hashem brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

Hu kam vayaḥ baPelishtim ad ki-yage'ah yado vatidbak yado el-haḥerev vaya'as Adonai teshu'ah gedolah bayom hahu veha'am yashuvu aḥarav aḥ-lefashet.

יה֣וּא קָם֩ וַיַּ֨ךְ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים עַ֣ד ׀ כִּֽי־יָגְעָ֣ה יָד֗וֹ וַתִּדְבַּ֚ק יָדוֹ֙ אֶל־הַחֶ֔רֶב וַיַּ֧עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֛ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וְהָעָ֛ם יָשֻׁ֥בוּ אַחֲרָ֖יו אַךְ־לְפַשֵּֽׁט׃

23:11And after him was Shammah the son of Age the Harari (Hararite). And the Pelishtim were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Pelishtim.

Ve'aḥarav Shama ven-Age haHarari vaye'asefu Felishtim laḥayah vatehi-sham ḥelkat hasadeh mele'ah adashim veha'am nas mipenei Felishtim.

יאוְאַֽחֲרָ֛יו שַׁמָּ֥א בֶן־אָגֵ֖א הָרָרִ֑י וַיֵּאָֽסְפ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לַֽחַיָּ֗ה וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֞ם חֶלְקַ֚ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ מְלֵאָ֣ה עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וְהָעָ֥ם נָ֖ס מִפְּנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

23:12But he took his stand in the middle of the plot, and defended it, and struck the Pelishtim; and Hashem brought about a great victory.

Vayityatzev betoḥ-haḥelkah vayatzileha vayaḥ et-Pelishtim vaya'as Adonai teshu'ah gedolah.

יבוַיִּתְיַצֵּ֚ב בְּתוֹךְ־הַֽחֶלְקָה֙ וַיַּצִּילֶ֔הָ וַיַּ֖ךְ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֖ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃

Commentary · 23:8–12

The first three

The Talmud reads the first name as David himself. Rabbi Abahu: “These are the names of David’s mighty deeds.” Yoshev bashevet, “who sat in the seat,” is David sitting to teach Torah; Tachkemoni, Rav says, because Hashem told him, “Since you humbled yourself, be like Me (kamoni): I decree and you annul”; Adino ha’Etzni, because in Torah study he made himself soft as a worm, and in war hard as wood (etz). He felled eight hundred at once and sighed for two hundred more, until a heavenly voice said, “Only in the matter of Uriyah the Chitti” (Moed Katan 16b; Rashi on 23:8).

Then El’azar son of Dodo, whose hand “clung to the sword” after the people fled, and Shammah son of Age, who stood alone in a field of lentils. Twice the text says the same thing: “and Hashem brought about a great victory.” The mighty men were mighty because Hashem stood with them.

Water from Beit Lechem

23:13And three of the thirty chiefs went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Pelishtim was encamped in the valley of Refa’im (Rephaim).

Vayeredu sheloshah mehasheloshim rosh vayavo'u el-katzir el-David el-me'arat Adulam veḥayat Pelishtim ḥonah be'emek Refa'im.

יגוַיֵּרְד֨וּ שְׁלֹשָׁ֜ה (כתיב שְׁלשָׁ֜ים) מֵהַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים רֹ֗אשׁ וַיָּבֹ֚אוּ אֶל־קָצִיר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת עֲדֻלָּ֑ם וְחַיַּ֣ת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֹנָ֖ה בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃

23:14And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Pelishtim was then in Beit Lechem (Bethlehem).

VeDavid az bametzudah umatzav Pelishtim az Beit Laḥem.

ידוְדָוִ֖ד אָ֣ז בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה וּמַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָ֖ז בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

23:15And David longed, and said, “Oh that one would give me water to drink from the well of Beit Lechem, which is by the gate!”

Vayit'aveh David vayomar mi yashkeni mayim mibor Beit-Leḥem asher basha'ar.

טווַיִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה דָוִ֖ד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבּ֥וֹר (כתיב מִבֹּ֥אר) בֵּֽית־לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃

23:16And the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Pelishtim, and drew water out of the well of Beit Lechem, which was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but he would not drink it, but poured it out unto Hashem.

Vayivke'u sheloshet hagiborim bemaḥaneh Felishtim vayish'avu-mayim mibor Beit-Leḥem asher basha'ar vayis'u vayavi'u el-David velo avah lishtotam vayaseḥ otam la-Adonai.

טזוַיִּבְקְעוּ֩ שְׁל֨שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֙יִם֙ מִבּ֚וֹר (כתיב מִבֹּ֚אר) בֵּֽית־לֶ֙חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹ֚א אָבָה֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיַּסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

23:17And he said, “Far be it from me, O Hashem, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

Vayomer ḥalilah li Adonai me'ashoti zot hadam ha'anashim haholeḥim benafshotam velo avah lishtotam eleh asu sheloshet hagiborim.

יזוַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִילָה֩ לִּ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה מֵעֲשֹ֣תִי זֹ֗את הֲדַ֚ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשֹ֔וּ שְׁל֖שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃

Commentary · 23:13–17

Water from the well of Beit Lechem

The Philistines held Beit Lechem, and David, in the stronghold of Adullam, longed for the water of the well by his town’s gate. Three men broke through and brought it, and he would not drink: “Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Radak: drinking it “would be as though he drank their blood,” so he poured it on the ground for Hashem, since there was no altar there (Radak on 23:16). The Talmud reads the “water” as a question of law, and Radak calls that reading “very far from the plain sense” (Bava Kamma 60b–61a; Radak on 23:16).

Messianic reading. The king refused to drink what had cost other men their blood. The Son of David, born in that same Beit Lechem, drank the cup himself, “nevertheless not as I will” (Matthew 26:39), and gave his disciples a cup: “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). David poured out the water so that no one’s blood would be drunk; Yeshua poured out his blood so that all who thirst may drink: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37).

Avishai and Benayahu

23:18And Avishai (Abishai), the brother of Yo’av (Joab), the son of Tzeruyah (Zeruiah), was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had a name among the three.

Va'Avishai aḥi Yo'av ben-Tzeruyah hu rosh hasheloshah vehu orer et-ḥanito al-shelosh me'ot ḥalal velo-shem basheloshah.

יחוַאֲבִישַׁ֞י אֲחִ֣י ׀ יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֗ה ה֚וּא רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֔ה (כתיב הַשְּׁלשָׁ֔י) וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁל֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בַּשְּׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

23:19Was he not the most honored of the three? Therefore he became their captain; but he did not attain to the first three.

Min-hasheloshah haḥi niḥbad vayehi lahem lesar ve'ad-hasheloshah lo-va.

יטמִן־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה֙ הֲכִ֣י נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָֹ֑ר וְעַד־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָֽא׃

23:20And Benayahu (Benaiah) the son of Yehoyada (Jehoiada), the son of a valiant man of Kavtze’el (Kabzeel), who had done many deeds, he struck down the two lionlike men of Mo’av (Moab); he also went down and struck a lion in the middle of a pit on a day of snow.

UVenayahu ven-Yehoyada ben-ish-ḥayil rav-pe'alim miKavtze'el hu hikah et shenei ari'el Mo'av vehu yarad vehikah et-ha'ari betoḥ habor beyom hashaleg.

כוּבְנָיָ֨הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־חַ֛יִל (כתיב חַ֛יִ) רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽקַּבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֚י אֲרִאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠הוּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־הָאֲרִ֛י (כתיב הָאֲרִ֛יה) בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבֹּ֖אר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃

23:21And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great appearance; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

Vehu-hikah et-ish mitzri ish mar'eh uveyad hamitzri ḥanit vayered elav bashavet vayigzol et-haḥanit miyad hamitzri vayahargehu baḥanito.

כאוְהוּא־הִכָּה֩ אֶת־אִ֨ישׁ מִצְרִ֜י אִ֣ישׁ (כתיב אִ֣שׁר) מַרְאֶ֗ה וּבְיַ֚ד הַמִּצְרִי֙ חֲנִ֔ית וַיֵּ֥רֶד אֵלָ֖יו בַּשָּׁ֑בֶט וַיִּגְזֹ֚ל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ מִיַּ֣ד הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃

23:22These things did Benayahu the son of Yehoyada, and had a name among the three mighty men.

Eleh asah Benayahu ben-Yehoyada velo-shem bishloshah hagiborim.

כבאֵ֣לֶּה עָשָֹ֔ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃

23:23He was honored above the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his guard.

Min-hasheloshim niḥbad ve'el-hasheloshah lo-va vayesimehu David el-mishma'to.

כגמִן־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים נִכְבָּ֔ד וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖ד אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃

The thirty

23:24Asah’el (Asahel) the brother of Yo’av was one of the thirty; Elchanan (Elhanan) the son of Dodo of Beit Lechem,

Asah'el aḥi-Yo'av basheloshim Elḥanan ben-Dodo Beit Laḥem.

כדעֲשָׂהאֵ֥ל אֲחִֽי־יוֹאָ֖ב בַּשְּׁלֹשִׁ֑ים אֶלְחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־דֹּד֖וֹ בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

23:25Shammah the Charodi (Harodite), Elika the Charodi,

Shamah haḤarodi Elika haḤarodi.

כהשַׁמָּה֙ הַֽחֲרֹדִ֔י אֱלִיקָ֖א הַחֲרֹדִֽי׃

23:26Chelletz (Helez) the Palti (Paltite), Ira the son of Ikkesh the Teko’i (Tekoite),

Ḥeletz haPalti Ira ven-Ikesh haTeko'i.

כוחֶלֶץ הַפַּלְטִ֔י עִירָ֥א בֶן־עִקֵּ֖שׁ הַתְּקוֹעִֽי׃

23:27Avi’ezer (Abiezer) the Anetoti (Anethothite), Mevunnai (Mebunnai) the Chushati (Hushathite),

Avi'ezer ha'Anetoti Mevunai haḤushati.

כזאֲבִיעֶ֙זֶר֙ הָֽעַנְּתֹתִ֔י מְבֻנַּ֖י הַחֻשָׁתִֽי׃

23:28Tzalmon (Zalmon) the Achochi (Ahohite), Maharai the Netofati (Netophathite),

Tzalmon ha'Aḥoḥi Mahrai haNetofati.

כחצַלְמוֹן֙ הָֽאֲחֹחִ֔י מַהְרַ֖י הַנְּטֹפָתִֽי׃

23:29Chelev (Heleb) the son of Ba’anah (Baanah), the Netofati, Ittai the son of Rivai (Ribai) of Giv’ah (Gibeah) of the children of Binyamin (Benjamin),

Ḥelev ben-Ba'anah haNetofati Itai ben-Rivai miGiv'at benei Vinyamin.

כטחֵ֥לֶב בֶּֽן־בַּעֲנָ֖ה הַנְּטֹפָתִ֑י ס אִתַּי֙ בֶּן־רִיבַ֔י מִגִּבְעַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִֽן׃

23:30Benayahu a Pir’atoni (Pirathonite), Hiddai of the brooks of Ga’ash,

Benayahu Pir'atoni Hidai minaḥalei Ga'ash.

לבְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ פִּרְעָ֣תֹנִ֔י הִדַּ֖י מִנַּ֥חֲלֵי גָֽעַשׁ׃

23:31Avi-Alvon (Abi-albon) the Arvati (Arbathite), Azmavet (Azmaveth) the Barchumi (Barhumite),

Avi-Alvon ha'Arvati Azmavet haBarḥumi.

לאאֲבִֽי־עַלְבוֹן֙ הָֽעַרְבָתִ֔י עַזְמָ֖וֶת הַבַּרְחֻמִֽי׃

23:32Elyachba (Eliahba) the Sha’alvoni (Shaalbonite), the sons of Yashen (Jashen), Yehonatan (Jonathan),

Elyaḥba haSha'alvoni benei Yashen Yehonatan.

לבאֶלְיַחְבָּא֙ הַשַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔י בְּנֵ֥י יָשֵׁ֖ן יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃

23:33Shammah the Harari (Hararite), Achi’am (Ahiam) the son of Sharar the Arari (Hararite),

Shamah haHarari Aḥi'am ben-Sharar ha'Arari.

לגשַׁמָּה֙ הַֽהֲרָרִ֔י אֲחִיאָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁרָ֖ר הָאֲרָרִֽי׃

23:34Elifelet (Eliphelet) the son of Achasbai (Ahasbai), the son of the Ma’achati (Maachathite), Eli’am (Eliam) the son of Achitofel (Ahithophel) the Giloni (Gilonite),

Elifelet ben-Aḥasbai ben-haMa'aḥati Eli'am ben-Aḥitofel haGiloni.

לדאֱלִיפֶ֥לֶט בֶּן־אֲחַסְבַּ֖י בֶּן־הַמַּֽעֲכָתִ֑י אֱלִיעָ֥ם בֶּן־אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל הַגִּלֹנִֽי׃

23:35Chetzrai (Hezrai) the Karmeli (Carmelite), Pa’arai the Arbi (Arbite),

Ḥetzrai haKarmeli Pa'arai ha'Arbi.

להחֶצְרַי֙ (כתיב חֶצְרַו֙) הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֔י פַּעֲרַ֖י הָאַרְבִּֽי׃

23:36Yig’al (Igal) the son of Natan (Nathan) of Tzovah (Zobah), Bani the Gadi (Gadite),

Yig'al ben-Natan miTzovah Bani haGadi.

לויִגְאָ֚ל בֶּן־נָתָן֙ מִצֹּבָ֔ה בָּנִ֖י הַגָּדִֽי׃

23:37Tzelek (Zelek) the Ammoni (Ammonite), Nachrai (Naharai) the Be’eroti (Beerothite), armor-bearer to Yo’av the son of Tzeruyah,

Tzelek ha'Amoni Naḥrai haBe'eroti nose kelei Yo'av ben-Tzeruyah.

לזצֶ֖לֶק הָעַמֹּנִ֑י נַחְרַי֙ הַבְּאֵ֣רֹתִ֔י נֹשֵֹ֕א (כתיב נֹשֵֹ֕אי) כְּלֵ֖י יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָֽה׃

23:38Ira the Yitri (Ithrite), Garev (Gareb) the Yitri,

Ira haYitri Garev haYitri.

לחעִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃

23:39Uriyah (Uriah) the Chitti (Hittite): thirty-seven in all.

Uriyah haḤiti kol sheloshim veshiv'ah.

לטאֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י כֹּ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃

Commentary · 23:24–39

“Uriyah the Chitti: thirty-seven in all”

The thirty begin with Asah’el, killed by Avner long ago (2:23). Among them is “Eli’am the son of Achitofel the Giloni” (23:34), whom the Talmud joins to “Bat-Sheva, the daughter of Eli’am, the wife of Uriyah the Chitti” (11:3; Sanhedrin 69b). And the roll ends with Uriyah himself.

Our observation. No commentator we found remarks on it, but every reader feels it: the last word of David’s roll of honor is the name of the man David killed. Scripture does not let the king, or us, forget, and the heavenly voice in Moed Katan says the same: David’s record was perfect, “only in the matter of Uriyah the Chitti.” Uriyah is counted among the mighty men forever. Messianic reading. FFOZ calls the 144,000 of Revelation “the mighty men of King Messiah,” numbered like David’s men (End of Days, Lesson 49; Revelation 7:4–8). The Messiah’s roll is a book of life: “I will not blot out his name” (Revelation 3:5) — a roll of the forgiven, not of the faultless.

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), as published on Chabad.org. Every verse was checked character by character against Chabad’s Tenakh. Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the familiar English name in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Shaul (Saul)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible.
Transliteration: Produced from the Hebrew with the open-source hebrew-transliteration library, adapted to Sephardic/Israeli pronunciation and reviewed by hand: ḥ for Chet and Chaf, tz for Tzadi, k for Kuf, and the Divine Name read “Adonai.” Names are capitalized.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Metzudat David, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. It is shown by default; tap Commentary to hide it.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

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2 Samuel 23 (Shmuel Bet) in Hebrew, Transliteration and English

2 Samuel, Chapter 23

Sources & method