John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 23:17

"And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: [shall I drink] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men." — 2 Samuel 23:17 (ASV)

And he said, be it far from me, O Lord, that one should do
this
Drink of the water these men had brought him:

[is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their
lives ?
who risked the shedding of their blood, and went in danger of their lives to get it:

therefore he would not drink it :
some compare with this the story of Alexander ^F4 to whom a vessel of water was offered when in extreme thirst, which he refused, because he could not bear to drink it alone, and so small a quantity could not be divided among all about him; but the reasons are not the same:

these things did these three mighty men ;
which made them very famous.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F4: Curt. Hist. l. 7. c. 5.