Ziph

Ziph, the name of a city in the tribe of Judah (Jos 15:55; 2Ch 11:8), and of a desert in its vicinity (1Sa 23:14-15). 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.

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

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

1. In the south, named between Ithnan and Telem. Jos 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. Jos 15:55. The place is immortalized by its connection with David. 1Sa 23:14-15; 1Sa 23:24; 1Sa 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. 1Ch 4:16.

1. In southern Judah (negeb) (Jos 15:24). In the Imperial Dictionary the name is connected with Sufah, and the site is supposed to be at the ascent of Akrabbim.

2. A town in the hill country of Judah (Jos 15:55); mentioned between Carmel and Juttah. David took refuge in a wood, then in a wilderness (midbar, an unenclosed pasture ground) adjoining (1Sa 23:14-24; 1Sa 26:2). On both occasions the Ziphites discovered him to Saul. The last interview of David and Jonathan was in the wood here. A round hill, 100 ft. high, about three miles S. of Hebron, is still called Tell Zif. Three miles further S. is Kurmul (Carmel), and between them to the W. of the road is Yutta (Juttah). Rehoboam fortified Ziph (2Ch 11:8), probably Tell Ziph.

Half a mile off eastward are ruins at the head of two small wadies running off toward the Dead Sea. Lieut. Conder disputes the existence of a wood at Ziph; there are no springs of any size, and the soil is chalky. Septuagint and Josephus substitute "the new place" for "the wood of Ziph." The village Khirbet Khoreisa, one mile S. of Ziph, answers to "the wood of Ziph" as KJV translates; the difference between the Hebrew choresh and the Septuagint reading is a difference merely of points; the choresh of Ziph was a village belonging to the larger town at Tell Ziph.

Ziph, a flowing. 1. A city in the south of Judah. Jos 15:24. 2. A town in the highlands of Judah, Jos 15:55; fortified by Rehoboam. 2Ch 11:8. When pursued by Saul, David hid himself "in the wilderness of Ziph." 1Sa 23:14; 1Sa 23:16; 1Sa 23:24; 1Sa 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 1Sa 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. 1Ch 4:16.

1. City in the south of Judah. Jos 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. Jos 15:55; 1Sa 23:14-15; 1Sa 23:24; 1Sa 26:2; 2Ch 11:8. Identified with the ruins of Tel ez Zif, 31° 29’ N, 35° 7’ E.

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

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

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

Melting

zif (זיף, zı̄ph; Ὀζείβ, Ozeı́b, or Ζίφ, Zı́ph):

(1) A town in the hill country of Judah, mentioned along with Maon, Carmel and Jutah (Jos 15:55). It is chiefly celebrated in connection with the earlier history of David: “David ... remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph” (1Sa 23:14, 1Sa 23:15, 1Sa 23:24; 1Sa 26:2); the Ziphites (1Sa 23:19; 1Sa 26:1; compare Psa 54:1-7 title) sought to betray him to Saul, but David escaped. Ziph was fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch 11:8). The name also occurs in 1Ch 2:42; 1Ch 4:16. In connection with this last (compare 1Ch 4:23) it is noticeable that Ziph is one of the four names occurring on the Hebrew stamped jar handles with the added למלך, la-melekh, “to the king.”

The site is Tell Zı̂f, 4 miles Southeast of Hebron, conspicuous hill 2, 882 ft. above sea-level; there are cisterns and, to the East, some ruins (PEF, III, 312, 315).

(2) A town in the Negeb of Judah (Jos 15:24), site unknown.