Bible Strands
1 Samuel 26:1
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Ziphites approach King Saul at Gibeah to report David’s location. They ask whether David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon, at the moment Saul mobilizes three thousand chosen men to hunt him in the Wilderness of Ziph.
The words — The term הַ/זִּפִים (ha./zi.Fim) identifies the informants as the Ziphites, while הֲ/ל֨וֹא (ha./Lo') operates as a rhetorical "is it not," presenting their intelligence as an established fact rather than a mere question.
The thread — This report pattern repeats in 1 Samuel 23:19 when the same group locates David at Horesh, and is explicitly memorialized in Psalm 54:1 as the occasion for David’s supplication. Joshua 15:24 originally designates Ziph as part of Judah’s allotment.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe how localized knowledge enables pursuit, demanding a clear-eyed assessment of how human intelligence operates against those under protection.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 23:19 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?
- Psalms 54:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “Is David not hiding among us?” Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might!
- Joshua 15:24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
- Joshua 15:55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
- 1 Samuel 26:3 Saul 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,