2 Samuel 23:7

Translations

Modern

The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”

Traditional

But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

Literal

And the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear; and with the fire they are completely burned in the place.”

Latin

Et si quis tangere voluerit eas, armabitur ferro et ligno lanceato, igneque succensæ comburentur usque ad nihilum.

Original

Hebrew

English

The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”

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

Hebrews 6:8
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
2 Thessalonians 1:8
…in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Luke 19:14
But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
Matthew 3:10–12
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
2 Samuel 22:8–10
Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
Luke 19:27
And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”
Matthew 13:42
And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Isaiah 27:4
I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground.

Glossary

Minerals and Metals Psalms, Book of Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Christian Minister: Promises To, Joys of Company: Evil David: King of Israel: David As Prophet David: King of Israel: Last Words of Iron: Figurative Iron: Made Into: Armour Jesus, the Christ: Saviour Psalms of David: At the Close of his Reign Satan: Kingdom of, to be Destroyed Wicked (People): Punishment of

2 Samuel 23:7

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