1 Samuel 26:1
New International Version
The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

New Living Translation
Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.”

English Standard Version
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”

King James Bible
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

New King James Version
Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”

New American Standard Bible
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon?”

NASB 1995
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?”

NASB 1977
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?”

Amplified Bible
The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding on the hill of Hachilah, east of Jeshimon?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.”

American Standard Version
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?

Contemporary English Version
Once again, some people from Ziph went to Gibeah to talk with Saul. "David has a hideout on Mount Hachilah near Jeshimon out in the desert," they told him.

English Revised Version
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people of Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah. "David is hiding at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon," they said.

Good News Translation
Some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah and told him that David was hiding on Mount Hachilah at the edge of the Judean wilderness.

International Standard Version
People from Ziph came to Saul in Gibeah and informed him, "David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah which is across from Jeshimon, isn't he?"

Majority Standard Bible
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, ?Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon??

NET Bible
The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Isn't David hiding on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon?"

New Heart English Bible
Then the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Look, David is hiding himself on the hill of Hakilah, which is near Jeshimon."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

World English Bible
The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the Ziphites come to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding himself in the height of Hachilah, on the front of the desert?”

Young's Literal Translation
And the Ziphites come in unto Saul, at Gibeah, saying, 'Is not David hiding himself in the height of Hachilah, on the front of the desert?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Ziphites will come to Saul to the hill, saying, Is not David hiding in the hill of Hachilah, upon the face of the desert?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the men of Ziph came to Saul in Gabaa, saying: Behold David is hid in the hill of Hachila, which is over against the wilderness.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah, saying: “Behold, David is hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite the wilderness.”

New American Bible
Men from Ziph came to Saul in Gibeah, reporting that David was hiding on the hill of Hachilah at the edge of Jeshimon.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “David is in hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THEN the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Behold, David is hiding himself in Gibaoth-hawilah, which is before the wilderness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Ziphites came to Shaul at Gebah and they said to him: “Behold, David is hidden in Gebuth Khaweela that is before Ashimon!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying: 'Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Ziphites come out of the dry country to Saul to the hill, saying, Behold, David hides himself with us in the hill Echela, opposite Jessemon.

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?” 2So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.…

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?

Psalm 54:1-3
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! / Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. / For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah

1 Samuel 24:1-2
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” / 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 23:14-15
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. / While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.

1 Samuel 23:24-25
So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, / 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 22:6-8
Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him. / Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds? / 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 27:1
David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

1 Samuel 23:29
And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.

1 Samuel 19:1-2
Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David, / so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there.

1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” / And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

1 Samuel 20:1
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”

1 Samuel 21:10
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

1 Samuel 22:1
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

1 Samuel 25:1
When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.

Matthew 2:13
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

Ziphites

Joshua 15:24,55
Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, …

Doth not

1 Samuel 26:3
And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

1 Samuel 23:19
Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

Psalm 54:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

Jump to Previous
David Desert East Hachilah Hachi'lah Hakilah Height Hide Hiding Hill Jeshimon Jeshi'mon Saul Secretly Waiting Waste Ziphites
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David Desert East Hachilah Hachi'lah Hakilah Height Hide Hiding Hill Jeshimon Jeshi'mon Saul Secretly Waiting Waste Ziphites
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














Then the Ziphites
The Ziphites were inhabitants of the region of Ziph, located in the Judean wilderness. Historically, this area was known for its rugged terrain and caves, making it a suitable hiding place for fugitives like David. The Ziphites had previously betrayed David to Saul in 1 Samuel 23, indicating their loyalty to Saul over David. This act of betrayal highlights the political tensions and shifting allegiances during this period of Israel's history.

came to Saul
Saul, the first king of Israel, was anointed by the prophet Samuel. His reign was marked by initial success but later characterized by disobedience to God and a growing obsession with eliminating David, whom he saw as a threat to his throne. The Ziphites' approach to Saul demonstrates their willingness to align with the reigning king, perhaps seeking favor or protection.

at Gibeah
Gibeah was Saul's hometown and the location of his royal residence. It served as the administrative and military center during his reign. Archaeological findings suggest that Gibeah was a fortified city, which would have been a strategic location for Saul to receive intelligence and plan military actions.

saying, 'Is not David hiding
David, the future king of Israel, was anointed by Samuel but was not yet recognized as king by the people. His time in hiding was a period of testing and preparation, where he learned to rely on God's protection and guidance. The Ziphites' question implies a certainty about David's location, suggesting they had either seen him or had reliable information.

on the hill of Hachilah
The hill of Hachilah is a specific geographical location in the wilderness of Ziph. Its mention indicates the detailed knowledge the Ziphites had of the area and their intent to provide precise information to Saul. This location was significant as it provided natural fortifications and a vantage point for David and his men.

opposite Jeshimon
Jeshimon refers to a desolate or desert area, emphasizing the harsh and barren conditions of the wilderness where David was hiding. This setting underscores the challenges David faced while evading Saul, relying on God's provision and the loyalty of his followers. The mention of Jeshimon also serves to highlight the stark contrast between David's humble circumstances and Saul's royal position.

(1) The Ziphites came unto Saul.--There is grave difficulty connected with the recital contained in this chapter. Is it another account of the incident told in 1 Samuel 24, 26 by a different narrator? This is the opinion of some modern expositors of weight: for instance, Ewald and the Bishop of Bath and Wells in the Speaker's Commentary. The question at issue is as follows:--We have in this First Book of Samuel, in 1 Samuel 23, 24, 26, two recitals of David sparing his great adversary's life, at first sight under very similar circumstances. For instance: in both these occurrences (1) it is the same people, the Ziphites, who call Saul's attention to David's presence in their neighbourhood; (2) in both, Saul comes from Gibeah with the same number of men, 3,000; (3) the general bearing of the incident is identical in both--viz., the persuasions of David's followers to induce their leader to take Saul's life when in his power resisted by the noble-minded chieftain; the taking of something personal by David from the sleeping king, as a proof that the royal life had been in his hands; the sequel, which describes the heartfelt temporary repentance of Saul for the past. But here the resemblance ends. The circumstances of the night raid by David and his companions into the camp of the sleeping Saul are, when examined closely, so entirely different from the circumstances of the midday siesta of Saul in the En-gedi cavern, where David and his band were dwelling, that it is really impossible to assume that they are versions of one and the same incident. We conclude, therefore, with some certainty, that the accounts contained in 1 Samuel 23, 24, , 26 refer to two distinct and separate events; and so Keil, Erdmann and Lange, Dean Payne Smith in the Pulpit Commentary, Wordsworth, &c. Bishop Hervey, in the Speaker's Commentary, is, however, supported in his hypothesis of the two accounts referring to only one incident by Ewald, De Wette, and others. In the course of this exposition, the more striking agreements and divergencies will be discussed.

There remains, however, a still graver question to be considered, the gravity and difficulty of which remains the same whether we assume, as we propose to do, that twice in the course of the outlaw life of David the king's life was in his power, or that only once David stood over the sleeping king, sword in hand, and that the two accounts refer to one and the same event--For what purpose did the compiler of the First Book of Samuel insert in his narrative this twenty-sixth chapter--where either the old story of 1 Samuel 23, 24 is repeated with certain variations, or else an incident of a similar nature to one which has been told before in careful detail is repeated at great length? To this important question no perfectly satisfactory reply can be given. The object of one such recital in an account of the early life of the great founder of Israelitic greatness is clear, but we may well ask why was a second narrative of an incident of like nature inserted in a book where conciseness is ever so carefully studied? All we can suggest is, that everything which conduced to the glory of the favourite hero of Israel was of the deepest interest to the people, and the surpassing nobility and generosity of the magnanimity of David to his deadly foe was deemed worthy of these detailed accounts even in the necessarily brief compilation of the inspired writer of the history of this time.

Verse 1. - The Ziphites came unto Saul. There are so many points of similarity between this narrative and that contained in 1 Samuel 23:19-24; 1 Samuel 24:1-22, that it has been argued that in these two accounts we have substantially the same fact, only modified by two different popular traditions, and not recorded until a late subsequent period, at which the narrator, unable to decide which was the true form of the story, determined upon giving both. The main points of similarity are -

(1) The treachery of the Ziphites (1 Samuel 26:1; 1 Samuel 23:19).

(2) David's position in the hill Hachilah (1 Samuel 26:1, 3; 1 Samuel 23:19).

(3) Saul's march with 3000 men (1 Samuel 26:2; 1 Samuel 24:2). . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the Ziphites
הַזִּפִים֙ (haz·zi·p̄îm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 2130: Ziphites -- inhabitants of Ziph

came
וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

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

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

at Gibeah
הַגִּבְעָ֖תָה (hag·giḇ·‘ā·ṯāh)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1390: Gibeah -- 'hill', three cities in Palestine

and said,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Is not
הֲל֨וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

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

hiding
מִסְתַּתֵּר֙ (mis·tat·têr)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5641: To hide, conceal

on the hill
בְּגִבְעַ֣ת (bə·ḡiḇ·‘aṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1389: A hillock

of Hachilah,
הַחֲכִילָ֔ה (ha·ḥă·ḵî·lāh)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2444: Hachilah -- 'dark', a hill in southern Judah

opposite
עַ֖ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Jeshimon?”
הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃ (hay·šî·mōn)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3452: Waste, wilderness


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OT History: 1 Samuel 26:1 The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 25:44
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