Why did David desire specifically water from the well of Beis Lechem?
'Rashi': Since David was used to that water (Malbim Shmuel II, 23:16 ? for he used to live near Beis Lechem), he desired it. One desires water and air that he is used to, and a change harms him. We find in Yosifun (Perek 3) that a queen became sick because she married outside of her land, and doctors said that her only cure is to bathe in water of her land, and so they did for her.
Rashi (Shmuel II, 23:15, citing Bava Kama 60b): He wanted to ask a question 1 to the Sanhedrin sitting in Beis Lechem. 2
Radak (Shmuel II, 23:15): That water was cold (this is Kli Yakar's text of Radak) and good. It was harvest season (summer), like it says, and then one desires cold water due to the heat. Perhaps there was no good water in the fortress in which David was.
Bar Kapara (in Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 12b): It was Sukos; he wanted the water for Nisuch ha'Mayim 3 . Radak (Shmuel II, 23:15) - David made a Bamah; Bamos were permitted at the time.
Rav Huna (in Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 12b): He wanted to know Halachos of captives (of the seven nations, whether one must kill them, or if one may keep them alive).
R. Shimon bar Rebbi (in Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 12b): He desired to know [a matter needed] to build the Beis ha'Mikdash.
Bava Kama 60b: He wanted to know whether one who lit a fire is liable for something concealed that was burned, or if he may use others' money (burn stacks in which Pelishtim were hiding) to save himself, or if he may feed his animal from barley of Yisraelim, on condition that he will pay with lentils.
Radak (16): This is astounding. This was in Me'aras Adulam. How do Chazal equate it to the episode of the field in Efes Damim?!
If so, why does it say (verse 18) that David did not want to drink the water?! If they risked their lives to bring water for a Korban, why would David think to drink it?! (PF)
