Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ZIPH

(Heb. zîp)

(PLACE)

1. A town in the hill country of Judah S of Hebron (Josh. 15:55), said to have been fortified at a later time by Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:8). The town shared its name with the desert region to the east (the wilderness of Ziph) where David and his men fled after breaking away from Saul (1 Sam. 23:14-15). Following a visit from Jonathan, the people of Ziph betrayed David to Saul (1 Sam. 23:16-24; 26:1). During the resulting campaign David and Abishai entered Saul’s camp and stole his spear and water jar, but refused to kill him (1 Sam. 26:6-25; cf. Ps. 54 superscript[MT 1-2]). Most scholars identify the ancient town with modern Tell Zîf (162098), ca. 5 km. (3 mi.) SW of Hebron, although the history of occupation at this site is unknown.

2. A town in the southern Negeb close to the border with Edom (Josh. 15:24). A site named Khirbet ez-Zeifeh (156048) is located in the appropriate region, but it has not yet been examined by archaeologists. Some scholars question the very existence of this town, since in the various LXX versions the name Ziph is either corrupt or omitted entirely.

Wade R. Kotter

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ZIPH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)