Ziklag is a city that is mentioned several times in the Bible, primarily in relation to David before he became king of Israel. Here is an overview of the significance of Ziklag in the biblical narrative:
Ziklag Given to David by Achish
After David had been on the run from Saul for some time, he eventually came to the Philistine city of Gath and sought refuge from King Achish (1 Samuel 27:1-7). Achish gave Ziklag to David to live in while he was residing in the land of the Philistines. David lived in Ziklag for over a year and used it as a base for raiding different groups, telling Achish he was raiding Israelites when in reality he was raiding Israel’s enemies (1 Samuel 27:8-12).
David’s Absence from Ziklag
When the Philistines gathered their army to fight Israel at Jezreel, David and his men accompanied Achish as they marched towards the battle. However, the Philistine commanders did not trust David to fight against his own people, so David and his men turned back from the battle (1 Samuel 29:1-11). When David returned to Ziklag, he found that the Amalekites had raided the city, burned it down, and taken all the women and children captive (1 Samuel 30:1-10).
David’s Defeat of the Amalekites
Enraged at the destruction of Ziklag, David pursued after the Amalekites with 600 of his men. They came across an abandoned Egyptian slave who guided them to the Amalekite raiders. David and his men defeated the Amalekites and recovered all that had been taken from Ziklag, including David’s two wives Ahinoam and Abigail (1 Samuel 30:11-20). David sent some of the plunder back to certain leaders in Judah who had helped him and his men during his time on the run from Saul (1 Samuel 30:26-31).
David’s Residence in Ziklag
After defeating the Amalekites, David continued to live in Ziklag. He and his men lived there for over a year and four months (1 Chronicles 12:1, 22). Several valiant warriors from the tribes of Benjamin and Gad came over to David’s side while he was residing at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:8-18). These warriors “helped David against raiding bands” (1 Chronicles 12:21), indicating David likely used Ziklag as a base of operations even after the war with the Amalekites ended.
Anointing of David as King in Hebron
After the death of Saul on Mount Gilboa, David moved from Ziklag to Hebron, where he was anointed king over the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4). Ziklag was located in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:1, 31), so David’s move signified a transition from residing as a fugitive warrior to governing over his own tribal lands. The period in Ziklag prepared David for leadership over God’s people.
Ziklag under Judah’s Control
Even after David relocated to Hebron and eventually became king over all Israel with Jerusalem as his capital, Ziklag remained part of the kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, fortified Ziklag as part of his defensive measures in Judah (2 Chronicles 11:5-12). Over a century later, king Jehoshaphat of Judah also included men from Ziklag among those he stationed in the cities of Judah for defense (2 Chronicles 17:7, 11-12). So Ziklag continued to play a strategic role in Judah after David’s time.
Ziklag Confirms God’s Promise
God had promised David through the prophet Samuel that he would one day become king over Israel in Saul’s place (1 Samuel 16:1-13). When David and his parents took refuge in Moab out of fear of Saul, the prophet Gad told them to return to Judah, to a stronghold in the forest (1 Samuel 22:3-5). Though David must have despaired during those years on the run from Saul, God provided refuge for David and protected him, including the period in Ziklag. God used this time to prepare David for his role as Israel’s future king.
Lessons from Ziklag
The biblical account of David’s time residing in Ziklag contains several valuable lessons:
- God cares for His chosen servants even during difficult circumstances
- Waiting on God’s timing requires patience and faith
- Outrage over sin and immorality is appropriate
- Revenge belongs to God
- Gaining loyal comrades often takes time
- Leaders should provide for and protect their followers
For David, his time in Ziklag was a period of God’s providence and protection even though it also contained grave troubles. As one of David’s wilderness refuges during Saul’s pursuit, Ziklag played an important role in preserving and preparing the future king of Israel.
Ziklag in Biblical Geography
In terms of geography, Ziklag was located in the southern part of the tribal land allotted to Judah, not far from the Philistine city of Gath. The exact site remains unknown today, though some possibilities include Tel Sera and Tel Halif. The region around Ziklag contained various rural settlements along with cities fortified by Rehoboam such as Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, and Shoco (2 Chronicles 11:5-12).
Several groups like the Amalekites were active in the vicinity around Ziklag during the period when David took refuge there. The Negev desert was nearby. The town was doubtless chosen by Achish as an out-of-the-way location to give David as a dwelling place, but its remoteness backfired when the Amalekites were able to raid it without hindrance while David was away attending to Achish.
The Name “Ziklag”
The name Ziklag possibly derives from Hebrew words meaning “winding” or “bending”. This may refer to the shape of a nearby wadi or valley. Some have suggested the name Ziklag is related to the Hebrew root for “hope” and could mean “place of hope”. If so, this would be fitting based on Ziklag’s role as a place of refuge for David while he was hopeless and on the run from Saul.
Ziklag in Extra-Biblical Sources
While Ziklag is mentioned several times in the books of Samuel and Chronicles, it does not appear in many other ancient sources outside the Bible. However, some possible references have been found:
- A town called “Secileg” that may be Ziklag seems to be referred to in one of the Amarna letters from the 14th century BC.
- In a list of towns attributed to pharaoh Thutmose III of Egypt from the 15th century BC, a town “Saklag” is listed that could be Ziklag.
- In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, Ziklag is sometimes mentioned as a “city of the South”.
While inconclusive, these sparse ancient texts indicate awareness of a town in the location described in the Bible for Ziklag. Archaeological findings have not yet firmly established the true location of Ziklag.
Ziklag as a Symbol
Because of the biblical stories involving David taking refuge in Ziklag, the name of this town took on symbolic importance. Being “sent to Ziklag” became an idiom referring to someone forced to undergo trouble or exile for a period of time. But often, God uses times of difficulty to shape and prepare people for greater things. As Christian author Phillip Keller wrote about Ziklag:
For the dedicated believer Ziklag represents not so much a place as a position; not so much geographical location as spiritual condition … It is the place of pain and affliction that prepares us for the palace and the crown.
So in summary, while just a small, obscure town in the biblical text, Ziklag takes on greater meaning as a place of hope during trials, and a reminder of God’s providence in the darkest times.