2 Samuel 23:14

14 While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were at Bethlehem.

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 he stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So the LORD won an impressive victory.

13 At harvest time three of the thirty leading men came to David at the cave of Adullam when a troop from the Philistine army was camping in the valley of Rephaim.

14 While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were at Bethlehem.

15 When David became thirsty, he said, "I wish I could have a drink of water from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem."

16 So the three fighting men burst into the Philistine camp and drew water from the well. They brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out [as an offering] to the LORD and said,