What We Learn From Ziklag.sermon

Question

What is the significance of Ziklag in the Bible?

Ziklag in the Bible

Answer

Ziklag, a town on the southernmost boundary of Judea, is first mentioned in the Bible as function of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:31). Ziklag was assigned to the tribe of Simeon inside Judah (Joshua 19:5) but appears non to have been conquered by the Israelites earlier the fourth dimension of David. Ziklag was still under Philistine control when Saul reigned as king.

For many years King Saul sought to harm David. After the death of Samuel, David fled for his life with six hundred men and their households to Philistine territory. While at that place, Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, gave Ziklag to David at his request: "'Then David said to Achish, 'If I accept plant favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live in that location. Why should your servant alive in the royal city with you?' Then on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and information technology has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since" (ane Samuel 27:5–half dozen). Achish awarded Ziklag to David nigh likely to ensure David's continued neutrality.

David ruled over Ziklag for 16 months, during which he fabricated the boondocks his base of operations for military exploits confronting the Amalekites. Many of State of israel's disillusioned warriors flocked to join forces with David'southward private army at that place (1 Chronicles 12:1–22).

While David and his men were away attempting to bring together the Philistine army to fight against Saul, Amalekite raiders attacked Ziklag. When the Philistines refused to let David and his men fight with them, David returned to Ziklag and found his city had been burned down and all its inhabitants taken hostage: "David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed past fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive" (i Samuel 30:ane–three). In a daring rescue, David and his men pursued and defeated the raiders, recovering all that had been taken, including David'south two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail (verses sixteen–31).

David was living in Ziklag when he received the news of Saul'due south death (2 Samuel 4:10). After that, David moved to Hebron to become the king of Judah.

The exact location of Ziklag is debated. Some scholars associate it with Tell esh-Sharia, about 15 miles southeast of Gaza. Others pinpoint information technology at Tell el-Khuweilfeh, about 10 miles northeast of Beersheba.

Ziklag remained in Israelite possession until the end of the monarchy and is last mentioned in the Bible every bit one of the cities inhabited by Jews later returning from exile in Babylon (Nehemiah 11:28).

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What is the significance of Ziklag in the Bible?

This page last updated: January iv, 2022