Water from Bethlehem

King in Jerusalem · Bethlehem

2 accounts of this passage

2 Samuel 23:13–17

¹³During harvest time, 3 of the 30 leading warriors went down to David at the cave of Adullam while a Philistine raiding party was camped in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴David was in his stronghold at the time, and a Philistine garrison occupied Bethlehem. ¹⁵David said longingly, "If only someone could get me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!" ¹⁶So the 3 warriors fought their way through the Philistine army, drew water from the well by Bethlehem's gate, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. ¹⁷And he said, "Be it far from me, O LORD, to do this: is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?" So he would not drink it. These were the deeds of the three mighty men.

Read 2 Samuel 23

Up nextUzzah and the Ark2 Samuel 6:1–11

About this event

What happened?

David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine troop held Bethlehem. David longed for water and said he wished someone would bring him a drink from the well by Bethlehem's gate. Three of his mighty men broke through the Philistine camp and brought him the water. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD, saying it was the blood of men who had risked their lives.

Who is here?

Three of David's mighty men

Where did this happen?

Bethlehem

A town in Judah (later called Judea), David's hometown. Luke calls it the city of David.

Where this fits

Event 4 of 8 in King in Jerusalem: David rules all Israel from Jerusalem, brings up the ark, and receives God's promise.

Good to know

Samuel tells this near the end of the book. It took place while the Philistines camped in the Valley of Rephaim, but the Bible does not say exactly when.

Keep exploring

Before thisVictory over the Philistines2 Samuel 5:17–25 After thisUzzah and the Ark2 Samuel 6:1–11

David's Story