He was with David at Pasdammim, 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.

1 CHRONICLES 11:13KJV
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1 Chronicles 11:13 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 11:13 mean?

1 Chronicles 11:13 sets the scene for an act of courage by one of David’s warriors. The Philistines had assembled for battle at Pasdammim, and David’s people ran from them near a field of barley.

The word “he” refers to Eleazar, named in verse 12. The narrator places Eleazar with David at a moment when the others are fleeing, preparing the reader for the defense of the field in verse 14.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 11:13

  • “parcel” — חֶלְקָה (ḥelqah): The word means a portion or plot of land. Here the battle takes place at a particular piece of cultivated ground rather than on an unnamed battlefield.
  • “fled” — נוּס (nus): The word carries the sense of running away. It describes the people’s movement away from the Philistines as the battle gathered around the field.

Why 1 Chronicles 11:13 matters

  • Eleazar is not introduced as an isolated fighter. The words “he was with David” place him alongside David when the Philistines gathered.
  • The barley field is central to the account, not just scenery. Verse 14 says the fighters took their stand in the middle of the plot and defended it.
  • The passage gives credit for the outcome beyond the fighters themselves. After describing their stand, verse 14 says that the Lord saved them with “a great deliverance,” meaning a great rescue.

Where else these words appear

“parcel” Hebrew H2513 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 27:16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
  • 2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
  • Job 24:18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

“barley” Hebrew H8184 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 9:31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
  • Ruth 3:17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:

“full” Hebrew H4392 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 23:9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
  • Numbers 7:67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

“fled” Hebrew H5127 · used in 143 verses

  • Genesis 14:10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
  • Judges 8:12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
  • 1 Chronicles 19:14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.