2 Samuel 23:13-17

13 Three of the 30 leading [warriors] went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam,^[a] while a company of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 At that time David was in the stronghold,^[b] and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

15 David was extremely thirsty^[c] and said, "If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!"

16 So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord.

17 David said, "Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?" So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

2 Samuel 23:13-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 23

In this chapter are recorded the last words of David under a divine inspiration, 2Sa 23:1-7; and an account is given of his great men, famous for warlike exploits, particularly of three mighty men who did very marvellous things, 2Sa 23:8-17; and of two others next unto them, which belonged to another class of three, 2Sa 23:18-23; and then of thirty one more, 2Sa 23:24-39; who are all mentioned by name.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 22:1
• [b]. 2 Sm 5:9; 1 Sm 22:4-5
• [c]. Lit And David craved