1 Chronicles 11:18

1 Chronicles 11:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the three 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: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord,
• New International Version (NIV)So the Three 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 to 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 took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the three 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 David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.

Context of 1 Chronicles 11:18

16David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. 17David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 19“God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. 20Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.

1 Chronicles 11:18 word by word

וַיִּבְקְע֨וּ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֜ה בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֙יִם֙ מִבּ֤וֹר בֵּֽית־לֶ֙חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וְלֹֽא־אָבָ֤ה דָוִיד֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיְנַסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַיהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• brake throughבָּקַעbâqa‛ · to break up/openH1234
• the hostמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• and drewשָׁאַבshâ'ab · to drawH7579
• waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• out of the wellבּוֹרbôr · pitH953
• of Beth–lehemבֵּית לֶ֫חֶםbêyth lechem · BethlehemH1035
• by the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• and tookנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• and broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• wouldאָבָה'âbâh · be willingH14
• not drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• it, but poured it outנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
• to the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 11:18

• 1 Samuel 19:5Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!”
• Acts 20:24But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
• Acts 21:13But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:14Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
• 1 Samuel 7:6So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 11:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-47Verses 10-47 An account is given of David's worthies, the great men who served him. Yet David reckoned his success, not as from the mighty men that were with him, but from the mighty God, whose presence is all in all. In strengthening him, they strengthened themselves and their own interest, for his advancement was theirs. We shall gain by what we do in our places for the support of the kingdom of the Son of David; and those that are faithful to Him…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-47This story about David's mighty warriors shows that Israel's best and bravest men supported him, along with all of Israel (compare 2 Samuel 23:8–39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1915-19. David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink ... of the well of Beth-lehem--(See on 2Sa 23:15). This chivalrous act evinces the enthusiastic devotion of David's men, that they were ready to gratify his smallest wish at the risk of their lives. It is probable that, when uttering the wish, David had no recollection of the military posted at Beth-lehem. It is generally taken for granted that those who fought a way to the well of Beth-lehem…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Chronicles 11:18

• Abishai
• Armies

In the dictionaries

• David
• Philistines
• Chief
• Giants
• Hareth
• Adullam
• Amasai
• Chronicles, Books of
• Genealogy
• Text of the Old Testament

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 11

• 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