Why does David refuse the water that three valiant men bring from Bethlehem?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

They risked their lives to bring it through the Philistine camp. David asks whether drinking it would be drinking those men’s blood and the peril of their lives, refuses it and offers it to the Lord.

Chapter breakdown

The passage introduces David’s last words. David, son of Isai, is described as the man appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob and Israel’s excellent psalmist. He says the Lord’s spirit has spoken by him and the Lord’s word by his tongue. The God of Israel, Israel’s strong one, speaks to him of the ruler of men, the just ruler in God’s fear. The description is like the light of a cloudless morning when the sun rises and like grass springing from the earth through rain.

Challoner’s separate note says the kingdom of Christ will be like this light.

David says his house is not so great with God that God should make an eternal covenant with him, firm and assured in all things. God is all his salvation and all his will, and there is nothing of it that does not spring up.

Challoner’s separate note explains this as if David were saying that the everlasting covenant was not owed to his house but came purely from God’s bounty. It explains all his salvation and will as God always saving him and granting what he asked. Through God’s blessing, David and his house have sprung up and succeeded in all things.

Transgressors will all be uprooted like thorns that cannot be removed by hand. Anyone who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a lance. They will be set on fire and burned to nothing.

The account next names David’s valiant men. Jesbaham, sitting in the chair, is the wisest chief among the three. He is compared with the most tender little worm of the wood and kills eight hundred men in one onset.

Challoner’s separate note identifies Jesbaham as the son of Hachamoni, citing 1 Chronicles or Paralipomenon 11. It says he appeared tender and weak but was very valiant and strong. It then says it seems the Latin has given the meaning of the Hebrew name of the hero to whom Jesbaham was compared, rather than that name itself: Adino the Eznite, renowned of old for valour.

After him comes Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men with David when they defy the Philistines, who are gathered for battle.

Challoner’s separate note says the Latin Patrui ejus gives the meaning of the Hebrew name Dodo. The same occurs in verse 24.

When Israel’s men have gone away, Eleazar stands and strikes the Philistines until his hand is weary and grows stiff with the sword. The Lord brings a great victory that day; the people who fled return to take spoil from the dead. After Eleazar comes Semma, son of Age of Arari. The Philistines gather in a troop at a field full of lentils. When the people flee, Semma stands in the field’s midst, defends it and defeats the Philistines, and the Lord gives a great victory.

The account also recalls an earlier event. Three princes among the thirty come down to David in harvest time at the cave of Odollam, while the Philistine camp is in the valley of the giants. David is in a hold, and a Philistine garrison is in Bethlehem. He longs for a drink from the cistern by Bethlehem’s gate. Three valiant men break through the Philistine camp, draw water from that cistern and bring it to David. He refuses to drink and offers it to the Lord. Asking the Lord’s mercy that he may not do this, he asks whether he should drink the blood of the men who went and the peril of their lives. He does not drink. The passage says these are the deeds of those three mighty men.

Abisai, Joab’s brother and son of Sarvia, is chief among three. He lifts his spear against three hundred men and kills them, becoming renowned among the three. He is the noblest of three and their chief, but does not attain to the first three.

Banaias, son of Joiada of Cabseel, is a very valiant man of great deeds. He kills the two lions of Moab and goes into a pit to kill a lion in the time of snow. He also kills an Egyptian described as a man worth seeing, who has a spear. Banaias goes against him with a rod, forces the spear from his hand and kills him with that same spear. These are Banaias’s deeds. He is renowned among the three valiant men, most honourable among the thirty, but does not attain to the first three. David makes him a member of his privy council.

The list continues with Asael, Joab’s brother, one of the thirty; Elehanan, son of Dodo of Bethlehem; Semma of Harodi; Elica of Harodi; Heles of Phalti; Hira, son of Acces of Thecua; Abiezer of Anathoth; Mobonnai of Husati; Selmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite; Heled, son of Baana, also a Netophathite; Ithai, son of Ribai of Gabaath of Benjamin’s children; Banaia the Pharathonite; Heddai of the torrent Gaas; Abialbon the Arbathite; Azmaveth of Beromi; and Eliaba of Salaboni. The next wording is The sons of Jassen, Jonathan.

The remaining names are Semma of Orori; Aliam, son of Sarar the Arorite; Eliphelet, son of Aasbai, son of Machati; Eliam, son of Achitophel the Gelonite; Hesrai of Carmel; Pharai of Arbi; Igaal, son of Nathan of Soba; Bonni of Gadi; Selec of Ammoni; Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab, son of Sarvia; Ira the Jethrite; Gareb, also a Jethrite; and Urias the Hethite. The passage gives the total as thirty-seven.

The story inside

David’s last words and the record of his valiant men share this chapter. His opening words name the Lord’s spirit, the just ruler, morning light, an eternal covenant and the fate of transgressors. Four separate notes explain light, bounty and two name passages. The record then gives specific deeds: eight hundred killed by Jesbaham, Eleazar’s exhausted hand, Semma’s lentil field and the dangerous journey for Bethlehem’s water. David refuses that water because of the men’s risk. Abisai and Banaias have their own deeds and stated standing below the first three. The remaining roster retains each name and origin or relationship, ending with Urias and the given total of thirty-seven.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The water episode includes David’s own reason for refusing it. The men cross the enemy camp to get it, and David speaks of their blood and the peril of their lives. He offers the water to the Lord. The text does not supply a pouring scene or a general doctrine about every sacrifice.
2
Renown does not erase the chapter’s distinctions. Abisai kills three hundred and is chief among three, yet does not attain to the first three. Banaias’s deeds and honour likewise do not place him among the first three. Their achievements and limits both belong in the account.
3
The name notes need their qualifications. Challoner identifies Jesbaham as Hachamoni’s son, but says it seems the Latin phrase about the tender worm interprets the name of the hero compared with him. The separate Dodo note explains a Latin rendering and points to verse 24. Treating either note as a different, certain Scripture name would lose that distinction.

Test your recall

What danger do the three men face to bring Bethlehem’s water, and what reason does David give for refusing it?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 34282–34298
2 Kings Chapter 23 The last words of David. A catalogue of his valiant men. 23:1. Now these are David’s last words. David the son of Isai said: The man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, the excellent psalmist of Israel said: 23:2. The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and his word by my tongue. 23:3. The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God. 23:4. As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning without clouds, and as the grass springeth out of the earth by rain.
Lines 34300–34300
As the light, etc.... So shall be the kingdom of Christ.
Lines 34302–34305
23:5. Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with me an eternal covenant, firm in all things and assured. For he is all my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof that springeth not up.
Lines 34307–34311
Neither is my house, etc.... As if he should say: This everlasting covenant was not due to my house: but purely owing to his bounty; who is all my salvation, and my will: that is, who hath always saved me, and granted me what I beseeched of him; so that I and my house, through his blessing, have sprung up, and succeeded in all things.
Lines 34313–34318
23:6. But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands. 23:7. And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to nothing.
Lines 34320–34323
23:8. These are the names of the valiant men of David: Jesbaham sitting in the chair was the wisest chief among the three, he was like the most tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one onset.
Lines 34325–34331
Jesbaham.... The son of Hachamoni. For this was the name of this hero, as appears from 1 Chron. or Paralip. 11.—Ibid. Most tender, etc.... He appeared like one tender and weak, but was indeed most valiant and strong. It seems the Latin has here given the interpretation of the Hebrew name of the hero, to whom Jesbaham was like, instead of the name itself, which was Adino the Eznite, one much renowned of old for his valour.
Lines 34333–34335
23:9. After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David when they defied the Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle.
Lines 34337–34338
Dodo.... In Latin, Patrui ejus, which is the interpretation of the Hebrew name Dodo. The same occurs in ver. 24.
Lines 34340–34351
23:10. And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and smote the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were fled away, returned to take spoils of them that were slain. 23:11. And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the Philistines, 23:12. He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory.
Lines 34353–34372
23:13. Moreover also before this the three who were princes among the thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants. 23:14. And David was then in a hold: and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem. 23:15. And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, by the gate. 23:16. And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David: but he would not drink, but offered it to the Lord, 23:17. Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.
Lines 34374–34379
23:18. Abisai also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, was chief among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew, and he was renowned among the three, 23:19. And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not.
Lines 34381–34393
23:20. And Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow. 23:21. He also slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear. 23:22. These things did Banaias the son of Joiada. 23:23. And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained not to the first three: and David made him of his privy council.
Lines 34395–34413
23:24. Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem. 23:25. Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi, 23:26. Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua, 23:27. Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati, 23:28. Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 23:29. Heled the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin, 23:30. Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas, 23:31. Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi, 23:32. Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,
Lines 34415–34429
23:33. Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite, 23:34. Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite, 23:35. Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi, 23:36. Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi, 23:37. Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab the son of Sarvia, 23:38. Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite; 23:39. Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all.