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2 Samuel 23:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 23:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: [shall I drink] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: [shall I drink] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
2 Samuel 23:17 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
15And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
16And 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: but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah.
17And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: [shall I drink] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
18And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three.
19Was he not most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.
20And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he slew the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
← 2 Samuel 23:162 Samuel 23:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he said, be it far from me, O Lord, that one should do this, etc.] Drink of the water these men had brought him: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? who risked the shedding of their blood, and went in danger of their lives to get it: therefore he would not drink it: some compare with this the story of Alexander f395 to whom a vessel of water was offered when in extreme thirst, which he refused, because he could not bear to drink it alone, and so small a quantity could not be divided among all about him; but the reasons are not the same: these things did these three mighty men; which made them very famous.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Better as in 1 Chronicles 11:19. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“These three - Jointly: then two of them are mentioned severally. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 23:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:17 This water . . . these men: When David poured the hard-won water on the ground, it did not signal ingratitude. Rather, he regarded the water as equivalent to the warriors’ blood; it represented life that only God was worthy to receive (Lev 17:10-13; Deut 12:23-24).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Be it far: Sa2 20:20; Gen 44:17; Sa1 2:30, Sa1 26:11; Kg1 21:3; Ch1 11:19 the blood: Gen 9:4; Lev 17:10; Psa 72:14; Mat 26:28; Mar 14:24; Joh 6:52-54 jeopardy: Jdg 5:18; Co1 15:30 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 23:18”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification