King David’s Wells are three water cisterns located within the territories of the Catholic Action Center, just a few minute’s walk from the Church of the Nativity. The wells, which are still in use, are related to the place where David’s warriors broke through the Philistine ranks in order to bring him drinking water. When they retreated to the Cave of Adullam, where the king and his companions were hiding, King David refused to drink from the water which his soldiers endangered their lives to retrieve.
Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Location: Star Street, King David’s Roundabout, Bethlehem – Inside Catholic Action Center
When Bethlehem Enters History?
Bethlehem First time that it Enters History with the Figure of David, He Was Born there According to Prophet Samuel (1.Sam 16), to An Ephrathite Family who had lived there for many Generations they are as well the descendant of Ruth as mentioned in the Four Chapters of Book of Ruth 1-4.
When Prophet Samuel Came to Bethlehem to Visit a Family of a man called Jesse, He anointed His youngest Son, David to succeed Saul As King of Israel.
” The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” ” , When The Jealousy of Saul Forced David to become an outlaw, David Let attack on the Philistines,
“So David and his men went to Keilah”, They Slaughtered the Philistines and Took all their Livestock and rescued The People of Keilah (1 Sam 23:5), As Result of this and consequence the Philistines ( C. 1030 BC ) had occupied the Town of Bethlehem and put a Garrison Their Around 1030 BC as it is mentioned in (2 SAM 23:14) David Was Staying in the Stronghold (Abullam/Tell Esh Sheikh Madkhur ) at that time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the Town of Bethlehem, of course, that that Time David was hiding at that Cave of Adullam – Tell Esh Sheikh Madhkur, as a result of Saul’s Chasing him.
David Gathered Later 400 Men with a Grievance Against Saul (1 Samuel 22:1-2 ). Part of these men was the Best of the Best known as David’s Mighty Warriors, Later, Three of the best will do something extremely Dangerous.
David’s Mighty Warriors – the Three and the Thirty
A Group of Men in the Bible who were Toughest Military Warriors and who was Credited with Heroic Feats, According to (2 Samuel 23:8-39) divided them into The ” Three” which they are exactly three, and thirty of which there are more than Thirty.
According to the Biblical Text, it says there were Exactly 37 Individuals in all, but it is unclear whatever this refers to the thirty which may or may not contain the Three or the Combined total of both groups, Also the Scriptures refers to the Three and Thrity as though they were both important entities and not just a random list of three or 30 plug significant men.
What are the names of David’s Mighty Warriors?
First One and their Cheiften are Josheb-Basshebeth, he was the Cheif of the Three, He raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
The second One Was Eleazar Son of Dodai, The Ahohite, As one of the Three Mighty Warriors he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim For Battle, at that time the Israelites Retreated But Eleazer Stood his ground and struck down the PHilstines till his hand Grew Tired and Froze to the Sword, The Lord Brought him a Great Victory that Day, The Troops Returned to Eleazer but only to strip the Dead.
The third One Was Shaamah Son of Agee the Hararite, When the Philistines Banded Together at a place where there was a field full of lentils Israel’s Troops Fled from them, but Shammah Took his stand in the middle of the Field, HE Defended it and Struck the Philistines Down, The Lord Brought him a Great Triumph.
So what is the Story of King David Wells?
According to 2 Samuel 23(13-17) The three visited David when he is located at the Cave of Adullam, While there David expressed a heartfelt, a desire for water from the Well’s of Bethlehem, which is by the gate that was occupied by the Philistines, The Three therefore forcefully break past the Philistines and draw water from the Well, which they take back to David. David Refused to Drink the Water, Instead pouring it out Before Yahweh arguing that it was the Blood of the Men who had risked their lives.
Where is the Story of David Well’s Mentioned in the Tanakh / Old Testament?
as mentioned in the Bible ” During the Harvest Time ( Could be Wheat Harvest, Spring Between March and May) Three of the Thirty Cheif Warriors came down to David at the Cave of Adullam, while a band of philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim, At that time David was in the Strong Hold and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem, David Longed for Water and Said” Oh that someone would get time a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem”, so the three mighty warriors broke through the PHilstine Lines, Drew water from the Well near the gate of Bethlehem and Carried it Back to David, but he refused to drink it, instead he poured it out before the Lord, Far be it from the Lord to do this” He Said, ” is it not the Blood of men who went at the risk of their lives” and David would not drink it.
King David Humour About A Drink
Another Assumption it was the Harvest Time ( Possibility Wheat during Spring March-May) and the Weather was hot, and he was thirsty, perhaps a good water was scarce, and therefore he earnestly Wished ” O That I Could but have one Draught of the Water of the Well of Bethlehem” with the Water of that Well he had often refreshed himself when he was a young, and nothing now will serve him but that, though it is almost impossible to come at it, he strangely indulged a humor which he could give no reason for, other water might quench his thirst as well but he had a fancy for that Above any.
Where are King David Well’s Located in Bethlehem?
The Cistern that David’s Three Men rescue their for fore as Traditionally located in Bethlehem Inside the Catholic Action Club, Three great Cisterns Excavated in the rock are known as Biyar Daoud ( David’s Cisterns or Wells) which tradition identified with “The Cisterns that is in Bethlehem at the Gate” from which David longed to drink during a battle with the Philistines as mentioned in 2. Sam 23:15, but in David’s time, the Town could not have extended as far as this.
To the East of these Cisterns was discovered in 1895 a mosaic Pavement of a Church of the 5th or 6th Century with Greek Inscription from verses 19 and 20 of Psalm 117, “Open to me the Gates of Justice and IW will never and I’ve thanks to the Lord, This Gate is the Lord’s, The Just Shall enter it.
The Church Rested on a vast necropolis Cemetery of 18 Arocosolium of from 2 to 6 Tombs Each, The Cemetery was Christian as proved by the Inscriptions, Including the Most meaning Graffito is a Constantinian Cross from 4th Century engraved in the rock at the beginning of the Cemetery which affirms the Christian Nature of the Burial Ground, When it was First Discovered it was believed that it was the Church of Saint David, where the King Was buried and of which mention was made by pilgrims in the Byzantine Period, hence the name MAusoleum of David but please note that David’s Tomb is located in Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
At the Present, the Mosaic is buried under a cultivated field and further researches are impossible, in 1962 the Custody of the Holy land Had some work done by Brother Michelangel Tizzani , during which catacombs and arcosoliums were restored, Exvacations brought to light many potsherds ( 4th Century) and wall inscriptions (4-6 Century BC ).