Bible Location
Meaning: measure pressed down · 12 cross references · Modern-day map available
Ziklag was a town in the Negeb closely associated with David during the years when he lived under Philistine protection before becoming king. It is important because it became David's base, was raided by the Amalekites, and stands at the threshold between his fugitive life and his rise to rule in Judah. First appears in Josh 15:31.1
Place meaning
measure pressed down
Coordinates
31.38, 34.87
First appears
Josh 15:31
AI summary: Ziklag carries unusual narrative weight because it belongs to a narrow but crucial period in David's life. From there David led men, navigated the dangerous politics of Philistine territory, and faced the devastating Amalekite raid that led to one of his most dramatic recoveries. Soon after, news of Saul's death reached him there, linking Ziklag directly to the transition from exile-like wandering to kingship. The cross references present Ziklag as a southern town of trial, recovery, and royal transition.1
Place meaning
measure pressed down
Latitude
31.38
Longitude
34.87
Bible references
12
A town in the Negeb, or south country of Judah (Josh. 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 Sam. 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 Sam. 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 Sam. 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. 3
Source note: this 1893 dictionary language reflects its period and may be culturally insensitive or outdated. It is presented as historical source material, not as ai-BIBLE’s language, interpretation, or endorsement.
| Book | Cross-References |
|---|---|
| Josh | |
| 1Sam | |
| 2Sam | |
| 1Chr | |
| Neh |
Figure1: A table of cross references between the selected passage and other passages (Data from Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.)
AI-assisted summary prepared for ai-BIBLE and stored as page content, based on dictionary material, place metadata, and linked Bible cross references.
Alistair de Blacquiere-Clarkson, “ai-BIBLE Bible Names JSON Factsheet Aggregating Material from Smith’s Bible Dictionary & Hitcocks’s New and Complete Analysis of the Bible.” ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
M.G.Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.