2 Samuel 23:14

14 At that time David was in the fortress, and the garrison of the P'lishtim was in Beit-Lechem

2 Samuel 23:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 23:14

And David [was] then in an hold
In a strong hold; the strong hold of Zion, as Josephus ^F24, or one on a rock near the cave of Adullam, see ( 1 Chronicles 11:15 ) ;

and the garrison of the Philistines [was] then [in] Bethlehem;
which was about six miles from Jerusalem; the valley of Rephaim lay between that and Bethlehem; so far had they got into the land of Judea, and such footing in it, as to have a garrison so near its metropolis.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 4.

2 Samuel 23:14 In-Context

12 But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, killing the P'lishtim; and ADONAI brought about a great victory.

13 During harvest season three of the thirty leaders went down and came to David at the cave of 'Adulam when a company of P'lishtim had set up camp in the Refa'im Valley.

14 At that time David was in the fortress, and the garrison of the P'lishtim was in Beit-Lechem

15 David had a craving and said, "I wish someone could give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem!"

16 The three warrior-heroes broke through the army of the P'lishtim, drew water from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem, took it and brought it to David. But he wouldn't drink it. Instead, he poured it out to ADONAI