2 Samuel 23:15 nasb — David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the…

NASB

"David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!""

— 2 Samuel 23:15, NASB

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2 Samuel 23:15 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 23 — Context

12

But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.

13

Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim.

14

David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15

David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!"

16

So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD;

17

and he said, "Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

18

Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name as well as the three.

2 Samuel 23:15 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 23:15 say?
2 Samuel 23:15 in the NASB reads: “David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!"”
Where is 2 Samuel 23:15 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 23:15 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 15.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 23:15.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 23:15 in?
2 Samuel 23:15 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 23:15?
2 Samuel 23:15 reads (NASB): “David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!"” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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