So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, So the three mighty menThis phrase refers to the elite warriors among David's followers, known as the "Three." In Hebrew, they are called "Shalosh," indicating their exceptional status and valor. These men were renowned for their bravery and loyalty to David, often undertaking dangerous missions. Their actions exemplify the qualities of courage and dedication, serving as a model for Christian discipleship and commitment to God's anointed leaders. broke through the Philistine camp
The Hebrew verb "paratz" is used here, meaning to break through or burst forth. This action signifies a bold and daring assault, highlighting the men's fearlessness and strategic prowess. The Philistines were a formidable enemy, often at odds with Israel. This breakthrough symbolizes overcoming significant obstacles through faith and determination, encouraging believers to trust in God's strength to overcome spiritual battles. drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem
The act of drawing water from this specific well holds deep significance. Bethlehem, David's hometown, was under Philistine control, making this mission perilous. The well represents life and sustenance, and the men's willingness to risk their lives for David's desire underscores their loyalty. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for seeking the living water that Christ offers, which sustains and refreshes the soul. and brought it back to David
This phrase highlights the successful completion of their mission. The Hebrew word "bo" means to bring or carry, indicating the fulfillment of a task. Their return with the water symbolizes the fulfillment of a promise and the reward of faithfulness. It serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and the joy of serving others, especially those whom God has placed in leadership. But he refused to drink it
David's refusal is a profound act of reverence and humility. The Hebrew word "ma'en" means to refuse or decline. By not drinking the water, David acknowledges the sacrifice and risk his men took, elevating their act to a spiritual offering. This teaches the value of self-denial and the importance of recognizing the sacrifices of others, pointing to Christ's ultimate sacrifice for humanity. instead, he poured it out to the LORD
The act of pouring out the water is a symbolic gesture of worship and consecration. The Hebrew verb "nasak" means to pour out, often used in the context of libations or offerings. David's action transforms the water into a sacred offering, dedicating it to God. This reflects the principle of offering our best to the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty and expressing gratitude for His provision and protection. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe anointed king of Israel, who expresses a longing for water from the well of Bethlehem, his hometown. 2. The Three Mighty MenA group of David's elite warriors known for their bravery and loyalty. They risk their lives to fulfill David's wish. 3. Philistine CampThe enemy encampment surrounding Bethlehem, representing a significant threat to Israel. 4. BethlehemDavid's birthplace, symbolizing his deep personal connection and longing for home. 5. The Well of BethlehemThe specific source of water David desires, representing both physical and spiritual refreshment. Teaching Points Loyalty and SacrificeThe actions of the three mighty men demonstrate profound loyalty and willingness to sacrifice for their leader. This challenges us to consider our own commitment to serving others and God. Desire for Spiritual RefreshmentDavid's longing for water from Bethlehem can be seen as a metaphor for our spiritual thirst. We are reminded to seek the living water that only Christ can provide. Offering to the LordDavid's refusal to drink the water and instead pour it out to the Lord teaches us about the importance of dedicating our most cherished desires and achievements to God as an act of worship. Courage in the Face of AdversityThe mighty men's courage in breaking through enemy lines encourages us to face our own challenges with faith and determination, trusting in God's protection and provision. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the act of the three mighty men breaking through the Philistine camp reveal about their character and relationship with David? 2. How can David's longing for water from Bethlehem be related to our own spiritual desires and needs? 3. In what ways can we demonstrate loyalty and sacrifice in our relationships with others and in our service to God? 4. How does David's act of pouring out the water as an offering to the Lord challenge our understanding of worship and sacrifice? 5. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge. How can the courage of David's mighty men inspire you to trust in God's strength and provision in similar situations? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Chronicles 11:15-19This passage parallels the account in 2 Samuel, providing additional context and emphasizing the loyalty and bravery of David's mighty men. John 4:13-14Jesus speaks of living water, drawing a spiritual parallel to the physical water David desired, highlighting the ultimate fulfillment found in Christ. Philippians 2:17Paul speaks of being poured out as a drink offering, similar to David's act of pouring out the water, symbolizing sacrifice and devotion to God. People Abialbon, Abiel, Abiezer, Abishai, Adino, Agee, Ahasbai, Ahiam, Ahithophel, Anathoth, Ariel, Asahel, Azmaveth, Baanah, Bani, Benaiah, Benjamin, Benjaminites, David, Dodai, Dodo, Eleazar, Elhanan, Eliahba, Eliam, Elika, Eliphelet, Gareb, Heldai, Heleb, Helez, Hezrai, Hezro, Hiddai, Igal, Ikkesh, Ira, Ithai, Ittai, Jacob, Jashen, Jehoiada, Jesse, Joab, Jonathan, Maharai, Mebunnai, Naharai, Nahari, Nathan, Paarai, Ribai, Shammah, Sharar, Sibbecai, Uriah, Zalmon, Zelek, ZeruiahPlaces Adullam, Anathoth, Bahurim, Beeroth, Bethlehem, Carmel, Gaash, Gath, Gibeah, Gilo, Harod, Jerusalem, Kabzeel, Lehi, Maacah, Moab, Netophah, Pirathon, Tekoa, Valley of Rephaim, ZobahTopics Army, Bethlehem, Beth-lehem, Brake, Bring, Broke, Camp, Carried, Cleave, David, Doorway, Draining, Draw, Drew, Drink, Forcing, Gate, Got, Host, However, Instead, Lines, Mighty, Nevertheless, Offering, Ones, Philistine, Philistines, Poured, Poureth, Refused, Thereof, Town, Water-hole, WillingDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 23:8-21 5776 achievement 2 Samuel 23:8-23 1652 numbers, 3-5 2 Samuel 23:8-39 5544 soldiers 2 Samuel 23:13-17 5087 David, reign of 2 Samuel 23:15-16 4293 water 2 Samuel 23:15-17 5310 exploitation Library The Dying King's Last vision and Psalm
'Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. 3. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Libation to Jehovah
'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! 16. 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. 17. And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this; is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Royal Jubilee
[Footnote: Preached on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.] '... He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.'--2 SAMUEL xxiii. 3, 4. One of the Psalms ascribed to David sounds like the resolves of a new monarch on his accession. In it the Psalmist draws the ideal of a king, and says such …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture David's Dying Song
We shall notice first, that the Psalmist had sorrow in his house--" Although my house be not so with God." Secondly, he had confidence in the covenant--" yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant." And thirdly, he had satisfaction in his heart, for he says--" this is all my salvation, and all my desire. I. The Psalmist says he had sorrow in his house--"Although my house be not so with God." What man is there of all our race, who, if he had to write his history, would not need to use a great …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855 Covenanting Sanctioned by the Divine Example.
God's procedure when imitable forms a peculiar argument for duty. That is made known for many reasons; among which must stand this,--that it may be observed and followed as an example. That, being perfect, is a safe and necessary pattern to follow. The law of God proclaims what he wills men as well as angels to do. The purposes of God show what he has resolved to have accomplished. The constitutions of his moral subjects intimate that he has provided that his will shall be voluntarily accomplished …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Christian's Book
Scripture references 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 2 Samuel 23:2; Luke 1:70; 24:32,45; John 2:22; 10:35; 19:36; Acts 1:16; Romans 1:1,2; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; James 2:8. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? What is the Bible? How shall we regard it? Where shall we place it? These and many questions like them at once come to the front when we begin to discuss the Bible as a book. It is only possible in this brief study, of a great subject, to indicate the line of some of the answers. …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian Thoughts Upon the Appearance of Christ the Sun of Righteousness, or the Beatifick vision.
SO long as we are in the Body, we are apt to be governed wholly by its senses, seldom or never minding any thing but what comes to us through one or other of them. Though we are all able to abstract our Thoughts when we please from matter, and fix them upon things that are purely spiritual; there are but few that ever do it. But few, even among those also that have such things revealed to them by God himself, and so have infinitely more and firmer ground to believe them, than any one, or all their …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life The Truth of God
The next attribute is God's truth. A God of truth and without iniquity; just and right is he.' Deut 32:4. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.' Psa 57:10. Plenteous in truth.' Psa 86:15. I. God is the truth. He is true in a physical sense; true in his being: he has a real subsistence, and gives a being to others. He is true in a moral sense; he is true sine errore, without errors; et sine fallacia, without deceit. God is prima veritas, the pattern and prototype …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
Since every revealed purpose of God, implying that obedience to his law will be given, is a demand of that obedience, the announcement of his Covenant, as in his sovereignty decreed, claims, not less effectively than an explicit law, the fulfilment of its duties. A representation of a system of things pre-determined in order that the obligations of the Covenant might be discharged; various exhibitions of the Covenant as ordained; and a description of the children of the Covenant as predestinated …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prophets and Apostles.
The work of the Holy Spirit in apostles and prophets is an entirely distinctive work. He imparts to apostles and prophets an especial gift for an especial purpose. We read in 1 Cor. xii. 4, 8-11, 28, 29, R. V., "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.... For to one is given through the Spirit wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; and to another workings …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
Ver. 20. "And Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards."--This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground, Gen. iv. 2. The sense rather is, that Noah, after the flood, again took up this calling. Moreover, the remark has not an independent import; it serves only to prepare the way for the communication of the subsequent account of Noah's drunkenness. By this remark, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Deity of the Holy Spirit.
In the preceding chapter we have seen clearly that the Holy Spirit is a Person. But what sort of a Person is He? Is He a finite person or an infinite person? Is He God? This question also is plainly answered in the Bible. There are in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments five distinct and decisive lines of proof of the Deity of the Holy Spirit. I. Each of the four distinctively Divine attributes is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. What are the distinctively Divine attributes? Eternity, omnipresence, …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life Thoughts Upon the Mystery of the Trinity.
THOUGH there be many in the World that seem to be Religious, there are but few that are so: One great Reason whereof is, because there are so many Mistakes about Religion, that it is an hard matter to hit upon the true Notion of it: And therefore desiring nothing in this World, so much as to be an Instrument in God's Hand to direct Men unto true Religion, my great Care must, and, by the Blessing of God, shall be to instil into them right Conceptions of him, that is the only Object of all Religious …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life The Covenant of Grace
Q-20: DID GOD LEAVE ALL MANKIND TO PERISH 1N THE ESTATE OF SIN AND MISERY? A: No! He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver the elect out of that state, and to bring them into a state of grace by a Redeemer. 'I will make an everlasting covenant with you.' Isa 55:5. Man being by his fall plunged into a labyrinth of misery, and having no way left to recover himself, God was pleased to enter into a new covenant with him, and to restore him to life by a Redeemer. The great proposition I shall go …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Samuel 23:16 NIV2 Samuel 23:16 NLT2 Samuel 23:16 ESV2 Samuel 23:16 NASB2 Samuel 23:16 KJV
2 Samuel 23:16 Commentaries
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