2 Samuel 23:14
◄  2 Samuel 23:14  ►
New International Version (©2011)
At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

New Living Translation (©2007)
David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.

English Standard Version (©2001)
David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

International Standard Version (©2012)
David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.

NET Bible (©2006)
David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were at Bethlehem.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And David was then in a stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

American King James Version
And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

American Standard Version
And David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David was then in a hold. and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem.

Darby Bible Translation
And David was then in the stronghold; and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.

English Revised Version
And David was then in the hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

World English Bible
David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

Young's Literal Translation
and David is then in a fortress, and the station of the Philistines is then in Beth-Lehem,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:8-39 David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - An hold; Hebrew, the hold. The definite article here and in ch. 5:17, and the mention of the Philistines as being in the valley of Rephaim, seem to indicate that David had abandoned Jerusalem upon the invasion of the Philistines, and sought refuge at Adullam (see note on 2 Samuel 5:17). In its neighbourhood is an isolated hill, on which, probably, was a frontier fortress, in which David prepared to defend himself.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And David was then in an hold,.... In a strong hold; the strong hold of Zion, as Josephus (x), or one on a rock near the cave of Adullam, see 1 Chronicles 11:15,

and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem; which was about six miles from Jerusalem; the valley of Rephaim lay between that and Bethlehem; so far had they got into the land of Judea, and such footing in it, as to have a garrison so near its metropolis.

(x) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 4.

2 Samuel 23:14 Parallel Commentaries

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David's Mighty Men
…13And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! …

1 Samuel 13:23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mikmash.
1 Samuel 22:4 So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.
1 Samuel 22:5 But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
2 Samuel 5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.