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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records David’s mighty men’s actions during a retreat at Pas-dammim, where Eleazar remains at the battle line while the Israelite army flees. The account follows the Philistines’ gathering and the troops’ withdrawal.

The words — קָם֩ (kam) means “he arose” or stood firm, and יָגְעָ֣ה (ya.ge.'Ah) means “it grew weary,” describing Eleazar’s physical exhaustion while striking down Philistines. These terms anchor the event in bodily endurance rather than immediate supernatural rescue.

The thread — The pattern of divine intervention following human resistance appears in 1 Samuel 11:13 and 1 Samuel 19:5, where the LORD works salvation after a warrior’s decisive action. Joshua 10:10 similarly records the LORD throwing enemies into confusion before Israel achieves a great slaughter.

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that sustained combat and physical exhaustion precede the LORD’s victory, not as a mechanism for success but as a historical record. It demands recognition that the army’s return to plunder follows divine action, not human strategy.

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 arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 11:13 But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”
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?”
Joshua 10:10 And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
Joshua 10:42 And because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel, Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign.
Joshua 11:8 and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who struck them down and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. They struck them down, leaving no survivors.
Judges 15:14 When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.
Judges 15:18 And being very thirsty, Samson cried out to the LORD, “You have accomplished this great deliverance through Your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”
1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
1 Samuel 14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
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.