
Text -- 2 Samuel 23:15 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> 2Sa 23:15
Wesley: 2Sa 23:15 - -- Being hot and thirsty, he expresses how acceptable a draught of that water would be to him; but was far from desiring, or expecting that any of his me...
Being hot and thirsty, he expresses how acceptable a draught of that water would be to him; but was far from desiring, or expecting that any of his men should hazard their lives to procure it.
JFB -> 2Sa 23:15-16
JFB: 2Sa 23:15-16 - -- 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-le...
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 further to the north, and must have lain in times of old, not as now, on the summit, but on the northern rise of the hill; for the well is by or (1Ch 11:7) at the gate. I find in the description of travellers, that the common opinion is, that David's captains had come from the southeast, in order to obtain, at the risk of their lives, the so-much-longed-for water; while it is supposed that David himself was then in the great cave that is not far to the southeast of Beth-lehem; which cave is generally held to have been that of Adullam. But (Jos 15:35) Adullam lay "in the valley"; that is, in the undulating plain at the western base of the mountains of Judea and consequently to the southwest of Beth-lehem. Be this as it may, David's men had in any case to break through the host of the Philistines, in order to reach the well; and the position of Bir-Daoud agrees well with this [VAN DE VELDE].|| 08673||1||21||0||@the first three==--The mighty men or champions in David's military staff were divided into three classes--the highest, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah; the second class, Abishai, Benaiah, and Asahel; and the third class, the thirty, of which Asahel was the chief. There are thirty-one mentioned in the list, including Asahel; and these added to the two superior orders make thirty-seven. Two of them, we know, were already dead; namely, Asahel [2Sa 3:30] and Uriah [2Sa 11:17]; and if the dead, at the drawing up of the list, amounted to seven, then we might suppose a legion of honor, consisting of the definite number thirty, where the vacancies, when they occurred, were replaced by fresh appointments.
Clarke -> 2Sa 23:15
Clarke: 2Sa 23:15 - -- The 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,...
The 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 men got it at the hazard of their lives, he considered it as their blood, and gave thereby a noble instance of self-denial. There is no evidence that David had requested them to bring it; they had gone for it of their own accord, and without the knowledge of David.
TSK -> 2Sa 23:15
TSK: 2Sa 23:15 - -- longed : Num 11:4, Num 11:5; Psa 42:1, Psa 42:2, Psa 63:1, Psa 119:81; Isa 41:17, Isa 44:3; Joh 4:10, Joh 4:14; Joh 7:37
Bethlehem : Bethlehem signifi...
longed : Num 11:4, Num 11:5; Psa 42:1, Psa 42:2, Psa 63:1, Psa 119:81; Isa 41:17, Isa 44:3; Joh 4:10, Joh 4:14; Joh 7:37
Bethlehem : Bethlehem signifies the ""house of bread,""and the place was likewise noted for excellent water. There Christ was born, who is the ""bread of life,""and who also gives us the ""water of life.""""The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.""Joh 4:14

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> 2Sa 23:15
Barnes: 2Sa 23:15 - -- A 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...
A 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.
Poole -> 2Sa 23:15
Poole: 2Sa 23:15 - -- Being hot and thirsty, he expresseth how acceptable a draught of that water would be to him, as is usual with men to do in such cases; but was far f...
Being hot and thirsty, he expresseth how acceptable a draught of that water would be to him, as is usual with men to do in such cases; but was far from desiring or expecting that any of his men should hazard their lives to procure it, as appears from 2Sa 23:17 .
Haydock -> 2Sa 23:15
Haydock: 2Sa 23:15 - -- Gate. David had been educated in that town. (Menochius) ---
He expresses his wish to see his native place delivered from the hands of the enemy, m...
Gate. David had been educated in that town. (Menochius) ---
He expresses his wish to see his native place delivered from the hands of the enemy, more than for water; (Sanctius; Kennicott) or being very thirsty, he speaks his sentiments without designing that any should attempt to procure him the water. (Calmet) ---
The three valiant men considered his desire as a law. (Menochius) ---
They were not to be condemned of rashness, though it would have been such in ordinary men. (Salien) ---
David only intended to try the valour of his soldiers. When they brought the water he would not drink, judging that precious things should be offered to God. (Worthington)
Gill -> 2Sa 23:15
Gill: 2Sa 23:15 - -- And David longed, and said,.... It being harvest time, the summer season, and hot weather, and he thirsty:
oh, that one would give me drink of the ...
And David longed, and said,.... It being harvest time, the summer season, and hot weather, and he thirsty:
oh, that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem,
which is by the gate! which he was well acquainted with, being his native place; and which might make it the more desirable, as well as its waters might be peculiarly cool and refreshing, and very excellent, as Kimchi suggests. This well was about a mile from Bethlehem, now called David's well, as some travellers say y. It is said to be a very large well, with three mouths, and lies a little out of the road z; and that there is now near Rachel's grave a good rich cistern, which is deep and wide; wherefore the people that go to dip water are provided with small leathern buckets, and a line, as usual in those countries a; but Mr. Maundrell b says it is a well, or rather a cistern, supplied only with rain, without any excellency in its waters to make them desirable; but it seems, he adds, David's spirit had a further aim. Some think he meant by this to get Bethlehem out of the hands of the Philistines, and obtain the possession of it; others, as Jarchi, that he intended to ask some question of the sanhedrim that sat there; and others, that his desire was after the law of God, called waters, as in Isa 55:1; and some Christian writers, both ancient and modern c, are of opinion, that not literal but spiritual water was desired by him, and that he thirsted after the coming of the Messiah, to be born at Bethlehem, and the living water which he only can give, Joh 4:10.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> 2Sa 23:1-39
TSK Synopsis: 2Sa 23:1-39 - --1 David, in his last words, professes his faith in God's promises to be beyond sense or experience.6 The different state of the wicked.8 A catalogue o...
Maclaren -> 2Sa 23:15-17
Maclaren: 2Sa 23:15-17 - --2 Samuel 23:15-17
David's fortunes were at a low ebb. He was in hiding in his cave of Adullam, and a Philistine garrison held Bethlehem, his native pl...
MHCC -> 2Sa 23:8-39
MHCC: 2Sa 23:8-39 - --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 wel...
Matthew Henry -> 2Sa 23:8-39
Matthew Henry: 2Sa 23:8-39 - -- I. The catalogue which the historian has here left upon record of the great soldiers that were in David's time is intended, 1. For the honour of Dav...
Keil-Delitzsch -> 2Sa 23:8-39
Keil-Delitzsch: 2Sa 23:8-39 - --
The following list of David's heroes we also find in 1 Chron 11:10-47, and expanded at the end by sixteen names (1Ch 11:41-47), and attached in 1Ch ...
Constable: 2Sa 21:1--24:25 - --VII. SUMMARY ILLUSTRATIONS chs. 21--24
The last major section of the Book of Samuel (2 Sam. 21-24) consists of s...

Constable: 2Sa 23:8-39 - --E. Thirty-seven Mighty Men 23:8-39
One might conclude from 1 Samuel 22:2 that David's army, made up as i...
