2 Samuel 23:14
in 2 Samuel 23At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
KJV
And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth–lehem.
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This verse in 2 Samuel 23
Commentary
4 notes on this verseAnd 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 1Ch 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.
This site's exposition
three of the thirty chief men
on 2 Samuel 23:13-17
At harvest time three of the thirty chief men come to David at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine garrison holds Bethlehem. David longs for water “from the well near the gate of Bethlehem”, and three men break through the Philistine camp to bring it.
This site's exposition
the garrison of the Philistines
John Gill reports two views of the stronghold: Josephus placed it at Zion, and others place it on a rock near the cave of Adullam. Albert Barnes reads the garrison as a sign of Philistine strength. They held a post deep inside Judah.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In an hold - In “the hold” 1Ch 11:16 close to the cave of Adullam (marginal reference note). It shows the power and daring of the Philistines that they should hold a post so far in the country as Bethlehem.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And a contingent of Pesishtim was then in Beis Lechem. The [Pelishtim] army was camped in the Rephoim valley and they had sent a contingent to Beis Lechem.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Of the thirty leaders. Yonoson translates: From the men who were leaders within the army.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְדָוִ֖ד | vedavid | and David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| אָ֣ז | ʾaz | then | H227 → | 141 times |
| בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה | bametzudah | [was] in the stronghold | H4686 → | 21 times |
| וּמַצַּ֣ב | umatzav | and a garrison of | H4673 → | |
| פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים | pelishtim | Philistines | H6430 → | 287 times |
| אָ֖ז | ʾaz | then | H227 → | 141 times |
| בֵּ֥ית | beit | [was] Beth- | H1035 → | 82 times |
| לָֽחֶם׃ | lachem | -lehem | H1035 → | 82 times |
וְדָוִ֖דand David
vedavidH1732 →999 times
אָ֣זthen
ʾazH227 →141 times
בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה[was] in the stronghold
bametzudahH4686 →21 times
וּמַצַּ֣בand a garrison of
umatzavH4673 →
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםPhilistines
pelishtimH6430 →287 times
אָ֖זthen
ʾazH227 →141 times
בֵּ֥ית[was] Beth-
beitH1035 →82 times
לָֽחֶם׃-lehem
lachemH1035 →82 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Samuel 14:6Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD…
it leads to
- Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.
- Deuteronomy 32:30
How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
- Matthew 19:26
Through
1 Samuel 13:23And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.
it leads to
- Isaiah 10:28
Assyria has entered Aiath and passed through Migron, storing their supplies at Michmash.
- 1 Samuel 14:1
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.
- 1 Samuel 14:4–5
Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh.
- Isaiah 10:28
Through
1 Samuel 22:1So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
it leads to
- Psalms 57:1–11
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.
- Psalms 57:1–11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Samuel
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alfred Edersheim, Bible History: Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and W. G. Blaikie, The Second Book of Samuel (Expositor's Bible).