2 Samuel 23
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The complete Hebrew text of theBooks of Samuel (1 and 2 Samuel) in theLeningrad Codex (1008)
Book	Books of Samuel
Hebrew Bible part	Nevi'im
Order in the Hebrew part	3
Category	Former Prophets
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	10

2 Samuel 23 is the 23rdchapter in the second parts of theBooks of Samuel in theHebrew Bible (or the 23rd chapter of the "Second Book of Samuel" in theOld Testament of theChristianBible). It contains a prophetic statement described as the "last words ofDavid" (verses 1–7) and details of the 37 "mighty men" who were David's chief warriors (verses 8–39).^[1]

The original text of this chapter was written in theHebrew language.This chapter is divided into 39 verses.

Some ancient witnesses for the text of this chapter inHebrew are of theMasoretic Text, which includes theCodex Cairensis (895),Aleppo Codex (10th century),Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[2] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among theDead Sea Scrolls including 1Q7 (1QSam; 50 BCE) with extant verses 9–12^[3][4][5][6] and 4Q51 (4QSam^a; 100 ‑ 50 BCE) with extant verses 1–6, 14–16, 21–22, 38–39.^[3][4][7][8]

There is also a translation intoKoine Greek known as theSeptuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of theSeptuagint version includeCodex Vaticanus (B;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^B; 4th century),Codex Sinaiticus (S;BHK:${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^S; 4th century), andCodex Alexandrinus (A;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^A; 5th century).^[9]

TheJerusalem Bible states that last words were attributed to David in the style ofJacob (seeJacob's Blessing, Genesis 49) andMoses (seeBlessing of Moses, Deuteronomy 33). Its editors note that "the text has suffered considerably and reconstructions are conjectural".^[10]

1 Kings 2:1–9 contains David's final words toSolomon, his son and successor asking.

The last words of David do not consist of a blessing (or "benediction") to Israel (unlike the blessing of Jacob in Genesis 49 or the blessing of Moses in Deuteronomy 33), but David is portrayed as a prophet speaking a prophecy (oracle) similar to Moses in Deuteronomy 32–33.^[11]

Now these are the last words of David.

Thus says David the son of Jesse;

Thus says the man raised up on high,

The anointed of the God of Jacob,

And the sweet psalmist of Israel:^[12]

• "Anointed" (Biblical Hebrew:מְשִׁ֙יחַ֙;mashiach^[13]): "Messiah", a royal title that here refers toDavid, echoing2 Samuel 22:51.^[11]
• "Psalmist" (Hebrew:זְמִר֥וֹת;zəmirōṯ; from the root word:zamir, translated: "song"):^[13] can be rendered as "singer of songs", which refers to David;^[14] translated as the "Strong One" in NRSV which is interpreted as an epithet forYahweh.^[11]

The list of David's warriors consists of several sections.^[1] The first part is about 'the Three' (the term used inLXX andVulgate) with their names—Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah—and deeds (verses 8b–12, possibly until 17b).^[1] The second part is about the 'three of the thirty' (verses 13–17a) who were different from the first three, but also whose membership in the thirty is also uncertain, so probably somewhere between these two groups.^[1] The list of the Thirty starts with Asahel in verse 24, then the following warriors may be arranged geographically, with places in verses 24–35 being the closest to Bethlehem, and those in verses 36–39 were non-Israelites.^[1]

• David
• Uriah the Hittite
• RelatedBible parts:2 Samuel 11,2 Samuel 12,1 Chronicles 11

• Coogan, Michael David (2007). Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.).The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 (Augmented 3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.ISBN 9780195288810.
• Fitzmyer, Joseph A. (2008).A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.ISBN 9780802862419.
• Jones, Gwilym H. (2007). "12. 1 and 2 Samuel". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.).The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 196–232.ISBN 978-0199277186. RetrievedFebruary 6, 2019.
• Payne, D. F. (1994). "1 and 2 Samuel". InCarson, D. A.;France, R. T.;Motyer, J. A.;Wenham, G. J. (eds.).New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition (4, illustrated, reprint, revised ed.). Inter-Varsity Press. pp. 296–333.ISBN 9780851106489.
• Ulrich, Eugene, ed. (2010).The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants. Brill.
• Würthwein, Ernst (1995).The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2019.

• Jewish translations:
  • Samuel II - II Samuel - Chapter 23 (Judaica Press). Hebrew text and English translation [withRashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
  • 2 Samuel chapter 23 Bible Gateway
  • 2 Samuel 23 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate

• Second Book of Samuel chapters
• David

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles containing Biblical Hebrew-language text