Lexical Summary Pas Dammim: Pas Dammim Original Word: פַס דַּמִּים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Pas-dammim From pac and the plural of dam; palm (i.e. Dell) of bloodshed; Pas-Dammim, a place in Palestine -- Pas-dammim. Compare 'Ephec Dammiym. see HEBREW pac see HEBREW dam see HEBREW 'Ephec Dammiym NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pas and dam Definition "palm of blood," a place in Judah (the same as NH0658b) NASB Translation Pasdammim (1). Topical Lexicon Geographic and Historical Setting Pas-dammim lay in the Shephelah of Judah, the gently rolling foothills between the hill country and the Philistine plain. The site sat between Socoh and Azekah, controlling one of the principal valleys that opened toward the coastal plain. Its strategic location made it a repeated flashpoint in Israel’s long conflict with the Philistines. The Chronicler records a single episode there (1 Chronicles 11:13), while the parallel battlefield of Ephes-dammim (1 Samuel 17:1) hosted the standoff that produced David’s victory over Goliath. Together, the references portray a frontier zone where Israel’s faith and Philistine force met in open contest. Biblical Account During the early days of David’s rise, “He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley” (1 Chronicles 11:13). While most of Israel’s troops withdrew, Eleazar son of Dodo stood his ground beside David. The text states that they “struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.” The notice appears in the catalog of “the thirty” mighty men, underscoring the moment as an early proof of God’s anointing on David’s leadership and of the Spirit-empowered valor of his companions (compare 2 Samuel 23:9-10). Strategic Importance 1. Agricultural preservation: The barley field highlights the Philistines’ tactic of economic harassment. Defending crops was tantamount to safeguarding Israel’s food supply and covenant inheritance (Deuteronomy 8:7-10). Theological Themes • The LORD fights for His people: The Chronicler attributes the outcome directly to divine intervention, reinforcing the recurrent biblical motif that “the battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47). Connections to David’s Wider Story Pas-dammim serves as prologue to the better-known confrontation with Goliath. In both scenes David’s faith eclipses Philistine weaponry, and in both the topography of the Shephelah forms the stage. The Chronicler, writing after the exile, selects the episode to remind returning Jews that obedience and courage bring the same divine aid their fathers experienced. Christological Reflections David’s stand at Pas-dammim prefigures the greater Son of David who would face humanity’s ultimate enemy. As David reclaimed a blood-stained boundary, so Jesus Christ secured an eternal inheritance by shedding His own blood (Hebrews 9:12). The victory gained in a single field anticipates the cosmic triumph achieved at the cross. Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Guard the “barley fields” entrusted to you—family, doctrine, integrity—even when others retreat. Archaeological and Geographical Notes Scholars locate Pas-dammim near modern-day Beit Shemesh or within the Elah Valley region. While excavation has yet to verify the exact site, surface surveys confirm the presence of Iron Age fortifications in the area, consistent with chronicled skirmishes between Israel and Philistia. Summary Pas-dammim, though mentioned only once by name, encapsulates the clash between covenant promise and pagan aggression, showcasing how unwavering faith secures God’s deliverance. Its memory encourages believers to stand firm where the stakes appear modest yet the spiritual implications are vast. Forms and Transliterations דַּמִּ֗ים דמים dam·mîm damMim dammîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 11:13 HEB: דָּוִ֜יד בַּפַּ֣ס דַּמִּ֗ים וְהַפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ נֶאֱסְפוּ־ NAS: He was with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines KJV: He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines INT: was with David Pasdammim the Philistines were gathered 1 Occurrence |