2 Samuel 23:15

2 Samuel 23:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth–lehem, which is by the gate!
• New International Version (NIV)David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And David said longingly, "Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

Context of 2 Samuel 23:15

13Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time in the cave of Adullam, while an army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out [in worship] to the Lord. 17And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should drink this. [Is it not the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

2 Samuel 23:15 word by word

וַיִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה דָוִ֖ד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבֹּ֥אר בֵּֽית־לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• longedאָוָה'âvâh · to desireH183
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Oh that one would give me drinkשָׁקָהshâqâh · to water: drinkH8248
• of the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• of the wellבּוֹרbôr · pitH953
• of Beth–lehemבֵּית לֶ֫חֶםbêyth lechem · BethlehemH1035
• by the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:15

• Numbers 11:4The rabble among them [who followed Israel from Egypt] had greedy desires [for familiar and delicious food], and the Israelites wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
• Psalms 42:1As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God.
• Psalms 63:1O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You; My soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
• Psalms 119:81My soul languishes and grows weak for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
• Isaiah 41:17“The poor and needy are seeking water, but there is none; Their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the Lord, will answer them Myself; I, the God of Israel, will not neglect them.
• Isaiah 44:3For I will pour out water on him who is thirsty, And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;
• John 4:10Jesus answered her, “If you knew [about] God’s gift [of eternal life], and who it is who says, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him [instead], and He would have given you living water (eternal life).”
• John 7:37Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!
• John 4:14But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life.”

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15The water of the well of Bethlehem - This was David's city, and he knew the excellence of the water which was there; and being near the place, and parched with thirst, it was natural for him to wish for a draught of water out of that well. These three heroes having heard it, though they received no command from David, broke through a company of the Philistines, and brought away some of the water. When brought to David he refused to drink it: for as the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15A cistern of deep, clear, cool water, is called by the monks, David‘s Well, about three-quarters of a mile to the north of Bethlehem. Possibly the old well has been filled up since the town was supplied with water by the aqueduct.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-39Verses 8-39 David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16longed … and said: This Hebrew verb often means strong desire (see Numbers 11:4, had a strong craving; Psalm 106:14, craved intensely). It is unclear whether David’s craving for water was excessive, but it did lead to risky actions. well near the gate: David had memories from his younger days of growing up in Bethlehem. The location of the well is unknown.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. the well of Beth-lehem--An ancient cistern, with four or five holes in the solid rock, at about ten minutes distance to the north of the eastern corner of the hill of Beth-lehem, is pointed out by the natives as Bir-Daoud; that is, David's well. Dr. Robinson doubts the identity of the well; but others think that there are no good grounds for doing so. Certainly, considering this to be the ancient well, Beth-lehem must have once extended ten minutes…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 23:15

• Armies
• Bethlehem
• Citizens
• Loyalty
• Philistines

In the dictionaries

• David
• Bethlehem
• Giants
• Hareth
• Jashobeam
• Rephaim, Valley of
• Sure
• Troop
• Abishai
• Adullam

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings