Shmuel Bais 23:14

14 And Dovid was then in the matzadah, and the garrison of the Pelishtim was then in Beit-Lechem.

Shmuel Bais 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.

Shmuel Bais 23:14 In-Context

12 But he stood in the midst of the allotted ground, and defended it, and slaughtered the Pelishtim; and Hashem wrought a teshuah gedolah.

13 And three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to Dovid in the time of katzir unto the cave of Adulam; and the troop of the Pelishtim encamped in the Emek Rephaim.

14 And Dovid was then in the matzadah, and the garrison of the Pelishtim was then in Beit-Lechem.

15 And Dovid longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the mayim of the well of Beit-Lechem, which is by the sha’ar!

16 And the three gibborim broke through the machaneh of the Pelishtim, and drew mayim out of the well of Beit-Lechem, that was by the sha’ar, and took it, and brought it to Dovid; nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Hashem.