City
Ziklag
ZIK-lag · Modern Site debated — possibly Khirbet a-Ra'i or Tel Sera, near modern Kiryat Gat, Israel
Ziklag is a city of the biblical world, known today as Site debated — possibly Khirbet a-Ra'i or Tel Sera, near modern Kiryat Gat, Israel.
What is known
- Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, gave Ziklag to David as a place to live while he was fleeing King Saul (1 Samuel 27:6)
- While David and his men were away, Amalekite raiders burned Ziklag and carried off the women and children, prompting David's pursuit and rescue (1 Samuel 30)
- David was at Ziklag when he received word of Saul and Jonathan's deaths at Mount Gilboa (2 Samuel 1:1-4)
- Modern excavations at Khirbet a-Ra'i (2015-2019) uncovered Philistine and early Iron Age Judahite remains that some archaeologists have proposed as the likely site of biblical Ziklag, though the identification is not universally accepted
History
- Founded
- Border town between Philistine and Judahite territory; exact identification of the tel is still debated among archaeologists
- Population
- Small border garrison town, population unknown
- Industry
- Agrarian border settlement, likely used as a raiding/garrison base
- Coordinates
- 31.5700° N, 34.7500° E
Rulers and powers
- Achish, king of Gath — c. 11th century BC
Scripture references
- 1 Samuel 27:6
- 1 Samuel 30:1 — Amalekite raid on Ziklag
- 1 Samuel 30:26
- 2 Samuel 1:1
- 1 Chronicles 12:1
- 1 Chronicles 12:20
On a modern map
Further reading
Reflect
At Ziklag, David lost everything and strengthened himself in the LORD before doing anything else — where do you turn first when things fall apart?
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