zif ( זיף , zı̄ph ; Ὀζείβ , Ozeı́b , or Ζίφ , Zı́ph ): (1) A town in the hill country of Judah, mentioned along with Maon, Carmel and Jutah (Joshua 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" (1 Samuel 23:14 , 1 Samuel 23:15 , 1 Samuel 23:24; 1 Samuel 26:2 ); the Ziphites (1 Samuel 23:19; 1 Samuel 26:1; compare Psalm 54:1-7 title) sought to betray him to Saul, but David escaped. Ziph was fortified by Rehoboam ( 2 Chronicles 11:8 ). The name also occurs in 1 Chronicles 2:42; 1 Chronicles 4:16 . In connection with this last (compare 1 Chronicles 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 (Joshua 15:24 ), site unknown.
Source
- part_of
source-manifest/isbe— ISBE (PD)