SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:16
Entonces estos tres valientes rompieron por el campamento de los filisteos, y sacaron agua de la cisterna de Belén, que estaba a la puerta; y tomaron, y la trajeron a David; mas él no la quiso beber, sino la derramó al SEÑOR, diciendo:
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:16
Verse 16. Poured 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 oblatum est reddito: Non solus, inquit, bibere sustineo, nec tam exiguum dividere omnibus possum. - ARRIAN, lib. vi. The example was noble in both cases, but David added piety to bravery; he poured it out unto the Lord.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines , etc.] Which lay in the valley of Rephaim, between the hold in which David was and the well of Bethlehem; these three men hearing David express himself in the above manner, though without any view that any should risk their lives to obtain it, only in a general way said, oh for a draught of the water of the well of Bethlehem! immediately set out, and made their way through the army of the Philistines to the well: and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that [was] by the gate , and took [it], and brought [it] to David ; in a vessel which they probably carried with them for that purpose: nevertheless he would not drink thereof ; because, say they who take these words in a spiritual sense, it was not this water, but spiritual water, he desired: but the reason is given in ( 2 Samuel 23:17): but poured it out unto the Lord ; as a libation to him, it being rather blood than water, being fetched at the hazard of men’s lives, and therefore more fit to be offered as a sacrifice to God than to be drank by him; and this he might do in thankfulness to God for preserving the lives of the men.
Gersom thinks it was now the feast of tabernacles, which was the feast of ingathering the fruits of the earth, when great quantities of water were drawn and poured out at the altar, which was done to obtain the blessing of the former rain; (see Gill on “ John 7:37”) and (see Gill on “ John 7:38”).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-39 - David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. I 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 wa without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forwar to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, an so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sobe thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Di David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazar of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefit for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all bewar of neglecting so great salvation __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויבקעו 1234 שׁלשׁת 7969 הגברים 1368 במחנה 4264 פלשׁתים 6430 וישׁאבו 7579 מים 4325 מבאר 877 בית לחם 1035 אשׁר 834 בשׁער 8179 וישׂאו 5375 ויבאו 935 אל 413 דוד 1732 ולא 3808 אבה 14 לשׁתותם 8354 ויסך 5258 אתם 853 ליהוה׃ 3068
