2 Samuel 23:16

2 Samuel 23:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth–lehem, 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.
• New International Version (NIV)So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.

Context of 2 Samuel 23:16

14David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord; 17and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did. 18Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name as well as the three.

2 Samuel 23:16 word by word

וַיִּבְקְעוּ֩ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֙יִם֙ מִבֹּ֤אר בֵּֽית־לֶ֙חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹ֤א אָבָה֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיַּסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַֽיהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• So the threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• mightyגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• brokeבָּקַעbâqa‛ · to break up/openH1234
• the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• and drewשָׁאַבshâ'ab · to drawH7579
• waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• from the wellבֹּארbô'r · cisternH877
• of Bethlehemבֵּית לֶ֫חֶםbêyth lechem · BethlehemH1035
• whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• was by the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• and tookנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• and broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• Nevertheless he wouldאָבָה'âbâh · be willingH14
• not drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• pouredנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
• it out to the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:16

• 2 Samuel 23:9and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn.
• 1 Samuel 19:5For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause?”
• Acts 20:24But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
• Romans 5:7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
• 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
• Numbers 28:7Then the drink offering with it shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb, in the holy place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 7:6They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
• Lamentations 2:19Arise, cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones Who are faint because of hunger At the head of every street.”
• Philippians 2:17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Poured it out unto the Lord - To make libations, both of water and wine, was a frequent custom among the heathens. We have an almost similar account in Arrian's Life of Alexander: "When his army was greatly oppressed with heat and thirst, a soldier brought him a cup of water; he ordered it to be carried back, saying, I cannot bear to drink alone while so many are in want, and this cup is too small to be divided among the whole." Tunc poculo pleno sicut…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Brake through the host - Their camp was pitched in the valley of Rephaim 2 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15. It follows from this that the way from Adullam to Bethlehem lay through or across the valley of Rephaim. Poured it out unto the Lord - It was too costly for his own use, none but the Lord was worthy of it. For libations, see Judges 6:20 note.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 23:16

• Armies
• Bethlehem
• Citizens
• Consecration
• Loyalty
• Philistines
• Unselfishness

In the dictionaries

• David
• Philistines
• Bethlehem
• Eleazar
• Giants
• Hareth
• Jashobeam
• Rephaim, Valley of
• Sure
• Troop

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