13 Near the beginning of harvest time three of “The Thirty” went down to the cave of Adullam, where David was, while a band of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim.
14 At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem.
15 David felt homesick and said, “How I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!”
16 The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp, drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out as an offering to the Lord
17 and said, “Lord, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!” So he refused to drink it.Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.
18 Joab's brother Abishai (their mother was Zeruiah) was the leader of “The Famous Thirty”. He fought with his spear against 300 men and killed them, and became famous among “The Thirty”.
19 He was the most famous of “The Thirty” and became their leader, but he was not as famous as “The Three”.