2 Samuel 23:17

17 And he said, "Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Is not this the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

2 Samuel 23:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 23:17

And he said, be it far from me, O Lord, that one should do
this
Drink of the water these men had brought him:

[is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their
lives?
who risked the shedding of their blood, and went in danger of their lives to get it:

therefore he would not drink it:
some compare with this the story of Alexander ^F4 to whom a vessel of water was offered when in extreme thirst, which he refused, because he could not bear to drink it alone, and so small a quantity could not be divided among all about him; but the reasons are not the same:

these things did these three mighty men;
which made them very famous.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Curt. Hist. l. 7. c. 5.

2 Samuel 23:17 In-Context

15 And David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"

16 And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David; nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

17 And he said, "Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Is not this the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

18 And Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had the name among three.

19 Was he not most honorable of three? Therefore he was their captain; however he attained not unto the first three