Neville Goddard on 2 Samuel 23:8-39 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 2 Samuel 23 in context

Scripture Focus

8These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

9And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

10He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

11And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

13And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

14And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

16And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

17And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

18And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.

19Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

20And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

21And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

23He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

38Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

39Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

2 Samuel 23:8-39

Biblical Context

It lists David’s mighty men and their feats, highlighting courage, loyalty, and times when faith in the LORD yielded victory.

Neville's Inner Vision

Within you, the God-state awakens the mighty men of David. The Tachmonite who sat in the seat, the chief among the captains, is the steadfast posture of inner leadership. Adino and Eleazar and Shammah are not external heroes but your own decisive states of consciousness when fear gathers. They arise when you defy the Philistine dream by turning attention inward to the Presence of I AM. The LORD wrought a great victory that day as you align with the One Life within and let the sword become your intention held by faith. The well of Bethlehem, longed for, is your inner source; the three mighty men breaking through shows how collaboration of multiple inner states can reach a single goal. When David pours out the water offered by his bravest, he consecrates it to the LORD—reminding you that energy must be transfigured into reverence and gratitude. The naming of the thirty and the three is a reminder that many inner dispositions serve a single purpose: the Presence of God within.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and imagine Bethlehem's wellspring of courage already yours. Hold that feeling until it becomes your natural state and then let it govern your thoughts for the day.