Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
video advertismenet
Bible Encyclopedias
Ziklag
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Search for…
or
zik´lag ( צקלג , ciḳelagh , צקלג , ciḳelāgh ( 2 Samuel 1:1 ), ציקלג , cı̄ḳelagh (1 Chronicles 12:1 , 1 Chronicles 12:20 ); usually in the Septuagint Σεκελάκ , Sekelák , or Σικελάγ , Sikelág ): A town assigned (Joshua 19:5; 1 Chronicles 4:30 ) to Simeon, but in Joshua 15:31 named, between Hornah and Madmannah, as one of the cities of the Negeb of Judah, "toward the border of Edom." It is said ( 1 Samuel 27:6 ) to have remained a royal city. In Nehemiah 11:28 it is in the list of towns reinhabited by the returning children of Judah. Its chief associations are with David. Achish the Philistine king of Gath gave it to David as a residence ( 1 Samuel 27:6 f; 1 Chronicles 12:1 , 1 Chronicles 12:20 ); it was raided by the Amalekites, on whom David took vengeance and so recovered his property (1 Samuel 30:14 , 1 Samuel 30:26 ); here the messenger who came to announce Saul's death was slain (2 Samuel 1:1; 2 Samuel 4:10 ).
The site of this important place is not yet fixed with certainty; Conder proposed Zucheilı̄ka , a ruin 11 miles South-Southeast of Gaza, and 4 miles North of Wâdy es - Sherı̄‛ă , which may be the "Brook Besor" ( 1 Samuel 30:9 , 1 Samuel 30:10 , 1 Samuel 30:21 ); Rowland (1842) proposed ‛Aslūj , a heap of ruins South of Beersheba and 7 miles to the East of Bered. Neither site is entirely satisfactory. See Williams, Holy City , I, 463-68; BR , II, 201, PEF , 288, Sh XX.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and were generously provided by the folks at WordSearch Software.
Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Ziklag'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/z/ziklag.html. 1915.
