NET Bible
"David was thirsty and said,“How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!”"
— 2 Samuel 23:15, NET Bible
“And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth–lehem, which is by the gate!”
“And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate! ”
“David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"”
“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.”
“And David, moved by a strong desire, said, If only someone would give me a drink of water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town!”
“And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth–lehem, which is by the gate!”
But he made a stand in the middle of that area. He defended it and defeated the Philistines; the LORD gave them a great victory.
At the time of the harvest three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the cave of Adullam. A band of Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim.
David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.
David was thirsty and said,“How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!”
So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the LORD
and said,“O LORD, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.
Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among the three.