14. At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem.
15. David longed for water. He said, "I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well that is near the gate of Bethlehem."
16. So the three mighty men fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well that was near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.
17. "Lord, I would never drink that water!" David said. "It stands for the blood of these men. They put their lives in danger by going to Bethlehem to get it." So David wouldn't drink it. Those were some of the brave things the three mighty men did.
18. Abishai was chief over the Three. He was the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the Three were.
19. In fact, he was even more honored than the Three. He became their commander. But he wasn't included among them.