1 Samuel 26:2 So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

◄ 1 Samuel 26:2 ►

New International Version
So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David.

New Living Translation
So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph.

English Standard Version
So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Berean Standard Bible
So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

King James Bible
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

New King James Version
Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.

New American Standard Bible
So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, taking with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

NASB 1995
So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

NASB 1977
So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Amplified Bible
So Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, taking with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David [there] in the wilderness of Ziph.

Christian Standard Bible
So Saul, accompanied by three thousand of the fit young men of Israel, went immediately to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Saul, accompanied by 3,000 of the choice men of Israel, went to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

American Standard Version
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Contemporary English Version
Saul took 3,000 of Israel's best soldiers and went to look for David there in Ziph Desert.

English Revised Version
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul went to the desert of Ziph, taking with him 3,000 of Israel's best-trained men to search for David.

Good News Translation
Saul went at once with three thousand of the best soldiers in Israel to the wilderness of Ziph to look for David,

International Standard Version
So Saul rose and went down with 3,000 select men of Israel to the Wilderness of Ziph, to look for David in the Wilderness of Ziph.

Majority Standard Bible
So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

NET Bible
So Saul arose and went down to the desert of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand select men of Israel, to look for David in the desert of Ziph.

New Heart English Bible
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

World English Bible
Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Saul rises, and goes down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him [are] three thousand men, chosen ones of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul riseth, and goeth down unto the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand men, chosen ones of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will rise and go down to the desert of Ziph, and with him three thousand men the chosen of Israel, to seek out David in the desert of Ziph.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul rose up, and he descended into the desert of Ziph, and with him three thousand elect men of Israel, so that he might seek David in the desert of Ziph.

New American Bible
So Saul went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand of the best warriors of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

New Revised Standard Version
So Saul rose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul stood and came down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand choice men of Israel to inquire of David in the wilderness of Ziph

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him went three thousand men chosen out of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

David Again Spares Saul
1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. 3Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon, but David was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had followed him there,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 24:2
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

1 Samuel 23:19-20
Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? / Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”

1 Samuel 18:11
and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

1 Samuel 19:1
Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David,

1 Samuel 23:14
And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.

1 Samuel 22:8
Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

1 Samuel 20:31
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”

1 Samuel 19:11
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”

1 Samuel 23:25
and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.

1 Samuel 18:29
he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

1 Samuel 19:10
Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded him and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

1 Samuel 23:7-8
When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” / Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

1 Samuel 22:13
And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

1 Samuel 24:11
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

1 Samuel 25:29
And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.

Treasury of Scripture

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Saul arose

1 Samuel 23:23-25
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah…

1 Samuel 24:17
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

Psalm 38:12
They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

three thousand

1 Samuel 24:2
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

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1 Samuel 26

1. Saul, by the discovery of the Ziphites, comes to Hachilah against David
4. David coming into the trench keeps Abishai from killing Saul,
11. but takes his spear and jug
13. David reproves Abner
17. and exhorts Saul
21. Saul acknowledges his sin

Berean Study Bible

So Saul arose
The phrase "So Saul arose" indicates a decisive action taken by King Saul. The Hebrew root for "arose" is קוּם (qum), which often signifies rising up with purpose or intent. This action reflects Saul's determination and resolve, albeit misguided, to pursue David. In a broader spiritual context, it serves as a reminder of the human tendency to act on impulse or emotion, often without seeking divine guidance.

and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph
The "Wilderness of Ziph" is a significant geographical location in the narrative of David's life. Ziph was a town in the Judean wilderness, south of Hebron. The wilderness represents a place of testing and trial, both physically and spiritually. For David, it was a place of refuge and divine encounter, while for Saul, it became a place of relentless pursuit driven by jealousy and fear. This contrast highlights the different spiritual states of the two men: one seeking God's will, the other consumed by his own.

with three thousand chosen men of Israel
The "three thousand chosen men" underscores the seriousness and scale of Saul's pursuit. These were not ordinary soldiers but elite troops, indicating the lengths to which Saul was willing to go to capture David. Historically, this reflects the military practices of ancient Israel, where chosen men were selected for their skill and loyalty. Spiritually, it serves as a metaphor for the resources we might wrongly expend in pursuing our own agendas rather than God's.

to seek David
The phrase "to seek David" is laden with irony. While Saul's intent was to capture and kill David, the Hebrew root בָּקַשׁ (baqash) for "seek" can also mean to search or inquire, often used in the context of seeking God. This duality highlights Saul's tragic misdirection—seeking to destroy the very man after God's own heart, whom he should have been seeking to understand and emulate.

in the Wilderness of Ziph
The repetition of "Wilderness of Ziph" emphasizes the setting's importance. It was a place of both physical desolation and spiritual revelation. For David, it was a place where he experienced God's protection and guidance, as seen in the Psalms attributed to this period. For Saul, it was a place where his spiritual blindness and disobedience were further exposed. This duality serves as a powerful reminder of how the same circumstances can lead to vastly different spiritual outcomes based on one's heart posture toward God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph.--We assume, then, that after the marriage of David with Abigail he and his armed band returned again to his old neighbourhood in the south--in the desert of Judah--the district named after the Hill of Hachilah being, no doubt, in all respects well adapted for the permanent encampment of such a large band as David's now most certainly was. David, who had been forced on a previous occasion to leave it on account of the hot pursuit of Saul, aided by the Ziphites, who knew the country and its resources so well, probably now supposed, after the protestation of Saul at En-gedi, that he would now at least be left in peace. But he forgot with whom he had to do--forgot the state of mind of his determined foe, and how likely it was that the old mania would return with redoubled force. The Ziphites, however, who knew Saul, and the feeling respecting David which existed at the court of Saul, repeated their old tactics, and sent, as on a previous occasion, to suggest that with their help the obnoxious chieftain and his free lances could be destroyed. The temptation was too great to be resisted; so probably, with the advice of Abner, Saul took the field again. The 3,000 seem to have been the standing force which Saul kept round him in the Gibeah garrison. (See the first notice of this standing army in 1Samuel 13:2.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 2-4. - Three thousand chosen men. Not chosen for this expedition, but the force which Saul always kept under arms (1 Samuel 13:2). By the way. The high road which led down to Arad. David abode in the wilderness. Hebrew, "abides." Instead of fleeing in haste as before, he remains apparently on the higher ground, as he speaks in ver. 6 of going down to Saul's camp. And he saw. I.e. learned, was told. It was only when his scouts brought him their report that he knew that Saul was come in very deed, or "for a certainty" (see 1 Samuel 23:23).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So Saul,
שָׁא֗וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

accompanied by
וְאִתּ֛וֹ (wə·’it·tōw)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

three
שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־ (šə·lō·šeṯ-)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

thousand
אֲלָפִ֥ים (’ă·lā·p̄îm)
Number - masculine plural
Strong's 505: A thousand

choice men
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

went down
וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙ (way·yê·reḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the Wilderness
מִדְבַּר־ (miḏ·bar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

of Ziph
זִ֔יף (zîp̄)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2128: Ziph -- a son of Judah, also a city Southeast of Hebron and a city in southern Judah

to search for
לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (lə·ḇaq·qêš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

David
דָּוִ֖ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

there.
בְּמִדְבַּר־ (bə·miḏ·bar-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

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OT History: 1 Samuel 26:2 Then Saul arose and went down (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)