Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 11:14
But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records events during the battle at Pas-dammim, occurring after the Israelite army fled the Philistine forces. He notes the moment Eleazar and David took their ground in a barley field to hold the line against the advancing enemy.
The words — The verb וַ/יּ֥וֹשַׁע (va/i.Yo.o.sha') translates literally as "and he delivered," describing the LORD’s direct intervention in the battle. It follows the Hebrew verbs for taking stand and striking down to mark the shift from human defense to divine rescue.
The thread — This pattern of human preparation followed by divine deliverance appears in Proverbs 21:31, where victory is declared the LORD’s alone. It echoes in 1 Samuel 14:23, which records the LORD saving Israel that day, and in Psalms 144:10, which credits the LORD with freeing David from the deadly sword.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that military defense and divine intervention operate together, not in competition. It demands acknowledgment that human stand in the field is only effective when the LORD executes the outcome.
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
And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance.
Cross-references
- Psalms 144:10 to Him who gives victory to kings, who frees His servant David from the deadly sword.
- Proverbs 21:31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
- 1 Samuel 19:5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”
- 2 Samuel 23:10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.
- 2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
- Psalms 18:50 Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.