2 Samuel 23:16

Authorized King James Version

And 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּבְקְעוּ֩
brake through
to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open
#2
שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת
And the three
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
#3
הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים
mighty men
powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant
#4
בְּמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה
the host
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
#5
פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים
of the Philistines
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
#6
וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ
and drew
to bale up water
#7
מַ֙יִם֙
water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#8
מִבֹּ֤אר
out of the well
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
#9
בֵּֽית
H0
#10
לֶ֙חֶם֙
of Bethlehem
beth-lechem, a place in palestine
#11
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
בַּשַּׁ֔עַר
that was by the gate
an opening, i.e., door or gate
#13
וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ
and took
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#14
וַיָּבִ֣אוּ
it and brought
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#15
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#16
דָּוִ֑ד
it to David
david, the youngest son of jesse
#17
וְלֹ֤א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#18
אָבָה֙
H14
nevertheless he would
to breathe after, i.e., (figuratively) to be acquiescent
#19
לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם
not drink
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
#20
וַיַּסֵּ֥ךְ
thereof but poured it out
to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king
#21
אֹתָ֖ם
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#22
לַֽיהוָֽה׃
unto the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of 2 Samuel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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