Introduction:
Ziklag is a significant location in the biblical narrative, primarily associated with the life of David. It is mentioned in the context of the tribal allotments in the Old Testament and plays a crucial role during David's time as a fugitive from King Saul.

Biblical References:
Ziklag is first mentioned in the context of the tribal allotments in the Book of Joshua. It is listed as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah and later associated with the tribe of Simeon. Joshua 15:31 states, "Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah," and in Joshua 19:5, it is again mentioned as part of the territory of Simeon: "Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah."

The most notable references to Ziklag occur in the narrative of David. In 1 Samuel 27:5-6, David, fleeing from King Saul, seeks refuge with Achish, the king of Gath. David requests a place to live, and Achish grants him Ziklag: "So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and to this day it still belongs to the kings of Judah" (1 Samuel 27:6). This period marks a significant phase in David's life, as he uses Ziklag as a base for his operations while living among the Philistines.

Ziklag is also the site of a devastating event recorded in 1 Samuel 30. While David and his men are away, the Amalekites raid Ziklag, burning it and taking captive the women and children. Upon returning, David finds the city destroyed and his people taken. In his distress, David seeks the Lord's guidance and is instructed to pursue the Amalekites. The narrative continues in 1 Samuel 30:18-19, where David successfully recovers all that was taken: "David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back."

Historical and Geographical Context:
The exact location of Ziklag has been a subject of debate among scholars and archaeologists. It is generally believed to have been located in the Negev region, south of Judah, near the Philistine territory. The identification of Ziklag with a specific archaeological site remains uncertain, though several candidates have been proposed.

Theological Significance:
Ziklag holds theological significance as a place of refuge and testing for David. It represents a period of transition and preparation for his future role as king of Israel. The events at Ziklag highlight themes of divine providence, leadership, and the importance of seeking God's guidance in times of distress. David's recovery of the captives and plunder from the Amalekites underscores God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises to David.

Legacy:
Ziklag's legacy is intertwined with David's rise to kingship. It serves as a testament to God's protection and provision during a critical period in David's life. The narrative of Ziklag is a reminder of the trials and triumphs that often accompany the path to fulfilling God's purposes.Ziklag

measure pressed down

Ziklag

(winding), a place which possesses a special interest from its having been the residence and the private property of David. It is first mentioned in the catalogue of the towns of Judah in (Joshua 15:31) and occurs, in the same connection among the places which were allotted out of the territory of Judah to Simeon. (Joshua 19:5) We next encounter it in the possession of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:6) when it was, at David's request, bestowed upon him by Achish king of Gath. He resided there for a year and four months. (1 Samuel 27:6,7; 30:14,26; 1 Chronicles 12:1,20) It was there he received the news of Saul's death. (2 Samuel 1:1; 4:10) He then relinquished it for Hebron. (2 Samuel 2:1) Ziklag is finally mentioned as being reinhabited by the people of Judah after their return from captivity. (Nehemiah 11:28) The situation of the town is difficult to determine, and we only know for certain that it was in the south country.

Ziklag

A city of Judah and Simeon, on the borders of the Philistines, Joshua 15:31; 19:5, who held it until the time of Saul, when Achish king of Gath gave it to David. Hither many other refugees from Judah resorted, and David was thus enabled to aid Achish, and to chastise the Amalekites who had sacked Ziklag during his absence, 1 Samuel 27:1 6; 30:1-31; Nehemiah 11:28.

A town in the Negeb, or south country of Judah (Joshua 15:31), in the possession of the Philistines when David fled to Gath from Ziph with all his followers. Achish, the king, assigned him Ziklag as his place of residence. There he dwelt for over a year and four months. From this time it pertained to the kings of Judah (1 Samuel 27:6). During his absence with his army to join the Philistine expedition against the Israelites (29:11), it was destroyed by the Amalekites (30:1, 2), whom David, however, pursued and utterly routed, returning all the captives (1 Samuel 30:26-31). Two days after his return from this expedition, David received tidings of the disastrous battle of Gilboa and of the death of Saul (2 Samuel 1:1-16). He now left Ziklag and returned to Hebron, along with his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, and his band of 600 men. It has been identified with `Asluj, a heap of ruins south of Beersheba. Conder, however, identifies it with Khirbet Zuheilikah, ruins found on three hills half a mile apart, some seventeen miles north-west of Beersheba, on the confines of Philistia, Judah, and Amalek. ZIKLAG

zik'-lag (tsiqelagh, tsiqelagh (2 Samuel 1:1), tsiqelagh (1 Chronicles 12:1, 20); usually in the Septuagint Sekelak, or Sikelag): A town assigned (Joshua 19:5 1 Chronicles 4:30) to Simeon, but in Joshua 15:31 named, between Hornah and Madmannah, as one of the cities of the Negeb of Judah, "toward the border of Edom." It is said (1 Samuel 27:6) to have remained a royal city. In Nehemiah 11:28 it is in the list of towns reinhabited by the returning children of Judah. Its chief associations are with David. Achish the Philistine king of Gath gave it to David as a residence (1 Samuel 27:6 1 Chronicles 12:1, 20); it was raided by the Amalekites, on whom David took vengeance and so recovered his property (1 Samuel 30:14, 26); here the messenger who came to announce Saul's death was slain (2 Samuel 1:1; 2 Samuel 4:10).

The site of this important place is not yet fixed with certainty; Conder proposed Zucheilika, a ruin 11 miles South-Southeast of Gaza, and 4 miles North of Wady es-Sheri'a, which may be the "Brook Besor" (1 Samuel 30:9, 10, 21); Rowland (1842) proposed `Asluj, a heap of ruins South of Beersheba and 7 miles to the East of Bered. Neither site is entirely satisfactory. See Williams, Holy City, I, 463-68; BR, II, 201, PEF, 288, Sh XX.

E. W. G. Masterman

6860. Tsiqelag -- a city assigned to Judah, also to Simeon
... Tsiqelag. 6861 . a city assigned to Judah, also to Simeon. Transliteration: Tsiqelag
Phonetic Spelling: (tsik-lag') Short Definition: Ziklag. ... Ziklag. ...
/hebrew/6860.htm - 6k

The Bright Dawn of a Reign
... The last stage of David's wanderings had brought him to Ziklag, a Philistine city. ...
What was he to do? Ziklag was untenable; where was he to take his men? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the bright dawn of a.htm

Making the Best of Trouble
... one of the towns in the open country, that I may live there; for why should your
servant live in the royal city with you?" So Achish gave him Ziklag, and David ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/making the best of trouble.htm

How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... 1. This fight proved to be on the same day whereon David was come back
to Ziklag, after he had overcome the Amalekites. Now when ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how david reigned.htm

The Exile --Continued.
... Gath. On the offer being accepted, the little town of Ziklag was allotted
to them, and became their home for a year and four months. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/viii the exilecontinued.htm

Now Saul Upon God's not Answering Him Concerning the Fight with ...
... lest any of our enemies should make an incursion upon it, which will be one part
of that assistance which I expect from thee." So David came to Ziklag, as the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 now saul upon.htm

The History of David
... For whilst David had been out with Achish the king, they of Amalek had been in Ziklag
and taken all that was therein prisoners, and robbed and carried away ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

The Statute of David for the Sharing of the Spoil
... And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even
to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the statute of david for.htm

The King.
... its rude resting-place! The news is received by the fugitive at Ziklag in
striking and characteristic fashion. He first flames out ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/ix the king.htm

The King --Continued.
... "Jehovah, my rock and my fortress," reminds us of his cry in Ziklag, "Thou art my
rock and my fortress" (xxxi.3), and of the "hold" (the same word) of Adullam ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/x the kingcontinued.htm

At the Front or the Base
... David's city of Ziklag had been captured by the Amalekites, while he and all his
men who could carry arms were absent, serving in the army of Achish, the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/at the front or the.htm

Ziklag (13 Occurrences)
... Achish, the king, assigned him Ziklag as his place of residence. There he dwelt
for over a year and four months. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ZIKLAG. ...
/z/ziklag.htm - 13k

Hormah (9 Occurrences)
... In Joshua 12:14 it is named between Geder and Arad; in Joshua 15:30 between Chesil
and Ziklag, among the uttermost cities toward the border of Edom in the South ...
/h/hormah.htm - 12k

Jozabad (10 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Whom Jehovah bestows. (1.) One of the Benjamite
archers who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:4). ...
/j/jozabad.htm - 11k

Raid (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:1 It happened, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third
day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South, and on Ziklag, and ...
/r/raid.htm - 11k

Pushed (28 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:1 And it cometh to pass, in the coming in of David and his men to Ziklag,
on the third day, that the Amalekites have pushed unto the south, and ...
/p/pushed.htm - 15k

Achish (20 Occurrences)
... It was probably this same king to whom David a second time repaired at the head
of a band of 600 warriors, and who assigned him Ziklag, whence he carried on ...
/a/achish.htm - 16k

Amal'ekites (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on
the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South, and upon ...
/a/amal'ekites.htm - 13k

Overthrown (44 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:1 It happened, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third
day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South, and on Ziklag, and ...
/o/overthrown.htm - 20k

Invaded (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on
the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and ...
/i/invaded.htm - 12k

Raided (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on
the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South, and upon ...
/r/raided.htm - 8k

What is the significance of Ziklag in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Obadiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Amalekites? | GotQuestions.org

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