2 Samuel 23:3

Translations

Modern

The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,

Traditional

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

Literal

The God of Israel spoke the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men is righteous, ruling in the fear of God,

Latin

Dixit Deus Israël mihi, locutus est fortis Israël: Dominator hominum, justus dominator in timore Dei,

Original

Hebrew

English

The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,

Notes

2 Samuel 23:1–7

This passage comes from the end of David’s career and reflects on his experience as king, even as 2 Samuel 22 reflects on his experience before becoming king.

2 Samuel 21:1–24:25

The final chapters of 2 Samuel form a coda (a concluding section). This section brings together and summarizes the main themes from earlier chapters.

These chapters are thematic, not chronological (arranged by topic, not by time). Because of this, not all the events happened at the end of David’s reign (for example, 2 Samuel 22:1).

The material is arranged using a common Hebrew literary pattern called a chiasm (a mirror-like structure). In a chiasm, the first and last sections match, and the middle section is the focus.

The structure of this chiasm is as follows:

A: Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 21:1–14)
- B: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 21:15–22)
  - C: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 22:1–51)
  - C′: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 23:1–7)
- B′: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 23:8–39)
A′: David’s sin involving the census and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 24:1–25)

A chiasm draws attention to the center section. Here, the center is David’s hymns. These hymns do not focus on David himself. Instead, they focus on David’s God.

Theme notes and profiles

David

Events

Reign of David

Related verses

Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
Exodus 18:21
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
2 Samuel 22:32
For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
Psalm 72:2
May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.
Hebrews 1:8
But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Psalm 82:3–4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.
Deuteronomy 16:18–20
You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
Exodus 23:6–8
You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.
Psalm 42:9
I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”
Genesis 33:20
There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:30–31
How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

God-Fearer Psalms, Book of Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Clouds: (A Morning Without) of Wise Rulers David: King of Israel: David As Prophet David: King of Israel: Last Words of Fear of God: Reverence Godly Fear: Necessary to Righteous Government Jesus, the Christ: Justice of Jesus, the Christ: Mission of Justice: Specially Required in Rulers Kings: should Rule in the Fear of God Magistrates: should Rule in the Fear of God Prophets: Inspiration of Psalms of David: At the Close of his Reign Rock: Figurative Rulers: Character and Qualifications of

2 Samuel 23:3

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