Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 11:13
He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records this event during David’s military campaigns, describing a moment when Philistine forces assembled for battle at Pas-dammim. The account sits between the introduction of Eleazar as one of the three mighty men and the description of his defensive stand.
The words — הֽוּא־הָיָה (hu'-ha.Yah) translates literally as "he was," locating the subject's presence. נֶאֱסְפוּ (ne.'es.fu-) means "they were gathered," describing the Philistine mobilization at that specific location.
The thread — The Philistine assembly echoes 1 Samuel 17:1, where their forces gather for war between Socoh and Azekah. The barley field encounter parallels 2 Samuel 23:11, which records another warrior's stand against a gathered Philistine host.
Why it lands — The text reports that Israelite troops fled when the Philistines advanced, establishing the tactical failure that preceded divine intervention. It directs the reader to observe how defensive loyalty, not initial courage, becomes the mechanism for victory.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He was with David at Pas–dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.
- 2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.