Original Word: פַס דַּמִּים
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Pac Dammiym
Pronunciation: pahs dahm-MEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (pas dam-meem')
KJV: Pas-dammim
NASB: Pasdammim
Word Origin: [from H6446 (פַּס - varicolored) and the plural of H1818 (דָּם - blood)]

1. palm (i.e. dell) of bloodshed
2. Pas-Dammim, a place in Israel

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

Word Origin
from pas and dam
Definition
"palm of blood," a place in Judah (the same as NH0658b)
NASB Translation
Pasdammim (1).

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).
2. Military gateway: Control of the lowland passes determined whether Philistine forces could penetrate the Judean hill country. A victory at Pas-dammim helped keep the enemy at arm’s length from Bethlehem and, ultimately, Jerusalem.
3. National morale: Israel’s fortunes often ebbed in these valleys. Triumphs such as David’s at Pas-dammim reversed the narrative of fear that had plagued earlier generations (1 Samuel 4:1-11).

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).
• Covenant loyalty rewarded: Eleazar’s refusal to abandon the barley plot illustrates steadfast love (chesed) toward God’s anointed king, foreshadowing the picture of committed discipleship in the New Testament (Luke 22:28).
• Small beginnings, great deliverance: A field of barley may seem insignificant, yet faithfulness in minor matters invites monumental victories (Luke 16:10).

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.
2. Dependence on the LORD, not numerical superiority, determines spiritual outcomes.
3. Courage is contagious: Eleazar’s valor alongside David models mutual encouragement for today’s leaders and congregations (Philippians 1:14).
4. Every local battle fits within God’s redemptive storyline; therefore, perseverance in seemingly small assignments contributes to the advance of His kingdom.

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.

דַּמִּ֗ים דמים dam·mîm damMim dammîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts