Ziph

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Ziph, A Flowing. 1. A city in the south of Judah.  Joshua 15:24. 2. A town in the highlands of Judah,  Joshua 15:55; fortified by Rehoboam.  2 Chronicles 11:8. When pursued by Saul, David hid himself "in the wilderness of Ziph."  1 Samuel 23:14;  1 Samuel 23:16;  1 Samuel 23:24;  1 Samuel 26:2. The site is Tell es Zîf, about four miles southeast of Hebron, on the road to Engedi. Tristram says: "How far the forest of Ziph," see  1 Samuel 23:14-15, "extended it is not easy to say, but there are traces of it in an occasional tree, and there seems no reason, from the nature of the soil, why the woods may not have stretched nearly to the barren, sandy marl which overlies the limestone for a few miles west of the Dead Sea." 3. A descendant of Judah.  1 Chronicles 4:16.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ZIPH . 1 . A son of Jehallelel (  1 Chronicles 4:16 ). 2 . A city of Southern Judah (  Joshua 15:24 ). Its site has not been recovered. 3 . A city in the hill-country of Judah (  Joshua 15:55 ); fortified by Rehoboam (  2 Chronicles 11:8 ). The wilderness of Ziph was one of the refuges of David when fleeing from Saul (  1 Samuel 23:14-15;   1 Samuel 23:24;   1 Samuel 26:2 bis ). The gentilic name Ziphites occurs in   1 Samuel 23:19;   1 Samuel 23:24 [LXX [Note: Septuagint.] only]   1 Samuel 26:1 ,   Psalms 54:1-7 title. Ziph is Tell Zîf , S.E. of Hebron.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ziph. (Battlement). The name of two towns in Judah.

1. In the south, named between Ithnan and Telem.  Joshua 15:24. It does not appear again in the history, nor has any trace of has been met with.

2. In the highland district, named between Carmel and Juttah.  Joshua 15:55. The place is immortalized by its connection with David.  1 Samuel 23:14-15;  1 Samuel 23:24;  1 Samuel 26:2. These passages show that, at that time, it had near it a wilderness, (that is, a waste pasture-ground), and a wood. The latter has disappeared, but the former remains. The name of Zif , found about three miles south of Hebron, is attached to a rounded hill of some 100 feet in height, which is called Tell Zif .

3. Son of Jehaleleel.  1 Chronicles 4:16.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. City in the south of Judah.  Joshua 15:24 . Not identified.

2. City in the highlands of Judah: with its 'wilderness' it was connected with some of the stirring events in the life of David.   Joshua 15:55;  1 Samuel 23:14,15,24;  1 Samuel 26:2;  2 Chronicles 11:8 . Identified with the ruins of Tel ez Zif, 31 29' N, 35 7' E .

3. Son of Mesha, a son of Caleb.   1 Chronicles 2:42 .

4. Son of Jehaleleel, of the tribe of Judah.   1 Chronicles 4:16 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A city in the mountains of Judah ( Joshua 15:55 ), identified with the uninhabited ruins of Tell ez-Zif, about 5 miles south-east of Hebron. Here David hid himself during his wanderings ( 1 Samuel 23:19;  Psalm 54 , title).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Ziph'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/z/ziph.html. 1897.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 2:42 1 Chronicles 4:16 3 Joshua 15:24 1 Chronicles 2:42 1 Samuel 23:14-15 1 Samuel 26:2 1 Samuel 23:19 1 Samuel 26:1 2 Chronicles 11:8 4 Joshua 15:24

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A city of Judah, four miles south-east of Hebron; near it were wild fastness in which David for a long time lay hid,  1 Samuel 23:14,15 .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Copyright StatementThese files are public domain. Bibliography InformationMcClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Ziph'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/z/ziph.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ziph, the name of a city in the tribe of Judah (; ), and of a desert in its vicinity (). It is mentioned by Jerome (Onomast. s. v.), but had not been since noticed till Dr. Robinson found the name in the Tell Zif (Hill of Zif), which occurs about four miles and a half S. by E. from Hebron, and is a round eminence about a hundred feet high, situated in a plain. A site also called Zif, lies about ten minutes east of this, upon a low hill or ridge between two small wadys, which commence here and run towards the Dead Sea. There is now little to be seen besides broken walls and foundations, mostly of unhewn stones, but indicative of solidity.