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1 Samuel 26:2

in 1 Samuel 26

So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

KJV

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

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This verse in 1 Samuel 26

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Three thousand chosen men - Though they knew that David was but six hundred strong, yet Saul thought it was not safe to pursue such an able general with a less force than that mentioned in the text; and, that he might the better depend on them, they were all elect or picked men out of the whole of his army.

This site's exposition

the hill of Hachilah

on 1 Samuel 26:1-2

The Ziphites bring Saul the same report in nearly the same words they used at 23:19, naming the same hill of Hachilah where they had already betrayed David once. Saul again musters three thousand chosen men, the same number he led into the wilderness of Engedi in the previous chapter. The repetition marks David's exile as a settled pattern: no hiding place stays hidden long, and no relenting of Saul's outlasts the next report.

This site's exposition

three thousand chosen men of Israel

Adam Clarke notes the odds, three thousand picked men against David's six hundred, and reads the size of the force as Saul's respect for David's skill as a commander. Saul had hunted in this wilderness before. At 23:28 a Philistine raid called him away from it.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Samuel · Written before 735.

proposed

And Saul arose and went down to the desert of Ziph, etc. Understand Gabaa of Achila, not the city of Saul, but the hill of Achila, which is called Gabaa in Hebrew. Therefore, incited by perverse teachers, the kingdom of the Jews was stirred up …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Then Saul arose,....

The words behind it

17 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיָּ֣קָםand he arose

    vaiyakomH6965 →628 times

  • שָׁא֗וּלSaul

    shaulH7586 →402 times

  • וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙and he went down

    vaiyeredH3381 →381 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • מִדְבַּר־[the] wilderness of

    midbar-H4057 →270 times

  • זִ֔יףZiph

    zifH2128 →10 times

  • וְאִתּ֛וֹand [were] with him

    veitoH854 →929 times

  • שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־three

    sheloshet-H7969 →432 times

  • אֲלָפִ֥יםthousand<s>

    ʾalafimH505 →505 times

  • אִ֖ישׁman

    ʾishH376 →1663 times

  • בְּחוּרֵ֣י[the] chosen [men] of

    bechureiH977 →171 times

  • יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsrael

    yisraelH3478 →2507 times

  • לְבַקֵּ֥שׁto seek

    levakeshH1245 →225 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • דָּוִ֖דDavid

    davidH1732 →999 times

  • בְּמִדְבַּר־in [the] wilderness of

    bemidbar-H4057 →270 times

  • זִֽיף׃Ziph

    zifH2128 →10 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

8 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Samuel 24:2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.5 worksPsalms 38:12Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.2 worksPsalms 140:4–9Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.2 works1 Samuel 24:17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.2 works1 Samuel 13:2He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home.2 works1 Samuel 23:23–25Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”2 works
The other 2 cross-references, with their words ▾
Genesis 37:20“Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!”2 worksNumbers 24:1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Samuel 24:17

    and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 5:44

      But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

    • 1 Samuel 26:21

      Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave…

  • Through

    Psalms 38:12

    Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 35:20

      For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.

    • 2 Samuel 17:1–3

      Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

    • Psalms 140:5

      The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah

    • Psalms 54:3

      For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life— men with no regard for God. Selah

  • Through

    1 Samuel 13:2

    He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And…

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 10:26

      Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and the men of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him.

    • 1 Samuel 14:31

      That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were very faint.

About 1 Samuel

David Slays Goliath, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Slays Goliath, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
1 Samuel: the study guide →Read 1 Samuel 26 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Samuel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).

Read on in 1 Samuel 26 →