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The Philistine Army (Shawna's Bible Study Season 12 Episode 5 portrait)
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The Philistine Army

The Philistine ArmyThe Philistine Horde at Pas-dammim (descriptive)

The iron-armed coastal invaders who assembled at Pas-dammim to plunder Israel's barley harvest — and were routed when Eleazar son of Dodo stood alone in the field until his hand froze to his sword.

Testament OT
Historical Era The United Monarchy
Featured In Season 12
Key Passage 1 Samuel 17:1–52
✦ Tap Any Card to Unfold Full Scriptural Proof (2 Verified Insights)
Philistia (the southwestern coastal plain of Canaan: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron)
1 Samuel 6:171 Samuel 17:1–4
The Philistines always timed their raids for the barley and lentil harvests — because the enemy attacks hardest right when your spiritual breakthrough is ready to be reaped.
📜 Complete Scriptural Narrative

Perennial military adversaries of Israel occupying the coastal pentapolis of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath, the Philistines repeatedly raided Israel's grain fields during harvest season to starve the covenant people into submission (1 Samuel 17:1; 2 Samuel 23:9–12). At Pas-dammim, though the rest of the men of Israel fled before their charge, Eleazar son of Dodo and King David stood in the barley plot and struck them down until the LORD worked a great victory and the troops returned only to strip the slain (2 Samuel 23:9–10).

How Students Search & Remember The Philistine Army:
“philistine army defeated by eleazar in the barley field”“raiders at pas dammim and the lentil plot”“enemies of david and his mighty men”
ESV Scripture Index:
1 Samuel 17:1–522 Samuel 5:17–252 Samuel 23:8–171 Chronicles 11:12–14
Season 12 • Episode 5 Main Character 2 Samuel 23 • Ephesians 6
Full Episode Page →

The Sword and the Stand — Eleazar's Frozen Grip

Role in Storytime: Marauding Philistine horde assembled at Pas-dammim to plunder the barley harvest, routed by Eleazar's solitary stand.

Eleazar's solitary stand in the barley field until his hand froze to his sword.

✦ Storytime Broadcast Theater • S12E5
Eleazar's Frozen Grip (2 Samuel 23 • Ephesians 6)
Open on YouTube ↗
🎬 X-Ray • Also in Episode S12E5 (Tap to Switch Character)
Greek • G3162 Machaira — “Sword”
A short sword or dagger used by Roman soldiers for precise, close-quarters combat.
Hebrew • H1692 Dabaq — “Clung / Froze”
To cling, stick, cleave, or be joined together inextricably. (The same word used in Genesis for a husband 'cleaving' to his wife).
Hebrew • H3021 Yaga — “Weary / Exhausted”
To gasp from exhaustion, to toil to the point of breaking, to be fatigued.
Season 12 Workbook
Season 12 Companion Study Workbook
Season 12: The Invisible Arsenal
Workbook Story Time: p. 64 • Greek/Hebrew Roots: p. 66
Instant Scriptural & Descriptive Clue Matches
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