2 Samuel 23:14

14 At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed 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 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He didn't let the Philistines capture it. He struck them down. The LORD helped him win a great battle.

13 David was at the cave of Adullam. During harvest time, three of the 30 chief men came down to him there. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem

15 David longed for water. He said, "I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well that is near the gate of Bethlehem."

16 So the three mighty men fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well that was near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.